The Alexandra Hall, Corner of Barrack Road and Alexandra Road, Aldershot

Later - The Alexandra Music Hall / Alexandra Picture Palace / Cinema De Luxe / Alexandra Cinema / Odeon Cinema / Bingo

Aldershot Theatres Index

The Alexandra Hall was a large Assembly Hall constructed in 1867 which had an auditorium capable of accommodating 1,000 people. The building was situated close to the Cavalry Barracks on Barrack Road, Aldershot and was used for all sorts of purposes, Town Meetings, Auctions, Concerts, Operas, Balls, and sometimes as the Alexandra Music Hall for Music Hall Performances. It was equipped with a Bar and a small stage with fly tower.

Right - An Advertisement for a production of the Opera 'Lurline' at the Alexandra Hall, Aldershot in 1872 - From the Aldershot Military Gazette, 6th of July 1872.

By 1874 the Alexandra Hall was being advertised as being to Let, at this time it was stated that the Hall could accommodate 1,800 people rather than the 1,000 in earlier notices. It was also mentioned that the Hall at this time had a Gallery so perhaps this was a later addition, hence the enlarged advertised capacity.

By 1875 the Alexandra Hall was being advertised as being the new home of the Co-Operative Stores of the Military and Naval Supply and Perfect Guarantee Company Ltd., so its purpose seems to have changed considerably. However, the following year it was back in business showing entertainment on the stage and by 1878 it was showing the latest Panorama presentations, and was back to being a general purpose Assembly Hall.

In 1887 the Alexandra Hall was promoting its latest incarnation as that of a Circus Venue entitled 'Grand Circus' 'Every evening at 7.45, change of programme nightly, novelties every week, the best trained gymnasts, clowns, trained horses, ponies, dogs' with prices from 6 pence to 3 shillings.

In March 1889 Clarence Sounes, previously of the Theatre Royal Aldershot, which had been destroyed by fire in February, applied for a transfer of his Licence for the Theatre Royal so as to be able to stage plays at the Alexandra Hall instead. He had already been using the Alexandra Hall for his Company since the fire and said that because it was such a large Hall and was well adapted for the temporary purpose of a Theatre he saw no reason why he couldn't transfer his licence to it and continue with his theatrical endeavors there instead. The Licence Transfer was however refused, manly because the Alexandra Hall was across the road from a Mission Hall whose proprietors were strongly against the idea for a number of reasons. Clarence Sounes would go on to rebuild the Theatre Royal in 1900 instead.

After this the Alexandra Hall was often used for Music Hall shows transferred from London's South London Palace, and Hengler's Circus, Hull, amongst others. Clarence Sounes was back in November 1889 however, shortly before reopening his New Theatre Royal, Aldershot, when he took over the Management of the Hall for a short time, repairing and redecorating it in the process, so that he could present HY. Liston, the Vocal and Musical Humorist Author, there for a short season direct from his eight seasons at the Crystal Palace, Sydenham. After this the Hall was home to a variety of different Music Hall entertainments again under various Managers, and also used for Boxing Matches, and, later, Auctions by Thomas White and Co., who used it regularly for many years until 1909.

The Alexandra Hall then had a dramatic change of use when it was converted for early Cinema use by Messrs. Carpenters Ltd., who opened it as the Alexandra Picture Palace with a showing of the films 'Nero' and 'The Jockey' on Monday the 27th of December 1909. By April 1910 the Cinema was running as the Cinema De Luxe with continuous programmes from 6pm to 10.30 along with live music performances in between the films, and there were also matinees for children on Saturdays at 3pm.

Left - An Advertisement for the Cinema De Luxe at the Alexandra Hall, Aldershot in 1910 - From the Aldershot News, 5th of August 1910.

The Cinema De Luxe continued in business until late 1913 when the former Alexandra Hall was converted into a large purpose built Cinema in 1914 called the Alexandra Cinema. This was later taken over by the County Cinemas Chain in November 1927 who employed the architect H. C. Baker to draw up plans to reconstruct it in the Atmospheric Style in June 1928. The plans included adding a new large Balcony and fully equipped Stage but they never got off the ground.

Later still, in September 1939, the Cinema was taken over by the Rank Organisation and renamed as an Odeon Cinema. This Odeon should not be confused with the Odeon in the High Street Aldershot which was formerly the Empire, or the Odeon on the High Street next door to the Empire which was formerly the Ritz. Odeon closed the Cinema on the 25th March 1967 and it was then turned over to Bingo use and eventually demolished in 1986.

Alan Chudley writes on the Alexandra Music Hall, Aldershot

This building, on the corner of Barrack Road and Alexandra Road, was in 1914 rebuilt as a cinema. There was a shallow fly tower but as far as I can determine the only use of the shallow stage was for mannequin shows. Charlie Chaplin is thought to have made his first stage appearance here. This is possible, his Mother was a mediocre variety performer with the professional name of Lily Harley, and had appeared here circa 1894, and he may have appeared on stage with her, he would certainly have been with her at that time, but, Charlie would have only been five years old then. Charlie made his professional debut at the age of nine as one of; "The Eight Lancashire Lads" at the Canterbury Theatre in Lambeth after having been given a trail at Gatti's Music Hall just across the road from the Canterbury. Charlie got the idea of the tramp by watching an old man feeding Oats and Barn to the Cabbies horses outside The Elephant & Castle Theatre not far away. - This information was kindly sent in by Alan Chudley.

Right - An Advertisement for the Alexandra Music Hall, Aldershot in 1870 - From the Aldershot Military Gazette, 23rd of April 1870.

A nother visitor to the site, Peter Brewer, has sent in the following:- 'My father Albert James Underwood Brewer (Chief) was the chief projectionist at the Alexandra Cinema, Aldershot for many years. I attended the pictures every Friday night either 'in the box' or upstairs at the back next to or near the Usherette. He was also Treasurer of NATKE (later NATTKE) National Association of Theatrical and Kine Employees (later television was added) for many years.' - Peter Brewer.

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