Peter Stewart

And it owes itself and its name to Harry Bancroft and his wife, Emmy, a one-time couple. Music Hall Double Act, who fell in love and became local entrepreneurs, creating not only the road, but also an outdoor swimming pool and a cinema as well. Yeah, Bancroft Road used to have the majestic Lido. It's where Paul House is now, opposite the cinema. And the cinema is where the cinema used to be.

And it owes itself and its name to Harry Bancroft and his wife, Emmy, a one-time couple. Music Hall Double Act, who fell in love and became local entrepreneurs, creating not only the road, but also an outdoor swimming pool and a cinema as well. Yeah, Bancroft Road used to have the majestic Lido. It's where Paul House is now, opposite the cinema. And the cinema is where the cinema used to be.

The majestic Lido. The Majestic Lido and the Majestic Cinema. Together, owned, run, operated by the Bancroft couple. Hear their story over the next few weeks on the Planet Reigate podcast. Now, Bancroft Road is not actually really named after someone called Harry Bancroft, because Harry Bancroft didn't actually exist. At least, that wasn't his original name.

The majestic Lido. The Majestic Lido and the Majestic Cinema. Together, owned, run, operated by the Bancroft couple. Hear their story over the next few weeks on the Planet Reigate podcast. Now, Bancroft Road is not actually really named after someone called Harry Bancroft, because Harry Bancroft didn't actually exist. At least, that wasn't his original name.

He was actually born Henry Abraham in around 1873 into a Jewish family living in Whitechapel. Harry had a quick wit and a good voice, and from the age of 15 in the late 1880s, he trod the stage of many a London and suburban music hall as an entertainer in a double act with his sister Fanny, who actually used the name Rosa on the stage, and they called themselves the Bancrofts.

He was actually born Henry Abraham in around 1873 into a Jewish family living in Whitechapel. Harry had a quick wit and a good voice, and from the age of 15 in the late 1880s, he trod the stage of many a London and suburban music hall as an entertainer in a double act with his sister Fanny, who actually used the name Rosa on the stage, and they called themselves the Bancrofts.

OK, so why did they actually change their name? Well, despite never actually using Abraham on the stage, Harry and his siblings didn't legally become Bancroft until the mid-1930s, with the rise of fascism across Europe. Yeah, think about it. Abraham, 1930s, you know what was just around the corner. Anyway, back to our story. Now, Fanny married in 1902, and so she retired as his partner.

OK, so why did they actually change their name? Well, despite never actually using Abraham on the stage, Harry and his siblings didn't legally become Bancroft until the mid-1930s, with the rise of fascism across Europe. Yeah, think about it. Abraham, 1930s, you know what was just around the corner. Anyway, back to our story. Now, Fanny married in 1902, and so she retired as his partner.

And for a while, our hero Harry worked as a solo comic, actor, singer, until teaming up with an already successful music hall artiste and pantomime performer, glorious and glamorous Emmy Ames. who he actually went on to marry. Now, until World War I, they travelled the length and breadth of Britain very successfully with their double act, but they were getting increasingly worried.

And for a while, our hero Harry worked as a solo comic, actor, singer, until teaming up with an already successful music hall artiste and pantomime performer, glorious and glamorous Emmy Ames. who he actually went on to marry. Now, until World War I, they travelled the length and breadth of Britain very successfully with their double act, but they were getting increasingly worried.

Music halls were dying out because of the rise in popularity of the cinema, and they could see their income drying up, unless they, as we might say today, diversified or pivoted. Now, Reigate had a cinema, the Hippodrome in Bell Street, which had been opened in 1911. Originally, it was called the Palace Picture Drome. And in 1916, Harry and Emmy came to Reigate, saw it, and took it over.

Music halls were dying out because of the rise in popularity of the cinema, and they could see their income drying up, unless they, as we might say today, diversified or pivoted. Now, Reigate had a cinema, the Hippodrome in Bell Street, which had been opened in 1911. Originally, it was called the Palace Picture Drome. And in 1916, Harry and Emmy came to Reigate, saw it, and took it over.

And at the Priory sale in 1922, we've spoken about this before on the podcast, it was a time when an awful lot of land and buildings, which had been owned by Lady Summers, including Priory Park and Priory House, that whole private estate, and many other buildings around the town, they were sold off, as I say, in 1922, and Harry and Emmy got the freehold of the Palace Picture Drome, for £1,500.

And at the Priory sale in 1922, we've spoken about this before on the podcast, it was a time when an awful lot of land and buildings, which had been owned by Lady Summers, including Priory Park and Priory House, that whole private estate, and many other buildings around the town, they were sold off, as I say, in 1922, and Harry and Emmy got the freehold of the Palace Picture Drome, for £1,500.

That's about £7,000 in today's money. The cinema on the site of, well, where Wagamama's is today, had seating for 750 people and the hall had a sloping floor. and enough room to house an entire orchestra. So what more do we know about Emmy? Well, she seems to have been an extraordinary woman.

That's about £7,000 in today's money. The cinema on the site of, well, where Wagamama's is today, had seating for 750 people and the hall had a sloping floor. and enough room to house an entire orchestra. So what more do we know about Emmy? Well, she seems to have been an extraordinary woman.

The looks and talents to be on stage, and the business brain behind the development of this part of Reigate. Emmy Ames, as was, had been a singer and actor who established quite a name for herself in both the music halls and in pantomime, excelling in what were then known as trouser roles, which allowed glamorous women to show off their legs. Rather scandalous at the time.

The looks and talents to be on stage, and the business brain behind the development of this part of Reigate. Emmy Ames, as was, had been a singer and actor who established quite a name for herself in both the music halls and in pantomime, excelling in what were then known as trouser roles, which allowed glamorous women to show off their legs. Rather scandalous at the time.

And it was while touring that Emmy met Harry, and they formed a partnership on stage, in business, and in life as well. Now, the cinema business was not quite the end of Emmy's career as an entertainer on stage. The Hippodrome on Bell Street, like most cinemas before the talkies arrived, frequently alternated the programme of mostly short, silent films with live comic or musical acts –

And it was while touring that Emmy met Harry, and they formed a partnership on stage, in business, and in life as well. Now, the cinema business was not quite the end of Emmy's career as an entertainer on stage. The Hippodrome on Bell Street, like most cinemas before the talkies arrived, frequently alternated the programme of mostly short, silent films with live comic or musical acts –