Alhambra Cinema

[Alan]

Hi Everyone,

I wonder if any of you can help? On the Cinema Index I have a photo of the Alhambra Cinema down as being on Ashton Old Road next to Old Lane. The photo now shows it as an Indian Take away.

One of the member's reckons this was not the building that housed the cinema as he use to work in the same building and it was Redman's Grocers.

What I really need to know, if this is correct, is where exactly was the Alhambra?

I am sure one of you will know?

Regards,
Alan

[Lisa]

Hi Alan, You've brought a few memories back. I think it was the Alhambra Cinema that I used to meet my first boyfriend when I was aged 15. All I remember is I used to catch the 52 bus to Ashton Old Road, turn right down into Ashton Old Road and walk on the right hand side of the road for about 5 minutes. Cant remember much more unless I do some regression therapy......

[climb57 93/20]

Hi LIsa
I remember the Alhambra cinema I used to live around there , Also next door used to be a nightclub called somthing like Chick Hibbards a seedy looking place that was out of bounds to the likes of a ten year old boy I think the Alhambra cinema itself was next door to the photo published and knocked down twenty odd years ago.

[Lisa]

Hi Thomas, Have I got the right cinema? All I can remember is how I got there. I seem to remember it being next to a club and even out of bounds for a sweet innocent girl of 15 when kissing was all I ever got up to, and even that was risky if you got caught!!!! All such memories.....

[Casso]

Hi Alan, Can't recall what the Alhambra looked like, but I'm sure the frontage was a lot different to the recent photograph.
There was a side street on the right (as you faced it), and that's where Chick Hibberts was located (not sure of the spelling, but that's how we pronounced it). It was the liveliest place we knew, and was a regular weekly event for us young teenagers.
Not sure about it being scruffy Thomas, although we certainly were. There were probably a few fights, but I can only remember one of any consequence. It was a first floor dancehall,
and there would have been at least two or three hundred jiving and bopping. Mind you, all the cool guys wanted to do was smooch. Aaaahhh those were the days!

[climb57 93/20]

Ah those certainly were the days, for instance behind the cinema and the club was a street called Ezzard St, you could put an illegal bet on at one of the houses half way along, I youst to put one on for my father. also in the St you could buy coal bricks from a yard there, carrying them home in a small bogie that I owned.

[Lisa]

Hi Thomas, My gran used to send me on an errand to "The man in Eswick Street !!!". She gave me a little package of wrapped newspaper, pushed it in my hand and told me to hurry and give it to the man. I had to go in the 'back way' into a yard where I handed the 'note' over to the man. Gran always said to me "Ask no questions and you'll get told no lies" when I asked what was in it. One day, my curiosity got the better of me and I peeped inside. There was note which I didnt understand saying "Black Beauty 5-1" and a threepenny bit. I felt so guilty that my gran 'knew' I'd peeped inside. She could clean the inside of your eyelids, could my gran. I never knew what 'the man' did until years later found out it was an illegal bookies. I never got anything if she won !!!!

[Alan]

Hi Everyone,

I think I have solved the Alhambra mystery. The picture I have on the Cinema Index is actually part of the Alhambra building, as far as I can make out. It is the right-hand side. The Entrance to the cinema is in the centre with shops on both sides at the front. Obvioulsy, the cinema hall must have been at the back. See what you think by looking at the photo on the link below.
www.images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=43918

See the ManMates Photo: homepage.ntlworld.com/alscot1/OpenshawCinemas.htm

Alan

[roofingman]

I remember the Alhambra Sporting Club, same building, in the 60,s.........They were allowed an extra hour drinking time after the pubs closed due to be a club.....The other sporting clubs about the same were the Levenshulme sporting club and the Luxor sporting club....The entertainment was generally wrestling and was quite fun...Lord Bertie Topham was usually at the Alhambra with his valet Mellors (Ladys Chatterleys lover)who wore a mask.....When Lord Bertie was in trouble in the ring ..Mellors would jump in and help his boss .........These clubs were great for singles and really evolved into dancing to the numerous groups of that time who were emulating the Beatles (local groups like the Hollies).....Gambling soon came in and many clubs went up- market ..Manchester had an exciting nite life as there were now over 300 clubs in the area....The Lord Chamberlain had made a statement that "whatever happened behind closed doors was not the governments business",,hence you had to be a member of a club to take advantage of the extra drinking time etc....Many clubs opened in peoples basements like the Riversdale club ,Alexandra Rd....This tiny club had a great trio,,food and a roulette wheel,,many guys wore tuxedos and there were lots of ladies of the evening....My favorite club was the York Club which had last orders at 2am...The trio would play "The Parties Over" at 2am.. ...I also liked the Petite Trianon and the Major trianon upstairs...all gaming clubs ..In Stockport they had the Poco a Poco club and the Texas Club which had waiters dressed as cowboys...These clubs really only encouraged crime and when a senior police officer was shot in Blackpool,,new laws came in and the scene changed in Manchester until Disco hit the city but it was never the same as the swinging sixties.............Ian...vancouver....

