King's Cinema
Old Market Street,
Bristol,
BS2
Old Market Street,
Bristol,
BS2
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Associated British Cinemas Ltd., J.F. Emery Circuit
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Located in the Old Market area of Bristol city centre. The former King’s Hall was converted into the King’s Cinema in 1911. In July 1920, it was closed for modernisation with a new facade and internal decorations, becoming one of Bristol’s most luxurious cinemas when it re-opened in May 1921.
There was a fire on 26th March 1926, and repairs were carried out, to re-open on 4th September 1926. In 1927 it was taken over by the J.F. Emery Circuit. On 11th March 1929, it was taken over by the Associated British Cinemas(ABC) chain. The King’s Cinema became the first in Bristol to screen sound films, when "The Singing Fool" srarring Al Jolson played four performances a day, for five weeks. Further modernisations were carried out in 1931, and the King’s Cinema became the main ABC cinema in the city.
The King’s Cinema was closed by ABC on 4th December 1976 with the (X) certificate double bill; "Hot Dreams" and "Man Hungry". The cinema stood empty for a while, and was demolished in December 1981 for an office block named King’s House to be built on the site, located on the corner of Old Market Street and Bond Street at Old Market Roundabout.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
A vintage photograph of the King’s Cinema in 1958:
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Inside the auditorium of the King’s Cinema in the 1920’s:
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Photographed during closing week in December 1976:
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the “X” rating in Britian is not the same as in the states,right Ken?
Correct Mike, In the 1950’s & 1960’s, an (X) certificate was given to horror films and films with a sexual content, and could only be viewed by persons over 16 years old. Strangely, nudist films (which were popular at that time and showed more bare flesh than the (X) certified sex films) were given an (A) certificate which meant that persons under 16 could view them if accompanied by a person over 16 years old. The reason is that they were considered ‘educational’!
another one of my places of employment during the late 60s as a projectionist where i met my wife. one of my all time favourite films was Bullitt steve mcqueen never got tired of showing it.
Made a rare visit to this fleapit in the late 70s . The building was very run down and have to say viwing the film was a bit off putting as rain from outside trickled in along walls and down aisles ( psychedelic it was not )