Alexandra Cinema
3-4 Alexandra Road,
Aldershot,
GU11 3HU
3-4 Alexandra Road,
Aldershot,
GU11 3HU
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: County Cinemas Ltd., Odeon Theatres Ltd., Rank Organisation, Star Cinemas
Architects: Henry G. Baker
Styles: Art Nouveau
Previous Names: Alexandra Cinema Hall
Nearby Theaters
The Alexandra Cinema Hall was built on the site of a music hall where Charlie Chaplin made his stage debut, in Alexandra Road, hence the name. It was opened on 27th December 1909.
The auditorium was simple Art Nouveau with an apple motif around auditorium, which lay parallel to the road. A projection box was accessed by sliding a steel shutter from balcony staircase. A red neon sign ran the full length of the facade which was stucco with faux Doric columns, similar in style to its younger sister, the Empire/Odeon.
The Alexandra Cinema was taken over by the County Cinemas chain in November 1927, and taken over by the Oscar Deutch chain of Odeon Theatres Ltd. in September 1939. One of five cinemas built in Aldershot, it was always very busy and often pulled a coup by showing new releases before the main Odeon and ABC cinemas in the town. It used to have a commisionaire in full uniform to control the crowds and often the cinema would show the house full sign. It was equipped with CinemaScope (possibly the first in Aldershot). The last film shown was Disney’s “The Jungle Book” on 25th March 1967.
It was then sold to Star Cinemas who turned it over to bingo. The Alexandra Cinema was demolished in 1986. Neo-Georgian style offices named Communications House now stands on the site.
Contributed by
Mike Luck
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Recent comments (view all 11 comments)
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?
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!
New photo added of the Alexandra Music Hall & Palace that sttid on the site before the more modern Alexandra Cinema replaced it. I’m searching for some shots of the auditorium and will post if I find any.
Newspaper advert for the Alexandra added in photo section
New photo added 1945
The end is neigh New photo added
Finally found a photo of the auditorium – taken around the time of opening in 1927. Decorated in an atmospheric style of a classical garden with hunting scenes too. All that artwork was painted over at some point and a more ‘modern’ scheme was just flat painted walls etc – such a shame! Sadly,I never got to see it in its original glory.
5 new photos added from the souvenir opening brochure of 1928
Newspaper advertisement added
Film brochure for July 1953 added to photo section