Alhambra Theatre Glasgow

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1922 Alhambra Theatre Playbill

The Alhambra Theatre Glasgow opened on 9 December 1910 at 41 Waterloo Street, Glasgow and was acknowledged as the best equipped theatre north of London.

The Theatre was designed by a local architect, Sir John James Burnet. It was built on the site of an unsuccessful Music hall, the Waterloo Rooms. The name, derives from association with the Moorish splendour of the Alhambra palace in Granada, but by the late Edwardian era, in common with other theatre construction, it was externally a large, austere box, with balconies and two pepper-pot towers. The theatre had a revolving stage^[1]. Throughout the life of the theatre, it was owned by Glasgow Alhambra Ltd with Alfred Butt and R H Gillespie as managing directors.

The Alhambra specialised in variety and Music hall acts, particularly those from Scotland. Scottish performers included Will Fyffe, Alec Findlay, and Harry Gordon; international stars such as Sarah Bernhardt and Vesta Tilley, also appeared. From the 1940s, touring theatre companies, such as the Wilson Barrett Company Repertory Company visited regularly^[2].

The theatre became a part of the Howard and Wyndham theatre circuit, in 1954. This was a means by which a common show would tour a number of linked theatres throughout the United Kingdom. Examples included, the Five-Past Eight (Summer shows) and Wish for Jamie pantomimes. These shows included early stars of the television era, such as: Rikki Fulton, Jimmy Logan, Stanley Baxter, Fay Lenore, Roddy McMillan and Kenneth McKellar^[3].

The theatre had the distinction of staging Scotland's first Royal Variety Performance on 3rd July 1958, and the Scottish première of My Fair Lady in May 1964. Glasgow Scouts performed their first Gang Show here in 1936; and Marlene Dietrich performed at the Alhambra from 7-11 November 1966.

The theatre suffered reduced demand due to the new entertainments on offer, and after the final concert by Cilla Black on 24th May 1969, the theatre closed. It was demolished in 1971, after a major fire.