Comments from Alf

Showing 1 comment

Alf
Alf commented about Alhambra Theatre on May 19, 2006 at 1:20 am

The Alhambra Theatre in Cape Town was not in Adderley Street but in Riebeeck Street. It was built in a Moorish style, matching the Del Monico restaurant, also owned by African Theatres, on the opposite side of Riebeeck Street.

The Alhambra was used primarily as a cinema, although it also hosted major stage shows that visited the city, such as Annie Get Your Gun and Oklahoma, ice shows and Christmas pantomimes.

The Alhambra was one of the four major cinemas built in close proximity in Riebeeck and St George’s streets in the central business district. The others were the Colosseum, the Plaza (renamed Metro) and the Royal, which was the oldest of them all. Later the Van Riebeeck was built further up Riebeeck Street.

None of them survived for long the belated advent of television in South Africa in 1976. All of them were demolished years ago.