Primatarium in Kings Cross
Earlier this month I was intrigued to learn there was a Primatarium in Kings Cross during the end of the 1970s. It took over the site of where Scala nightclub in Kings Cross currently stands, but there’s very little information about what it offered the public.
I imagined it was place where people would pay to see a variety of live performing primates – monkeys dressed in waistcoats playing mini accordions and fully clothed chimps staggering around bipedally handing out programmes. But I couldn’t have been more wrong – thankfully!
monkey playing an accordion
After a tip-off from a dear contact and Primatologist, I was told it was the brainchild of a man named Cyril Rosen the founder of the International Primate Protection League (IPPL-UK) who financed the project himself in order to raise awareness about primates.
My contact told me: “He’s a philanthropist with a particular interest in primates and he wanted to bring the plight of wild primates to the notice of the public, hence his idea of setting up the Primatarium. I went there for the opening show, so did invited members of IPPL-UK. Cyril tried valiantly to keep the shows afloat but the public didn’t bite the bait and eventually he had to close it. A noble venture.”
I tracked down Mr Rosen to get the full story and he told me: “Forty years ago it was very difficult to convince people to help protect species they’d never seen. I felt if we (in his role as founder of the IPPL-UK) could reproduce an original forest environment and people could experience being in a forest, this would make it easier.”
The difficulty of course of wanting to create this type of experience is that you have to adhere to strict safety laws. Mr Rosen told me that the Greater London Council at the time insisted that metal labels should cover the auditorium sign posting various fire exits and other mandatory requirements that would have detracted from the forest experience. So in the end another idea was looked at. It was decided to create a seated-experience where people could watch films about primates in an unusual surroundings.
The stalls were turned into a hillside and the front rail was cloaked in aluminium leaves so that when you looked through the leaves you would see a valley. On one side there was a waterfall which was run using two pumps.
Mr Rosen said: “The ceiling was so high that it was necessary to use two pumps to push the water all the way up. We also had speakers in the ceiling that re-created the sound of a tropical storm. I remember seeing people pulling up their coat collars expecting a downpour.”
The idea was loosely based on the London Experience in Piccadilly.
Mr Rosen said: “We could transport people back 60-millions years to how our ancestors evolved, bring them into the present day as well as take them forward and show them what would happen if deforestation continued at its current rate and we no longer had forests only plantations.”
The biggest problem that the project faced was getting enough people interested in paying for a seated experience. Mr Rosen told me he believed that a walk-in forest experience would have been more successful and that the seated show was trickier.
More time had to be allocated to get people in and out of the auditorium which meant the experience ended up being 45-mins instead of a full hour. Mr Rosen told me there was great interest from schools, especially after pamphlets were distributed for free by the council, it was also good way to educate the young.
Former leadership contender Lord Heseltine
On the opening night there was an appearance from Tarzan – sadly not the tree swing Homo sapiens – but the politician, Michael Heseltine. Mr Rosen also played a front-of-house role giving an introduction to audiences before the start of the programme. Here he would explain how we are the closest kin of primates, after all, they have been around longer than us, and spoke about the affinity of monkeys apes and man.
Unfortunately the Primaratium was not a profitable venture and after 18-months it folded. Scala went on to become a cinema where the first film screened was King Kong.
whogivesamonkeys 
Rachel Louise
August 15, 2011
This is fascinating! I worked at the Scala 10 years ago, its hard to imagine the sweaty nightclub I worked in being home to such a interesting venture.
urbanprimate
August 15, 2011
Hi Rachel,
Thanks for the comment, yes I know! I really wanted to see some pictures of the interior from back-in-the-day, but the I don’t think the IPPL-UK has any more neither does Cyril.
A
Tim Brunt
August 15, 2011
This made me chuckle, from what I’ve seen on the news, the house of commons actually closley resembles a monkey house at times!
Hugo
August 15, 2011
I just looked at your last blog and saw the monkey and the accordion
It reminded me of going to see the Old Vic production of Inherit the Wind 2 years ago.
On stage at the beginning of the play was a small Marmosette Monkey (I think) who was collecting coins for a busker. I suddenly thought that that monkey would have had no idea it was in a play and must have begun to get freaked out as every night, for 12 weeks, the same girl would come up to him to give him a penny, everyone around him in the crowd scene would be standing in exactly the same place. Do you think it would have been a Groundhog day moment for the little fella or would he have taken it for granted?
urbanprimate
August 15, 2011
Hi Hugo,
Marmosets are the tiny monkeys with white tufts of hair that stick out in a punk-rocker kinda way.
These monkeys, like capuchins and squirrel monkeys are also used in “entertainment” and are often conditioned into behaving a certain way. I’m not saying that this particular monkey was mistreated, but “punishment” techniques such as food deprivation etc is known to be used until the monkeys do what trainers want them to at will. As for the monkey consciously knowing it was in play. You’re right it wouldn’t have had a clue. It’s likely it would know how to behave when and where because it would probably get a reward of some kind afterwards, like a treat as an incentive. I don’t think the monkey would have had the intellectual capacity to consciously acknowledge a Groundhog Day moment. Repetition of actions is how most primate species learn, they watch and copy other con-specifics through trial and error. I am surprised to hear that the production company used a live monkey though, I’m surprised animal welfare groups didn’t catch onto that.
A
Mapstone
August 15, 2011
Fascinating – an idea before its time perhaps, considering how technological advances would now recreate a much more vivid visitor’s experience.
As for the marmoset in Gone with the Wind, I’d be interested to know whether or not its illegal to use monkeys in stage plays in Britain.
urbanprimate
August 17, 2011
Hi David,
I would doubt that it is illegal to use a monkey in a stage play. There is a loophole in UK law at the moment which allows primates to be kept as pets (monkeys not apes). However it is illegal to import monkeys into the UK, so they are supposed to be captive bred. Animal welfare groups have been lobbying the government for years to get a change in the law to no avail.
A
joan wilson manchester
August 15, 2011
its a shame they didn’t realise there was a real monkey,buy saying that did you noticed in the sun on say it said there 1200-5000 monkeys in Britain from the pet trade and these poor little monkeys are living in households all over Britain, i’m shocked what sensible animal loving person have a monkey as a pet, it infuriates me. found this blog interesting thanks for an insight into the past, i donate to this charity monthly so fascinating insight into the humble beginnings of teaching us about primates to there amazing work now with primates.
Steve Cohen
February 6, 2014
Listening to Robert Elms, who wants someone to talk about the venture and someone who went. He`s on the radio BBC London 94.9 now. Who`s idea was it to show as a 1st feature film, King Kong. Nice touch.
jessteekaae
April 7, 2014
Reblogged this on A world of Primates and commented:
Today I sat amongst respected primatologists whilst listening to stories by Cyril Rosens family and friends in celebration of his life, at the Primate Society of Great Britain conference. It was truly moving and I look forward to researching more of his stories, this one being case in point.
Jane
October 5, 2015
Hi there, I’m currently writing a book about the history of the King’s Cross Cinema and knew about the Primatarium but it’s great to find the name of Cyril Rosen here. Does anyone know how I can get in touch with him? Please email me at scala.stories@gmail.com. Thanks!