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The ERA was a weekly newspaper about theatre, actors, music hall, and all related matters. It was published and printed in London from 1837 to 1939. its equivalent now would be The Stage (and television today), although it is apparent, when looking through the archives, that it was far more in depth than 'The Stage' is today. It was originally edited by Frederick and Edward Ledger, then W. Hamar Bass, in Catherine street, where the Theatre Royal Drury Lane has its entrance. Later it moved to The ERA Buildings in Tavistock street (right).

There is currently a project running to submit the ERA archive to CD Rom.
Details of which can be found here…

Many thanks to John Culme for the archive ERA images. His site John Culme's Footlight Notes has information on:
Theatre - Variety - Music Hall - Vaudeville - Musical Comedy - Ballet - Revue - Circus and other popular entertainment, with portraits - biographies and
reviews from 1850s-1920s.

Recent image of the old ERA building (c) M.L. 2002.

Right - The ERA building Tavistock Street Then and Now.