Ace Cinema

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Uploaded on: July 26, 2024

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My photograph taken in 1959 shows the ‘Leatherhead Theatre’. The entrance was squeezed between two shops, the left side was a newsagent and confectionery shop which had traded on this spot from the early 1920’s. Originally opening as the ‘Victoria Hall’ in 1890 with a small stage, being popular for staging grisly Melodramas and Pantomime. 1912 saw the coming of silent films and after various interior adaptations were Another name change in 1921 to ‘Picture House’ when electricity was installed with further interior modernization. The talkies arrived in 1931 and a small balcony added, the front section having 50 seats whilst the new enclosed projection box was built at the rear, modern seating was installed in the stalls now reduced to 300 with gangways either side. The facade was completely altered a pair of doors were fitted to the long narrow entrance with film poster boards either side, above the canopy a pair of Victorian overhanging gas lanterns were removed and replaced by electric art deco light fittings attached to a pair of brick piers just below the pediment capping’s. WW2 saw the cinema’s busiest period, however, in 1946 there was the final name change to ‘Ace’ cinema. Following a slow decline in attendances cinema closure came in 1949. During 1950 Hazel Vincent Wallace arrived with her London based ‘Under Thirty Theatre Group’ taking on a lease of the building even though there was only three tiny dressing rooms and many other problems which she solved in her role as Manager, Director and Actress. One of the biggest problems was the issue of a Public License because of fire regulations and no safety curtain. This was overcome by making the theatre into a club called the ‘Leatherhead Theatre Club’ eventually growing to a membership of 14,000 which saw all performances consistently sold out. 1967 saw a final decline of the building, leaking roof, damp walls and plaster work eventually saw the closing and eventual demolition of the building. Finally the ‘Leatherhead Theatre Club’ moved into the brand new Leatherhead ‘Thorndike Theatre’ opening on Wednesday 17th September 1969.

Ron Knee