Mike Blakemore That’s a great early picture you’ve posted! Must have been taken shortly after the Palace opened in 1910? Have to say it looks a bit ‘shabby’ considering it was newly opened and that the ground floor elevation had not yet been stucco coated. I have to say that is the oldest picture i’ve seen of the dear old Palace.
Looks like the photo was taken soon after closure by Rank in 1983 as all the Odeon signage has been removed from the canopy and frontage. The auditorium side wall also had a red neon Odeon sign above the 4 large windows which was repeated on the other side that faced the Ritz/ABC/Cannon/ABC/Odeon next door. Thanks for posting it Len Gazzard :–)
Looks like the photo was taken soon after closure by Rank in 1983 as all the Odeon signage has been removed from the canopy and frontage. The auditorium side wall also had a red neon Odeon sign above the 4 large windows which was repeated on the other side that faced the Ritz/ABC/Cannon/ABC/Odeon next door.
Thanks for posting it Len Gazzard :–)
The map reference is complete wrong. The Alexandra was situated at the town centre end of Alexandra Rd opposite Warburg Barracks which were replaced by the multi story carpark, which its self has now been demolished for the new Westgate Centre development where the new Cineworld cinema is located.
Does anyone have any photos of the Alexandra? Mike Blakemore perhaps?
Mike Blakemore
That’s a great early picture you’ve posted!
Must have been taken shortly after the Palace opened in 1910?
Have to say it looks a bit ‘shabby’ considering it was newly opened and that the ground floor elevation had not yet been stucco coated. I have to say that is the oldest picture i’ve seen of the dear old Palace.
Here is a link to YouTube and an interview with the last projectionist. This is 1 of 3 films and interestingly has some shots of some of the decorative plaster on the ceiling of the rear circle that became the new projection box after conversion from single screen to bingo and 3 screens in the former circle.All 3 films are worth a watch just to see how poor the projection facilities were after conversion:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m-t1iry3eSk
The Palace needs to be listed as closed. After another revamp & short re birth as a live music venue sadly it closed yet again and is for sale. It would of course be suitable for use as a cinema but unlikely as the Cineworld complex at Westgate at the top of the town & a Vue complex is currently under construction in near by Farnborough, plus, a new cinema is planned for near by Farnham. This will mean that when all the new cinemas open, there will be more screens than at the height of cinema going in the 1930’s. When Odeon closed the former ABC/RITZ/CANNON they stated there was little demand for cinema screens in the area.
I may be wrong, but I did hear that Eric Hart passed away a few years ago and I am not sure of the fate of the ex Folkestone Savoy which Eric built into his home, i’ve not seen any ‘For Sale’ notices for that fine instrument unless other may know otherwise?
Can we please have this listed as the Ritz Theatre please? The Ritz was only renamed Odeon after it came under the control of Cineven when they bought the revived ABC brand in the late 1990’s
The original Odeon (formerly County Cinemas Empire Theatre) was next door!
Mike. Never had trams in Aldershot, its probably an Aldershot & District Traction Co. (Traco) omnibus with external stairs to the top deck. Think I know the picture you mean though.
Location of the Hippodrome on the Google map is wrong. The Google location is that of the Palace Cinema.
The Hippodrome stood on the corner of Birchett Rd (Not Birkett Rd) and Station Road. The theatre had a very imposing Edwardian facade of red brick and Portland stone with a bronze & glass canopy. Above the canopy were glass ‘torchflame’ lamps. The top of the facade was topped with a brass domed cupola that had weathered green. It was hoped the dome could be saved for the office block replacement but was removed by the demolition company who got there first!
Ken, I’m not so sure about the closure date. I was born in 1956 and can clearly remember a long queue one evening for a performance and the red neon Pavilion sign glowing as I watched from my grandparents home in nearby Church Hill about 1960/61. Maybe it was closed by Rank about that time in 1956 but continued under another operator? I could be wrong but will try and visit Aldershot libraray to view old copies of the Aldershot News and scan the local cinema ads.
I can remember going into the Pavilion when it was stripped out and being used by H.P Uglow veg wholesaler.
I was given a guided tour and shown all parts of the then ex cinema including the projection box. The balcony front still had the deep red velvet covering in place with poilshed brass rails and the gas lighting was still working in the balcony area.The balcony front was decorated with swags of fibrous plaster decoration. The circle foyer was rather spacious and a flight of curved shallow steps lead to the circle entrance doors.
The stalls area was rather long and and you could see that when the seating was in place there had been only 1 central aisle leading to the stage and screen. There was 1 dressing room back stage and the screen frame was still in place minus the screen. The proscenium was square and surrounded by decorative plaster work. The floor rake was quite pronounced from the back stalls but leveled out at the stage front.
Built on a flat site the auditorium rake was achieved by building the entrance foyer about 6 feet above ground level and access to the foyer was by a flight of steps to the 4 sets of oak and glazed entrance doors.The paybox was to the left of the foyer together with the staircase to the circle and a door lead to another internal staircase that took you to the projection suite built above the circle foyer roof.
Photo added of the ‘Alex’ after take over by Star Cinemas who promptly put it on bingo. Painted the foyer & auditorium orange for some strange reason!
