Red Hall Picture Palace Green Plaque

Hammersmith and Fulham

Inscription

This site was formerly occupied by the Red Hall Picture Palace. Built in 1913, the Red Hall was part of the first wave of new British picture houses constructed following the introduction of cinema licensing in 1910. It was unusually large, with a combined seating/standing capacity of 2,000. The Red Hall closed in 1962 and later became a bingo hall.

About This Blue Plaque

The Red Hall Picture Palace, built in 1913, was one of the first grand cinemas constructed in London following the introduction of cinema licensing in 1910. Located at 9 Vanston Place in the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, the Red Hall was an impressively large venue for its time, boasting a combined seating and standing capacity of 2,000 patrons.

As part of the pioneering wave of purpose-built picture houses in Britain, the Red Hall played a significant role in ushering in a new era of cinematic entertainment. These early 20th-century movie palaces offered Londoners an exciting and immersive escape, screening the latest silent films accompanied by live music in grand auditoriums.

The Red Hall Picture Palace operated for nearly five decades, entertaining generations of Hammersmith and Fulham residents until its closure in 1962. The building then took on a new life as a bingo hall, reflecting the shifting trends in popular entertainment over the years. Today, although the original structure no longer stands, this commemorative plaque serves as a reminder of the Red Hall’s place in London’s rich cinematic heritage and the Borough’s cultural history.

The legacy of early cinemas like the Red Hall Picture Palace lives on in the vibrant film culture that continues to thrive in Hammersmith and Fulham. From the historic Shepherd’s Bush Pavilion to the modern Vue cinema in Fulham Broadway, the Borough has long been a hub for movie enthusiasts, offering diverse venues to experience the magic of the silver screen.