Victoria Theatre
14-18 Great Clowes Street,
Salford,
M7 1RE
14-18 Great Clowes Street,
Salford,
M7 1RE
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: H.D. Moorhouse Circuit
Architects: Bertie Crewe
Styles: Baroque, Tudor Revival
Previous Names: Victoria Picture House, Victoria Theatre Cinema
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
440161.832.9606
Manager:
0161.832.9606
Nearby Theaters
Located in the Lower Broughton/Broughton Bridge district of Salford. The Victoria Theatre opened as a live theatre on Monday December 10, 1900 and was designed by noted theatre architect Bertie Crewe.
The first record of film exhibition was in November 1901, by the "Thomas Edison Animated Picture Company". In 1913, the theatre was granted a Cinema licence but returned to live theatre again between 1917 and 1919.
The interior was redesigned by another architect named Watson and the ceilings were decorated with Victorian period scenes. The redesign included a Jacobean style cafe.
The Victoria Theatre Cinema was operated by the H.D. Moorhouse Circuit by 1937. It continued life as a cinema until 1958, when it closed due to lack of trade caused by the slum clearances. It was used as a clothing store for a period and occasional repertory groups staged sporadic live theatre performances and pantomimes in the 1960’s.
In 1973, the theatre became a bingo hall, and continued in this use until it closed in 2012. The Victoria Theatre is a Grade II Listed building.
Contributed by
Steve Lynch
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
The Victoria Theatre was grade 2 listed on 18th January 1980
never let this beautiful building be demolished.
TOM JONES PLAYED HERE.
i am 38 years old and have lived and work all over
salford and have never been too far away from “the vic”.
i saw panto there when i was a kid.
rjc
The exterior of this theatre building is so beautiful that I applaud those living in the States to have many classical theatre buildings to be preserved for theatre researchers like us to do research.
Raymond Lo/2nd June,2005
A lovely view of the auditorium in its current use as a bingo hall. Note only the stalls and dress circle are in use. The upper circle and balcony seats (on long wooden benches) are no longer in use.
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The Salford Palace Bingo Hall lists its address as:
14/18 Great Clowes Street
Broughton Bridge
Salford
M7 1RE
Did the theatre run a children’s theatre group in the 1960/70?
I began my working life at this wonderful old theatre, in 1966-7, as a student ASM. I worked for one repertory season, which included the musical Salad Days, and stayed on for the pantomime season, which was Cinderella, directed by Roy Rolland and choregraphed by Johnny Worthy. I have some very happy memories of that time in my life and I’m delighted to see the building has been listed, though I wish it could be a theatre again.
I remember the Vic well and attended Pantomimes whenever they were on. I remember Old Mother Riley being in some, probably played by Roy Rolland (Arthur Lucan’s successor) I also saw Charles Hawtrey who I remember opened the show with a song about ‘Carry on’s’ and if my memory isn’t failing I think Clinton Ford was in a panto there aswell. Great days and a great little Theatre.
This forum has really fired me up about the Old Vic. Another actor I remember in Panto there was Danny Ross who often bungled his speech (I wonder if he is related to Jonathon Ross.Danny Ross was quite a star at the time as he played alongside Jimmy Clitheroe on TV’s ‘The Clitheroe Kid’. I’ve also noticed the Theatre was opened by Sir Henry Irving. I was handed down a letter by my parents which is signed by Sir Henry Irving -what a great artifact and connection with the Victoria Theatre.