Alhambra Theatre
39-43 North Street,
Belfast,
BT1 1NA
39-43 North Street,
Belfast,
BT1 1NA
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The Alhambra Theatre opened as a music-hall, built for comedian Dan Lowery, in 1871 but was damaged by fire in March 1873 and had to rebuilt to the plans of an architect named Stevenson. It reopened on 8th September 1873 and had a balcony around three sides of the auditorium. It had a 30ft wide proscenium. Harry Lauder and Vesta Tilley were among the leading artists of the day to appear on stage. It was sold to Willy Ashcroft in 1879 and later to the New Alhambra Theatre Company. It was refurbished at the turn of the last century and reopened on 24th December 1900. Although films were screened as early as 1907 as part of the variety programme, it eventually became a full-time cinema by 1936, being taken over by the Rank Organisation in 1955. The Alhambra Theatre was gutted by fire on 10th September 1959. An office block called Temple Court now occupies the site.
Contributed by
Gavin McGrath
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Recent comments (view all 3 comments)
Only a few years after the Alhambra had closed, the Belfast Telegraph (6 April 1964) reported that Belfast City Council had rejected plans to build a cinema, dance hall and bowling alley complex on a site at 30/36 North Street, almost opposite the Alhambra. The applicant was Compton Cinemas, London. Could this possibly have been the same company which operated an adult cinema in the heart of London’s Soho from 1960 to the 1970s?
The Compton Cinema Club on Compton Street, Soho, London was one of several adult cinemas operated by the Compton Cinemas Group. They also built and operated several Superama Cinema’s in Derby, Leicester etc. which screened regular films (many in 70mm). They also operated the 40screen Cincenta Cinemas, Panton Street, London (Now open as the Odeon Panton Street). All have their own pages on Cinema Treasures.
Whoops, sorry, Cinecenta Panton Street has 4 screens, not 40!