Mayflower Theatre Southampton - former Empire / Gaumont Cinema. Designed by W & T R Milburn, grade 2 listed, opened in 1928. Seats around 2,300 on three levels, major touring theatre.
Southampton Mayflower Theatre
A scanned negative from 1988
This photo was taken some time in 1988 in Western Docks, Southampton, England, GB.
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Comments and faves
super 8 (78 months ago | reply)
Wow! Strangely beautiful interior. Is it the perspective or has this theatre got a very small proscenium height?
stagedoor (78 months ago | reply)
Bit of both really - the pros arch is wide making the height seem less, but it IS also a little out of proportion. The black masking behind the arch also does not help!
I am Jacques Strappe (78 months ago | reply)
Excellent! Someone else who hunts down old theaters! Great interior shot -- what a beautiful place, looks like a palace.
GeekAndDiva (72 months ago | reply)
I was singing here two weeks ago. It also has a great acoustic (for opera anyway).
salonofthetheatres added this photo to their favorites. (71 months ago)
soinsocal (50 months ago | reply)
My family were regulars at the (former Empire, Gaumont) Mayflower Theatre for countless movies and their wonderful live stage shows; the Beatles, Liberace, Tony Martin, Winifred Atwell, David Whitfield, Manfred Man,... to name a few and waited at the stage door for autographs.
This "palace" had the biggest screen in Southampton and lovely effects of colored lighting on the white satin curtain.
There was a massive blue Neon GAUMONT sign mounted high above the roof. I also recall huge lines of patrons stretching down both sides of the building, through the parking and into the back street. The manager, Mr. Jollef(?) would always hold the curtain until the the last person was seated.
I went to many afternoon flicks. Sometimes I would use the small lift to go up to the upper balcony ("Gods") and smoked a 9d Sharute cigarette and was fascinated at watching the smoke trickle up through the projection rays.
Long may the Mayflower continue to entertain Sotonians!
soinsocal, mistershowbiz@hotmail.com, jdd96, and iuliagaurean added this photo to their favorites.
GavinBC (7 months ago | reply)
Iused to go here when it was the Gaumont it was a fantastic cinema just loved it