 Music halls in London were the scene of important industrial conflict in 1907 with a dispute between artists and stage hands on the one hand and theatre managers on the other , which ended in a strike . The halls had recovered by the start of the First World War and were used to stage charity events in aid of the war effort . Music hall entertainment continued after the war , but became less popular due to upcoming Jazz , Swing , and Big Band dance music acts . Licensing restrictions had also changed , and drinking was banned from the auditorium . A new type of music hall entertainment had arrived , in the form of variety , and many music hall performers failed to make the transition . Deemed old fashioned and with the closure of many halls , music hall entertainment ceased and the modern day variety began . 
