Tony’s Dance Hall

Tony’s was situated next to the Hippodrome, and the entrance was incorporated into the theatre buildings in the 1920’s under the new name “Tony’s Dance Hall”. A car dealership was located on the ground floor. Between the dance hall building and the corner of Thorp Street were three shops and The Rodney pub. During the bombing raid in December 1940 the dance hall suffered a direct hit, but the theatre, the pub and the three shops survived.

The next two photographs were taken on the morning after the raid showing the damage to the dance hall building.

Even The Hippodrome’s exotic tower survived the raid and lived on for another 20 years. After WW2 the property was renovated and continued to be one of the most a popular dance venues in Birmingham during the 1950’s. It changed its name to the Ambassador, and was finally closed in the early 1960’s. The dance hall was originally owned by the Kirsch family.

After demolition the building now known as Albany House stands on the site. The “Albany” name refers to the hotel built about 100 yards away during the 1960s on the corner of Hill Street and Smallbrook Ringway/Queensway.

The ground floor of Albany House is made up of various Chinese restaurants, bookmakers, and a cabaret club. The property was constructed between 1963- 1965 and has been recently refurbished.

Around the corner from Tony’s and Albany House is Thorp Street – so let’s find out what is along here.