Film/Theatre Memorabilia Shops in London

Welcome to the board theatreman.

You could try the theatre/film section of Folyes, opposite the the Phoenix Theatre.

There also the National Theatre shop, however that (primarily) focuses on theatre. But right next store is the BFI who have a huge range of movie books and film memorabilia.

I hope this helps.

Enjoy your time in London.

I presume you are interested in historical memorabilia as well as new items and, if so, I can make a few suggestions but I would need other members to confirm whether or not those places are still going as I haven't actually visited them lately:

1. Travis and Emery in Cecil Court. A second-hand shop almost exclusively concerned with classical music but they used to have a small section on popular music and particularly musical theatre.

2. David Drummond at Pleasures of Past Times. Another shop in Cecil Court which deals with all kinds of historical theatrical memorabilia.

3. At Alfie's Antique Market at 13-25 Church Street, Marylebone (NW8 8DT), there used to be a dealer upstairs who sold second hand theatre programmes. I went there only a couple of times some years ago and bought a splendid selection of programmes, including the famous musicals of the 1920s and 30s at Drury Lane like 'Rose Marie' and 'The Desert Song' and then later shows like 'Oklahoma' and 'South Pacific' at what I considered very reasonable prices.

Can any other members say whether those three places are still going, especially No.3 above? I wouldn't want theatreman making the trip to Church Street to find that either the programme dealer was gone or indeed that Alfie's itself was no longer there!

Travis and Emery still there a couple of weeks ago.



I have had some luck in the past scouring the bookshops in Charing Cross Rd.





As this is provoking nostalgia, does anyone else remember the Soho record shop that sold only soundtracks? Bottom of Dean st, nr The French House?



This thread has prompted my memory and so an anecdote.

I used to be quite friendly with a client and his wife who were the most flamboyant couple I ever met. I have connections with the flower trade and one day he called from abroad in a panic saying he’d forgotten her Birthday (“today”) and his life wouldn’t be worth living if I couldn’t help him out. A few days earlier they had been watching a VHS(!) where Katherine Hepburn descended a staircase carrying a large bunch of flowers and his wife had said it was the most glamorous thing she’d ever seen. He wanted me to get those flowers for her. I’ve forgotten the name of the film but I called the now long gone Cinema Bookshop in Great Russell St and described this image to them. They asked for a few minutes and after going through their books surprised me by calling back and describing the image where she was clearly carrying Calla Lillies. Problem solved.

Aftermath. Sadly this heroic act only saved the day for a short time as it turned out this was a “marriage of convenience” which didn’t last. This all sounds like I’m describing something from Victorian days, but it was less than 30 years ago.

Thanks, Monkey. Yes, it seems from the website that Alfie's is still going (open Tuesday to Saturday) but the theatre programme dealer seems to have gone. As you say, it is indeed sad how London's specialist shops – including street market stalls – have gradually disappeared.

Welcome to the world of Amazon. They are not quite there yet, but very nearly so. Eventually you will be able to buy all the soundtracks and all the memorabilia they wish to sell you. The rest... won't exist. We sowed and now we are reaping.

Anyone else recall a shop called Flashbacks which used to sell film stills and lots of movie posters. Brought loads of stuff there to get signed over the years.

Thanks guys