Plaza Cinerama Theatre
Granby Row,
Dublin
D1
Granby Row,
Dublin
D1
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Additional Info
Firms: Batchelor & Hicks, Stephenson, Gibney and Associates
Previous Names: Dorset Picture House, Plaza Cinema
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Originally built in 1789 as a chapel, it later became a church before its conversion into the 800-seat Dorset Picture House in 1911, to the plans or architectural firm Batchelor & Hicks. It was operated by a Mr. W. Shanly. In around 1928 it was re-named Plaza Cinema and in later years had a reputation as being ‘a bit of a rough house’.
In 1967 it was converted into a Cinerama theatre opening on 28th September 1967 with “Grand Prix”. Designed by the architectural firm Stephenson, Gibney and Associates of Dublin, the auditorium had been transformed into a modern curtained space with a floor to ceiling screen. The façade boasted a new look with a 15ft high Cinerama logo sign. Closed on 28th July 1981, the former Plaza Cinema was converted into the National Wax Museum. Situated on a prominent corner site on Granby Row and Dorset Street Upper, the building was clad externally and was barely recognisable as a cinema.
It was closed and demolished in 2005 and hotel built on the site.
Contributed by
Ian Grundy
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
The former Plaza Cinema which housed the Wax Museum is now closed as the owner is going to demolish it and turn the land in to a hotel
Cinema / Wax Museum was completely demolished in late 2005 for redevelopment. This former church, later Dorset / Plaza Cinema was reduced to bare ground and is, I believe, to be redeveloped as apartments.
A picture of the former Dorset / Plaza /Cinerama Cinema taken shortly before its demolition in 2005 is at
View link
This photo shows it as the National Wax Museum (closed), which was the final use of this building and with exterior advertising features promoting the Wax Museum.
There is now a Comfort Inn open on the site of this cinema.
Here is the picture of the same site now
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jgcsm71/2731908514/
The Plaza Cinerama was the only proper widescreen in Dublin to watch “2001: A Space Odyssey”.
One of the best Cinerama theatres that I ever visited. I think the problem was its location!
There are early references to this place as ‘Shanley’s Picture Hall’.
Architectural firm the initial conversion from church were Batchelor & Hicks, plans of 1911 for ‘Conversion into cinema of former Bethesda Church on corner of Dorset St Upper’.
The conversion from a chapel to a cinema was for W. Shanly, not Shaulay as per the main text. Shanly had a small, but growing group of cinemas dotted around the UK and here in Dublin.