The stretch of land between what is now the Gentings Casino the Esplanade Public House, on the lower level of Western Esplanade, used to be filled with music and merriment when there was a music hall located there.
The photo was sourced by Jon Wennington, member of the in Ros Southend Past in Photos. Old Southend and memories Facebook group.
It depicts The Floral Hall in 1930 when the hall had been there for ten years, from a book by Ken Crowe.
It was not called Floral Hall until 1921 and was a replacement for Happy Valley bandstand where controversial music hall star G.H.Chirgwin and his players performed.
There was a music tradition there dating back before 1909. According to the Southend Timeline website, the original Clifftown Parade bandstand was built in 1902 and was relocated to the Happy valley site in 1909 when the Clifftown site was increased in size to cope with the demand of people visiting.
The relatively gentle slope of the cliffs provided a natural amphitheatre, and there was racked seating facing a stage which could accommodate an audience, a charge was placed upon the seating area, however, the footpaths to the back of the site remained free.
Sadly, the hall was destroyed by a fire in August 1937.
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