Halifax, Commercial Street
View of Commercial Street, Halifax, West Yorkshire.
Author: Unknown
Date: not dated
Location: Halifax
Format: Postcard - Mono
Document ID: 100172
Library ID: 34559777
After authorisation was granted in 1853, work to build Commercial Street began in 1880. It was opened at the end of the 19th century. Other names suggested for the road were Oxford Street and New South Street.
The photograph also shows the Regal Cinema, which opened in September 1938 with a showing of The Housemaster. It became the ABC in 1961. In 1976 the cinema was extended to become a three-screen complex. In 1986, it became the Cannon. The cinema closed in 2001 for refurbishment to open in 2003 as a nightclub. A bus station previously stood on this site before moving to the other end of Commercial Street.
The Victoria Hall opened in 1901. The opening performance by the Halle Orchestra included Beethoven's Funeral March in memory of Queen Victoria. The Theatre was used as a cinema until April 1953 and then as a concert hall. The Hall was purchased by the Halifax Corporation in 1960 for £82,000 and after refurbishments costing £200,000 was re-opened in 1964 as the New Victoria Hall.
In 1972 the Theatre was bought back by the council and was renamed Halifax Civic Theatre. In 1994/5 it was renamed The Victoria Theatre.
Still standing 2003.
