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Evening Star, Issue 22526, 19 December 1936, Page 4

“ALLY PALLY" INTEREST 1H ALEXANDRA PALACE Tho coming of television to Alexandra Palace, or “ Ally Pally ” as it is affectionately known, has given a new lease of life to the old building which has for so long dominated the northern heights of London. At weekends and during the holidays enormous crowds patrol the beautiful grounds and gaze at the 300 ft mast which has become so prominent a feature of the landscape. The park, with its 180 acres, which is one of London’s finest open spaces, is being discovered by many who have been in the vicinity all their lives and have had no idea of tho treasure at their doors. Tho racecourse in front of the Palace has long been a familiar object to hundreds of thousands of followers of the “ sport of kings.” It is the nearest racecourse to London, and is patronised by people who never find l time to get to any other. It is hoped that it will be possible to televise the races as well as many of the other sporting and musical events which are a part of the normal activities of the Palace. Several exhibitions are held during the year which will provide suitable material for televising. The first Alexandra Palace, which was opened in 1873, was erected with materials from tho International Exhibition of 1862. A few w r eeks after the opening it was almost completely destroyed by fire. The following morning the owners decided to rebuild, and) ’ the present massive’structure was opened in May, 1875. On August 4, 1914, the War Office took over the whole of the Palace and the park* first as a clearing house for Belgian refugees (over 30,000 passed through it), and subsequently as an internment camp for German prisoners. The Palace is now under the control of trustees appointed l by various local authorities in North London. The trustees have endeavoured to foster music, dramatic art, and sports of every description. The inauguration of a television service is true to the ideals of the trustees. !