Alhambra Theatre Glasgow

This collection includes contracts, leaflets, presscuttings, posters, production photographs, scipts and over 600 programmes ranging in date from the 1920's to the late 1960's.

The Alhambra 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 Sir John J. Burnet.

The Alhambra specialised in high class variety, often with a Scottish flavour, although stars such as Sara Bernhardt and Vesta Tilley also appeared, mixed with pantomimes starring the leading Scottish entertainers of the day including Will Fyffe (1885-1947), Alec Finlay (1905-1984) and Harry Gordon (1893-1957). Later, theatre companies such as the Wilson Barret Company were added to the list of attractions.

In 1954 the theatre was acquired by Howard and Wyndham whose Five-Past Eight summer shows and Wish for Jamie pantomimes were seen by around half a million people a year in the early 1960s.

Many famous names such as Rikki Fulton (1924-2004), Jimmy Logan (1928-2001), Stanley Baxter (1926-), Fay Lenore, Roddy MacMillan and Kenneth McKellar took part in these shows.

Other distinctions for the Alhambra were the staging of Scotland's first Royal Variety Show on 3 July 1958, when tickets for the best seats cost £50, and the Scottish premiere of My Fair Lady in May 1964.

The final show was a concert by Cilla Black on 24 May 1969. The theatre was demolished in 1971.

How to find material relating to the Alhambra Theatre, Glasgow

• Browse through a list of documents or events associated with the Alhambra Theatre or use the Name search option on the Scottish Theatre Archive Search

See also

National Library of Scotland: Scottish Theatre Programmes database: collection of programmes, playbills and posters. These items from theatres and other venues date from the 19th century onwards.