Essoldo Collyhurst

Opened in December 1937 as the Rivoli Cinema adjacent to the World War I memorial on Rochdale Road, Collyhurst, it was operated by Ben Kanter who operated two other Rivoli Cinema’s in Manchester (at Gorton and on Barlow Moor Road).

In Kinematograph Year Book 1937 it is described as seating 1,194 and having RCA sound and a 45ft proscenium. KYB 1942 gives 38 Deansgate, Manchester, as the business address for Ben Kanter; seating has crept up to 1,195.

In 1946 it was taken over by the Newcastle based Essoldo Cinema chain. In KYB 1947 it is still the Rivoli Cinema though the proprietors are Essoldo Circuit (Control) Limited of 42 Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne. Film bookings are at 36 Gerrard Street, London W1. There are now 1,196 seats.

The name Essoldo is used in KYB 1950, and bookings have moved to 52 Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1; they moved again in KYB 1954, to 7 Hay Hill, London W1.

It was closed as a cinema on 5th February 1966 with Peter O'Toole in “Lord Jim”. It became a Lucky 7 Bingo Club on 16th March 1966, which had TV star Michael Miles appearing ‘in person’. It was later demolished.

The site can be located by finding the World War I memorial, which was located at the screen end of the building. However (in early 2014) there are controversial plans for Manchester City Council to remove it.

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