Comments on: Ben Hur’s Stepney

By: Judith Lakewood

Judith Lakewood — Sat, 08 Aug 2020 14:26:04 +0000

The Palaceum cinema was in Commercial Road, the Ben Hur Cinema, also known as the Palaceadium address was 137a White Horse Road. Photos of the cinema have been published on the Cinema Treasures website. http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/15214/photos/219135

By: Melissa Solomon

Melissa Solomon — Mon, 07 Oct 2019 19:38:39 +0000

Thank you so much for sharing this. Henry (Ben Hur) and Abigal are my great grandparents. I am so proud of who they were and what they did, but so sad I never got to meet them. I will be sure to tell my children all about them and what they did

By: Maureen Cocklin

Maureen Cocklin — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 13:28:07 +0000

Thoroughly enjoyed the story and video. My parents met at Ben Hur’s in the early 50s. Also looking at The old road and Elsa Street on the video was nostalgic as my grandfather had a fruit and veg stall in the old road market and both my grandmother’s and grandfather’s family lived in Elsa Street. That’s how they met and married and my father was born there.

By: Paul kerslake

Paul kerslake — Tue, 29 May 2018 11:40:28 +0000

I watched my very first X film at the” Ben Hur”. It was “War of the Worlds” by Orson Wells. I was 14 and my nephew John Mason was 12, but he was much taller and bigger than me. When we walked towards the ticket office, we both had to have the feeling that we were much older as the X film only allowed entrance for those over 18. My nephew made it, but I was told I was under age. Five minutes later I made it just as the film started through the fire exit door. Needless to say I watched the film terrified half way down my seat, wondering what was coming next !

By: Barbara McHugh

Barbara McHugh — Sat, 11 Nov 2017 16:38:26 +0000

Superb! Watched this with a smile on my face and tears in my eyes. Urging all of my family to watch this as we originate from the East End. A world that has disappeared but brought back to life with this wonderful film. More please if possible.

By: Tom French

Tom French — Fri, 10 Nov 2017 12:29:47 +0000

Wow! What a marvellous film. Although I was born 3 years after it was made, the street scenes of old Stepney were great reminders. As a youth living there in the 1950’s I spent many evenings in the Ben Hur. I also went to the Palaseum in Commercial Road on many occasions. I recall that the first film I ever saw there was the rock & roll film “The girl can’t help it” I was surprised to read that the Palaseum was also know as the Ben Hur.

Tom French

By: Frenchie

Frenchie — Fri, 10 Nov 2017 08:22:01 +0000

Born in 44 still remember the great east end spirit, and all the coranation street party’s ,used the Ben Hur weekly , even the odd house brick rattling on the roof in the middle of a film,
Had a mod there after school picking up rubbish , no wage , got in free and kept what you found,, wonder what happened to old charle , a one Man band who ran the Ben Hur ? ,,
later life pints in the fish and ring , married in st Dunstans church,

By: Colin Allen

Colin Allen — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 20:11:24 +0000

WOW! What a fabulous movie. Being born in Bethnal Green in 1947 I can empathise with these images totally. I can not watch this without a tear in my eye.
A big thanks to the GA for bringing this to our attention.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 20:01:37 +0000

Love the film! The bobbed haircuts, the bobbies, the hats …!

Along with John the Poet, I thought of the impending war and how it would impact everyone pictured in so few years. But in the meantime … a good time was had by all. Including lots of fruit.

Thanks so much for sharing this, Gentle Author.

By: Joy Harris

Joy Harris — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 18:50:07 +0000

Neil Holbrook
I thought the same my Nan was 42 and my Mum 21 when the film was made . Mum & Dad married in St Dunstans Church that year.