The original building was a glass-clad structure constructed in 1875, similar to the
Crystal Palace in
London. It was appropriately named the Crystal Palace of the Summer and Winter Gardens
The Rolling Stones played the venue on 23 August 1964; the planned support group,
The Paramounts missed the gig due to a van breakdown.
Jimi Hendrix performed at the Winter Gardens in 1967,
T. Rex,
Deep Purple and
King Crimson in 1971,
Pink Floyd in 1972,
Elton John in both 1972 and 1973,
David Bowie,
Mott the Hoople and
Wings in 1973 and
Queen in 1974.
Whitesnake and
Magnum (band) played the venue in November 1978.
Rolf Harris had a summer residence at the Gardens, as did
Morecambe and Wise,
Bob Hope and
Jack Benny. The venue also occasionally showed films and
wrestling matches. In 1997, the theatre saw a meeting of football fans concerned with saving the debt-ridden
A.F.C. Bournemouth. However, by this time, the theatre was in decline. Music groups preferred bigger venues and there was an excessive number of theatres in the town. ==Redevelopment==