Pavilion Theatre
Situated on the corner of Whitechapel Road and Vallance Road, the Pavilion was an old Yiddish theatre which served as a centre of culture and tradition for the local Jewish community. Although it lacked the intimacy of the small halls, the Pavilion's Sunday boxing shows were very popular, and many household names together with local heroes showed their wares on its stage during the 1930s.
Benny Caplan, Moe Moss, Harry 'Kid' Farlo, Johnny Quill, Del Fontaine, Harry Brooks and boxing brothers Sonny and Billy Bird all plied their trade at the Pavilion. While lesser-known local favourites included Young Connelly, Morry Goldstein, Harry Daley and Morry Brooks.
On 4 March 1935 the Cincinnati world featherweight champion, Freddie Miller, outpointed tough Welshman Stan Jehu at the venue. And on another memorable night the tremendously hard-hitting Sunderland-based Scot, Douglas Parker, travelled down to tackle local boy Sailor Bill Harris. As Harris slowly sagged to the canvas after receiving a solar plexus punch a voice from the throng, in true cockney spirit, was heard to yell, 'Bail out sailor, your ship's sinking.'