17 Facts About Alfred Butt

Sir Alfred Butt, 1st Baronet was a British theatre impresario, Conservative politician and racehorse owner and breeder.

Alfred Butt became managing director of several London West End theatres beginning in 1914, including the Adelphi Theatre, the Empire Theatre, the Gaiety Theatre and the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, as well as theatres outside London.

Alfred Butt was knighted for his services to the ministry, and for his work for war charities, in 1918.

Alfred Butt was elected as Member of Parliament for Balham and Tooting in 1922.

Alfred Butt was forced to resign from the Commons in June 1936 over a financial scandal.

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Alfred Butt was born in London, the son of solicitor Alfred Beyfus whose forebears had migrated from Hamburg to Glasgow and London, and educated at Emanuel School before entering employment in the counting-house of Harrod's department store where his uncle, Edgar Cohen, through the Beyfus family was a director.

Alfred Butt subsequently joined the Palace Theatre, a music hall in Cambridge Circus, London, largely controlled by the Beyfus family and associates.

Alfred Butt became company secretary of the Palace Theatre Limited in 1898, at the young age of 19.

Alfred Butt developed close links with the Orpheum Vaudeville Circuit and its associates in the United States, and brought numerous American stars to London.

Alfred Butt introduced British audiences to continental performers such as Anna Pavlova and Yvette Guilbert.

Outside London Alfred Butt opened two new theatres, firstly, the Alhambra Theatre, Glasgow, in 1910, designed by Sir John James Burnet and, secondly, the Theatre Mogador, Paris in 1919, designed by Bertie Crewe.

Alfred Butt became managing director of three West End theatres during the war: the Adelphi Theatre, the Empire Theatre and the Gaiety Theatre.

Alfred Butt became joint owner and managing director of London's Theatre Royal, Drury Lane from 1925 to 1931.

Alfred Butt was knighted for his services to the Ministry, and for his work for war charities, in 1918.

Alfred Butt held the seat at successive elections until he was forced to resign from the Commons in June 1936 over a scandal concerning a leak of budget details from which he was believed to have benefited financially.

Alfred Butt had one son, Kenneth Dudley Butt, from his first marriage.

Sir Alfred Butt died at his Newmarket home in December 1962, aged 84.