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The Alexandra Music Hall was built in 1870 and was converted into a Cinema in 1914. Later to become an Odeon Cinema the building was demolished in the 1960s.

This building, on the corner of Barrack Road and Alexandra Road was in 1914 rebuilt as a cinema which was demolished in the 1960's. There was a shallow fly tower but as far as I can determine the only use of the shallow stage was for mannequin shows. In my day it was an Odeon second release house.

Charlie Chaplin is though to have made his first stage appearance here. This is possible, his Mother also a mediocre variety performer, {profession name, Lily Harley,} appeared here circa 1894, and he may have appeared on stage with her, he would have certainly have been with her at that time, but, Charlie would have only been five years old then. Charlie made his professional debut at the age of nine as one of; "The Eight Lancashire Lads" at the Canterbury Theatre In Lambeth after having been given a trail at Gatti's Music Hall just across the road from the Canterbury. Charlie got the idea of the tramp by watching an old man feeding Oats and Barn to the Cabbies horses outside The Elephant & Castle Theatre not far away

This textual information was kindly sent in by Alan Chudley.

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