Embassy / Ambassador Hall
The Embassy Dance Hall, and then the Ambassador Theatre, occupied the same building at different periods. It was located on the west corner of Gresham Street and Royal Parade, St John’s Wood. Construction occurred in 1928 and was built for Frank Fraser Ltd. It was an all timber structure of 33.5m x 17m with a 6.5m ceiling height. Entry was from the Enoggera Creek end via a twin flight of stairs to a wide verandah. The Hall had side alcoves, a raised stage, two change rooms, a small apartment and a side refreshment counter. Male and female toilets were under the building at the creek end.
Initially it began as a Cabaret style dance on Friday nights with simple dance evenings and private functions at other times. Many of the patrons came by electric tram to the terminus at Oleander Drive and then by special bus to the hall; others walked or came by motor car. Associated with the Hall were four tennis courts on the west side with high wire netting fences. These were flood-lit for night use.
During the Second World War, the 2/1st Australian Chemical Warfare Laboratory of the Australian Army took over the hall and adjacent tennis courts between 1943 and 1945. This was a secretive unit where all sorts of chemical gases and munitions were tested.
In 1947, Bert Hyde became the owner of the building and lived in the enclosed verandah. He converted the hall into a picture theatre which he called the Ambassador Theatre. He built a projection room through the roof, put a screen on the stage and installed canvas seats. Screenings occurred on Saturday nights. The small structure on the west side was converted into a grocery shop which served the patrons on picture nights as well as the residents of St John’s Wood.
With the advent of television in 1959, its popularity waned and on 17 December 1960 the last regular screening occurred. The Hall was still used for other functions such as square dances and pop bands. Bert Hyde died in 1970 and the building was sold.
The 1974 flood did not affect the building structurally but it was becoming somewhat derelict and the BCC issued a notice to the new owners to demolish the building, thus ending the life of the building which had served the community for 46 years.
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Embassy Dance Hall
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Ambassador Theatre with Enoggera Creek in flood. Note projection box on end roof.
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Grocery Store exterior
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Grocery Store interior
Read more about this topic: St Johns Wood, Queensland
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