Demolition photo added
2 New photos uploaded:original auditorium before brutal butchering into 3 screens and bingo.
Mike Blakemore That’s a great early picture you’ve posted! Must have been taken shortly after the Palace opened in 1910? Have to say it looks a bit ‘shabby’ considering it was newly opened and that the ground floor elevation had not yet been stucco coated. I have to say that is the oldest picture i’ve seen of the dear old Palace.
Looks like the photo was taken soon after closure by Rank in 1983 as all the Odeon signage has been removed from the canopy and frontage. The auditorium side wall also had a red neon Odeon sign above the 4 large windows which was repeated on the other side that faced the Ritz/ABC/Cannon/ABC/Odeon next door. Thanks for posting it Len Gazzard :–)
Looks like the photo was taken soon after closure by Rank in 1983 as all the Odeon signage has been removed from the canopy and frontage. The auditorium side wall also had a red neon Odeon sign above the 4 large windows which was repeated on the other side that faced the Ritz/ABC/Cannon/ABC/Odeon next door. Thanks for posting it Len Gazzard :–)
The map reference is complete wrong. The Alexandra was situated at the town centre end of Alexandra Rd opposite Warburg Barracks which were replaced by the multi story carpark, which its self has now been demolished for the new Westgate Centre development where the new Cineworld cinema is located. Does anyone have any photos of the Alexandra? Mike Blakemore perhaps?
Mike Blakemore That’s a great early picture you’ve posted! Must have been taken shortly after the Palace opened in 1910? Have to say it looks a bit ‘shabby’ considering it was newly opened and that the ground floor elevation had not yet been stucco coated. I have to say that is the oldest picture i’ve seen of the dear old Palace.
Here is a link to YouTube and an interview with the last projectionist. This is 1 of 3 films and interestingly has some shots of some of the decorative plaster on the ceiling of the rear circle that became the new projection box after conversion from single screen to bingo and 3 screens in the former circle.All 3 films are worth a watch just to see how poor the projection facilities were after conversion: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m-t1iry3eSk
The Palace needs to be listed as closed. After another revamp & short re birth as a live music venue sadly it closed yet again and is for sale. It would of course be suitable for use as a cinema but unlikely as the Cineworld complex at Westgate at the top of the town & a Vue complex is currently under construction in near by Farnborough, plus, a new cinema is planned for near by Farnham. This will mean that when all the new cinemas open, there will be more screens than at the height of cinema going in the 1930’s. When Odeon closed the former ABC/RITZ/CANNON they stated there was little demand for cinema screens in the area.
I may be wrong, but I did hear that Eric Hart passed away a few years ago and I am not sure of the fate of the ex Folkestone Savoy which Eric built into his home, i’ve not seen any ‘For Sale’ notices for that fine instrument unless other may know otherwise?
Can we please have this listed as the Ritz Theatre please? The Ritz was only renamed Odeon after it came under the control of Cineven when they bought the revived ABC brand in the late 1990’s The original Odeon (formerly County Cinemas Empire Theatre) was next door!
12 photos added under the photo tab. Anybody have an photos of the original single screen auditorium pre conversion to 3 screens?
That’s the picture I remember Mike, told you it was a bus ;)……….No, I wasn’t around at the time either ;)
Mike. Never had trams in Aldershot, its probably an Aldershot & District Traction Co. (Traco) omnibus with external stairs to the top deck. Think I know the picture you mean though.
Location of the Hippodrome on the Google map is wrong. The Google location is that of the Palace Cinema. The Hippodrome stood on the corner of Birchett Rd (Not Birkett Rd) and Station Road. The theatre had a very imposing Edwardian facade of red brick and Portland stone with a bronze & glass canopy. Above the canopy were glass ‘torchflame’ lamps. The top of the facade was topped with a brass domed cupola that had weathered green. It was hoped the dome could be saved for the office block replacement but was removed by the demolition company who got there first!
New photo added at photo tab at top of page
New photo added at photo tab at top of page
new pictures added to photo tab at top of page
New picture posted
New picture of the Rex prior to demolition
Ken, I’m not so sure about the closure date. I was born in 1956 and can clearly remember a long queue one evening for a performance and the red neon Pavilion sign glowing as I watched from my grandparents home in nearby Church Hill about 1960/61. Maybe it was closed by Rank about that time in 1956 but continued under another operator? I could be wrong but will try and visit Aldershot libraray to view old copies of the Aldershot News and scan the local cinema ads. I can remember going into the Pavilion when it was stripped out and being used by H.P Uglow veg wholesaler. I was given a guided tour and shown all parts of the then ex cinema including the projection box. The balcony front still had the deep red velvet covering in place with poilshed brass rails and the gas lighting was still working in the balcony area.The balcony front was decorated with swags of fibrous plaster decoration. The circle foyer was rather spacious and a flight of curved shallow steps lead to the circle entrance doors. The stalls area was rather long and and you could see that when the seating was in place there had been only 1 central aisle leading to the stage and screen. There was 1 dressing room back stage and the screen frame was still in place minus the screen. The proscenium was square and surrounded by decorative plaster work. The floor rake was quite pronounced from the back stalls but leveled out at the stage front. Built on a flat site the auditorium rake was achieved by building the entrance foyer about 6 feet above ground level and access to the foyer was by a flight of steps to the 4 sets of oak and glazed entrance doors.The paybox was to the left of the foyer together with the staircase to the circle and a door lead to another internal staircase that took you to the projection suite built above the circle foyer roof.