shot of the exterior taken yesterday, now as the Pigalle nightclub, the lobby and staircase ceiling plasterwork has been restored, nothing remains of the auditorium (on view at least) http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/429778275/
it was demolished in 1993, the last film i saw there was “pretty woman” in 1989.
It has been a vacant lot ever since and only now are there proposed development plans for the site.
with spoilers
The film aired on UK TV on monday night, i watched it, its very well made and the fictional scenes blend seemlessly with the actual news footage used, the acting(by a cast of unknowns) is superb.
The film is actually very kind to Bush and portrays him as a nice guy, the premise of the film is the way the media and governments react in this situation and how people jump to the wrong conclusions, a muslim bystander is convicted on flimsy evidence and terrorism is blamed rather than the truth which is deemed too unlikely and hushed up (great twist at the end)
As far as cinemas chosing their programmes – its their business decision, in this case it seems that the decision is made on fear of upsetting the public or seeming un-patriotic based on media coverage of the film by people who havnt seen it, which is exactly what the film is all about in an ironic way.
Hi EdSolero,
yes it is my flickr photo, i took it in 1992 along with the other b/w shots of former theatres on 42nd st and eighth ave that are in my flickr account, the quality isnt great as they are scanned from photos, i wish i had taken close-up photos.
sadly the council have plans for a mulitplex on the neighbouring cleared site above a market/shop complex, which has discouraged cinema operators from taking on the expense of restoring and reopening the Granada, with some imagination the cinema could be the main screen and entrance for this proposed mulitplex as the lobby area is huge.
woody
commented about
KOKOon
Sep 8, 2006 at 12:45 am
here are some recent shots of this fabulous building (taken at an MTV Scissor Sisters concert), the interior is still very like an edwardian theatre, a riot of super camp plasterwork, the lobby remains very tasteful but the auditorium is bright “tarts lipstick” red, with gold and glitter applied everywhere
woody
commented about
Cinemaon
Aug 22, 2006 at 11:35 pm
Soon to be reopened by the lovely peope who run the nearby Genesis Mile End.
This will be called the Genesis Hoxton.
The following email message went out to people on the Genesis Cinemas database on August 18th…
Genesis will be on BBC London news on BBC1 tonight around 6.30pm with a
report about its latest venture the new Genesis Hoxton cinema.
The cinema is situated on Pitfield St right next to Hoxton square and Old St
and is due to open sometime within the next 18 months. The report tonight
from outside Genesis Whitechapel will have insight into the new project and
comments about the benefits it’ll give to you the Genesis customer. More
screens, more choice, more movies!
the whole block is due for redevelopment, surprisingly a lot remains internally of the futurist, there are large holes in the roof that have destroyed some sections of the plasterwork in the auditorium but nothing that could not be repaired, if would be wonderful if the building could be retained as so much of liverpools historic buildings have been lost recently.
heres a link with pics of the the cinema in its heyday
and heres a link to a performance on stage in 2004 (filmed by REPOMAN director alex cox) showing a remarkable complete auditorium contrary to reports that the whole ceiling has collapsed
the interior was remarkable intact and had very ornate organ grills
manchester council really doesnt give a toss about its cinema heritage, recent demolitions include the capitol didsbury, rialto salford, ambasador salford and very likely soon the former paramount/odeon in the city centre, all swept away so that really ugly cheap sheds could go up, its my home town and i hate going back there now its lost so much character
a couple of recent shots of the facade including a lobby shot (which must be a recent reconstruction as this area of the theatre was totally gutted a few years back during the extensive renovation – see the last photo)
nightime shot of the exterior of the plaza building, with the discrete apollo entrance on the lower left side
View link
shot of the exterior taken yesterday, now as the Pigalle nightclub, the lobby and staircase ceiling plasterwork has been restored, nothing remains of the auditorium (on view at least)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/429778275/
heres is a shot of the exterior taken yesterday
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/429785471/
recent photograph of the exterior
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/376922682/
recent photograph taken Jan 2007
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/376922673/
it was demolished in 1993, the last film i saw there was “pretty woman” in 1989.
It has been a vacant lot ever since and only now are there proposed development plans for the site.
Hi,
here are some shots from the end of it life and its demolition
View link
View link
with spoilers
The film aired on UK TV on monday night, i watched it, its very well made and the fictional scenes blend seemlessly with the actual news footage used, the acting(by a cast of unknowns) is superb.
