Alhambra

Waterloo St. / Wellington St.

The last big traditional

theatre built in Glasgow, the Alhambra opened in 1910, architect

J.J.Burnet. Seating was for 2,750 on 4 levels. Originally programmed

for variety, it switched to opera, plays and musicals by the mid-20s,

then was taken over by Howard & Wyndham in 1954, who already ran

the Theatre Royal and the King's .

It became host to their spectacular summer variety shows, starting off

as the Half Past Eight shows, eventually starting earlier as the Five

Past Eight show. Many top comedians hosted this show, including such

hot English talents of the day as Bruce Forsyth and Max Bygraves! The

sets were spectacular for these shows, each year trying to outdo the

last, including giant violins, swimming tanks and a Starlight Room.

Scotland's first Royal Variety Show was staged there in 1958. The cost

of the summer spectaculars eventually proved too much, though, and the

theatre closed with a Cilla Black concert in 1969. Despite a massive

campaign to save it, the building was flattened in 1971.

The office block that replaced

the theatre was itself called Alhambra House, but it too was demolished

in 1996, to be replaced by the one shown below.

Photographs