Editing Royal Albert Hall (section)

===1900s===
[[File:Albert Hall and Albert Memorial Postcard c1903.png|thumb|right|Postcard of the Hall (c. 1903) with an inset of the [[Albert Memorial]]]]
[[File:Royal Albert Hall - Central View Ceiling.jpg|thumb|right|Acoustic diffusing discs (lit in purple/blue) hanging from the roof of the Hall. The fluted aluminium panels are seen behind.]]
[[File:Royal Albert Hall 2.jpg|thumb|right|The Hall with [[Kensington Gardens]] to the right]]
In 1906, [[Elsie Fogerty]] founded the [[Central School of Speech and Drama]] at the Hall, using its West Theatre, now the Elgar Room, as the school's theatre. The school moved to Swiss Cottage in north London in 1957. Whilst the school was based at the Royal Albert Hall, students who graduated from its classes included [[Judi Dench]], [[Vanessa Redgrave]], [[Lynn Redgrave]], [[Harold Pinter]], [[Laurence Olivier]] and [[Peggy Ashcroft]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=The central book |last=Lolly |first=Susi |date=2006 |publisher=Oberon Books |isbn=978-1-84002-710-5 |location=London |oclc=85776670}}</ref>{{page needed|date=March 2018}}

In 1911, Russian pianist and composer [[Sergei Rachmaninoff]] performed as a part of the London Ballad Concert. The recital included his '[[Prelude in C-sharp minor (Rachmaninoff)|Prelude in C-sharp minor]]' and 'Elegie in E-flat minor' (both from ''[[Morceaux de Fantaisie]]'').<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=umn.319510028004720;view=1up;seq=312 | title=Keynotes | magazine=[[The Sketch]] | date=8 November 1911 | page=142 | volume=76 | access-date=27 March 2018 | archive-date=16 October 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016014357/https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=umn.319510028004720;view=1up;seq=312 | url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1933, German physicist [[Albert Einstein]] led the 'Einstein Meeting' at the hall for the Council for Assisting Refugee Academics, a British charity.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.royalalberthall.com/about-the-hall/news/2013/october/3-october-1933-albert-einstein-speaks-at-the-hall/ |title=3 October 1933 – Albert Einstein presents his final speech given in Europe, at the Royal Albert Hall |last=Keyte |first=Suzanne |date=9 October 2013 |website=Royal Albert Hall |access-date=27 March 2018 |archive-date=5 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105200701/https://www.royalalberthall.com/about-the-hall/news/2013/october/3-october-1933-albert-einstein-speaks-at-the-hall/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1936, the Hall was the scene of a giant rally celebrating the [[British Empire]] on the occasion of the centenary of [[Joseph Chamberlain]]'s birth. In October 1942, the Hall suffered minor damage during [[World War II]] bombing, but in general was left mostly untouched as German pilots used the distinctive structure as a landmark.<ref name="timeline"/>

In 1949, the canvas awning was removed and replaced with fluted aluminium panels below the glass roof, in a new attempt to cure the echo; but the acoustics were not properly tackled until 1969 when large fibreglass acoustic diffusing discs (commonly referred to as "mushrooms" or "flying saucers") were installed below the ceiling.<ref name="building"/> In 1968, the Hall hosted the [[Eurovision Song Contest 1968]] which was broadcast on television live in colour for the first time,<ref>{{cite web|title=Eurovision Song Contest 1968|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/by-year/contest?event=285|publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union|EBU]]|access-date=1 November 2016|archive-date=5 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605093905/http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/by-year/contest?event=285|url-status=live}}</ref> and from 1969 to 1988 the [[Miss World]] contest was staged in the venue.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.royalalberthall.com/about-the-hall/news/2014/november/miss-world-at-the-royal-albert-hall/ |title=From the Archives: Twenty years of Miss World at the Royal Albert Hall |last=van der Pas |first=Natasha |date=26 November 2014 |website=Royal Albert Hall |access-date=27 March 2018 |archive-date=28 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328102651/https://www.royalalberthall.com/about-the-hall/news/2014/november/miss-world-at-the-royal-albert-hall/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

From 1996 until 2004, the Hall underwent a programme of renovation and development supported by a £20&nbsp;million grant from the [[Heritage Lottery Fund]] and £20m from Arts Council England to enable it to meet the demands of the next century of events and performances. Thirty "discreet projects" were designed and supervised by the architecture and engineering firm [[Building Design Partnership|BDP]] without disrupting events. These projects included improved ventilation to the auditorium, more bars and restaurants, improved seating, better technical facilities, and improved backstage areas. Internally, the Circle seating was rebuilt during June 1996 to provide more legroom, better access, and improved sightlines.<ref name="bdp hall">{{cite web |title=Project: Royal Albert Hall |url=https://www.bdp.com/projects/royal-albert-hall |website=[[Building Design Partnership|BDP]] |access-date=2025-03-03}}</ref>