The film is actually very kind to Bush and portrays him as a nice guy, the premise of the film is the way the media and governments react in this situation and how people jump to the wrong conclusions, a muslim bystander is convicted on flimsy evidence and terrorism is blamed rather than the truth which is deemed too unlikely and hushed up (great twist at the end)
As far as cinemas chosing their programmes – its their business decision, in this case it seems that the decision is made on fear of upsetting the public or seeming un-patriotic based on media coverage of the film by people who havnt seen it, which is exactly what the film is all about in an ironic way.
Hi EdSolero,
yes it is my flickr photo, i took it in 1992 along with the other b/w shots of former theatres on 42nd st and eighth ave that are in my flickr account, the quality isnt great as they are scanned from photos, i wish i had taken close-up photos.
and here in the mid 90's
View link
a mid 80’s shot showing the harem/deuce in all its sleazy glory, so different to the miserable strip of theme bars its become today
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/78605130/
The building was open to the public for London open House weekend, here are some shots of the maazing interior
lobby areas
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/246884748/
View link
View link
View link
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View link
View link
follow spot lights
View link
former projection suite (now VIP bar)
View link
auditorium
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/246884751/
View link
View link
View link
View link
View link
View link
exterior 16th sept 2006
View link
sadly the council have plans for a mulitplex on the neighbouring cleared site above a market/shop complex, which has discouraged cinema operators from taking on the expense of restoring and reopening the Granada, with some imagination the cinema could be the main screen and entrance for this proposed mulitplex as the lobby area is huge.
here are some recent shots of this fabulous building (taken at an MTV Scissor Sisters concert), the interior is still very like an edwardian theatre, a riot of super camp plasterwork, the lobby remains very tasteful but the auditorium is bright “tarts lipstick” red, with gold and glitter applied everywhere
exterior at night
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/230987161/
exterior by day
View link
auditorium side wall boxes
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/230987170/
View link
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/54538473/
another shot as The Other Cinema, has been stripped out internally.
heres a shot of the former Cinema Casino, currently a nightclub called Mansion taken in march 2006
View link
and here is a shot of the rear of the building showing the fly tower
View link
Soon to be reopened by the lovely peope who run the nearby Genesis Mile End.
This will be called the Genesis Hoxton.
The following email message went out to people on the Genesis Cinemas database on August 18th…
Genesis will be on BBC London news on BBC1 tonight around 6.30pm with a
report about its latest venture the new Genesis Hoxton cinema.
The cinema is situated on Pitfield St right next to Hoxton square and Old St
and is due to open sometime within the next 18 months. The report tonight
from outside Genesis Whitechapel will have insight into the new project and
comments about the benefits it’ll give to you the Genesis customer. More
screens, more choice, more movies!
a 2006 view here, the building really looks like its been stripped down to the bare brick
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/63348943/
the whole block is due for redevelopment, surprisingly a lot remains internally of the futurist, there are large holes in the roof that have destroyed some sections of the plasterwork in the auditorium but nothing that could not be repaired, if would be wonderful if the building could be retained as so much of liverpools historic buildings have been lost recently.
heres a link with pics of the the cinema in its heyday
View link
and heres a link to a performance on stage in 2004 (filmed by REPOMAN director alex cox) showing a remarkable complete auditorium contrary to reports that the whole ceiling has collapsed
View link
is this the former plaza art?
front shot
View link
and rear shot
View link
another photo here from around 1986, when it was a bingo and social club
View link
the interior was remarkable intact and had very ornate organ grills
manchester council really doesnt give a toss about its cinema heritage, recent demolitions include the capitol didsbury, rialto salford, ambasador salford and very likely soon the former paramount/odeon in the city centre, all swept away so that really ugly cheap sheds could go up, its my home town and i hate going back there now its lost so much character
a couple of recent shots of the facade including a lobby shot (which must be a recent reconstruction as this area of the theatre was totally gutted a few years back during the extensive renovation – see the last photo)
View link
View link
View link
View link
more recent shots of this stunning building (my favorite tropical deco cinema), including a lobby shot
View link
View link
View link
View link
nothing remains externally of the marquee, heres a recent pic taken from the same spot as the main pic above
View link
looks like most of the building has been demolished and just part of the facade remains