[joan]

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Hi everyone I also remember the Allambra Cinema on Ashton Old Road
it was next door to RedmanIs Crocery Store, and the Dance Hall was above you entered
by the side entrance and went up the stairs. My Uncle used to take part in the boxing
when it was a club then it was a Dance Hall. then a Cinema I usd to enjoy the Saturday
Matinee when younger. then going every Monday Night taking my Grandmother to
see the Musical Films. it was a beautiful theatre the ceiling was ornate an organist
used to play whilst the cinema was filling up. It was very sad to see it all boarded up
on our last visit to Manchester 1987. The Whitehall Cinema was just down from
the Allambra, before it became a bingo hall they could not afford any heating so I used to weara pair of my Husband's trousers to keep warm under my skirt and coat.and take
a hot water bottle. we used to live in Catherine Street. so only five minutes walk
to the cinemas. Joan

[linda]

Roofinman you keep bringing all these happy memories back to me The Luxor Club and the Poco etc. I wonder if you and I ever met. I use to go to these clubs with my boyfriend who had a group with his brother They were called The Dellstars and played in most of the clubs you mentioned

Linda

[roofingman]

Hi Linda..I do remember the Dellstars..there were so many groups and of course the great songs were coming in from the Beatles etc ..these were great songs to dance to..(still are)..One of the last surviving groups was Pete McLaine and the clan....They are still playing at the Bull in the Marketplace/Stockport on Tues/Wed nites--a great nite--I notice a few of the older extras on Coronation St were either DJ,s or group members in the 60/70,s Manchester scene............................................Ian...vancouver...

[fluffymoat4]

I am certain I have a vinyl record by the Dellstars somewhere in my collection but all our vinyls (LPs and others are still packed away in our loft). Can anyone jog my memory as to what Dellstar hit I may have on vinyl (daren't get our collection out this close to getting the crimbo decs down)!

[royhowarth1]

Hi Alan !
Youv'e got it right about the Alhambra cinema. It was situated on Ashton old road about one hundred yards up from Tuton street. On the same block was a seedy club called 'Chick Hibberts'. I lived in Turton street for a while before moving to Collyhurst and the cinema was my only entertainment as I did not have much money. Cheers .... Roy H

Cheers Roy, I though I had, Alan

[bodzy3]

All you people are sayin Chicks was a seedy place, I dont remember it as that (unless maybe I was seedy and didn't know it) The Poco a Poco was mentioned ,I worked there when Keith Marsden (ex City player ) owned it , as a waiter we had to wear dress suits and serve Sir Matt Busby and Joe Mercer (he was city's manager if you dont remember him) The Luxour Club was run by Ginger Chilton ,who kept puttin strippers on when the police him to stop , when he didn't , they closed him down The story goes that he then "Grassed"to the Home Secrertary Office and closed down a lot of clubs in Manchester for licenceing irregulalites

[jimonwheels]

i used to go to the alhambra in the fifties that was the posh 1 next to redmans about 100 yds from fairfield rd and on old lane was the whitehall cinema and down near B&S MASSEY was the rex cinema the alhambra was right facing w spencers the butchers

[codger]

I used to watch the Dellstars pre-fame when they were called The Strangers and used to rehearse at the St Francis Monastery club, practicing the same fancy footwork as the Shadows. The brothers were Eddie and Bobby Crossland who lived down off Clowes Street somewhere, I think Prescott Street. Eddie died a couple of years ago and I think Bobby runs a showbiz agency. They were offered a season in Hamburg but Eddie was too young if my memory serves me well.

[parbuster]

I too remember Chick Hibbert's,where do you get this "seedy" description,it was wonderful dance hall and was where I met my late dear wife in 1943 when I was 16+ she was 17,we were married for 61yrs.There was a dance every Saturday and also on Sunday run by the Communist party,I believe Harry Pollit attended at some time.There was a 10 piece band 2 singers Shirley Proffitt was the female singer,she was a friend of my wife,her brother ws a professional boxer,Tommy Proffitt.We used to go to the Alhambra twice a week sometimes,the opicture changed on Thursday.The photo of the take away was not the pictures thsat was demolished.Below the dance hall was a billiard hall which I also used to frequent,a mis-spent use you might say,but i used to enjoy a game or too.I also recall the Whitehall,they used to issue a big square metal ticket in the cheap seats.This site has given me a new lease of life I am remembering things I had long forgotten and I am indebted t6o Alf Proctor for the pictures of places I knew and loved.

[Lisa]

Hi Parbuster, Nice to read your memories of the Alhambra and glad to hear that Manmates has given you a new lease of life. Keep logging in....always great to see you on here.