Variety theatres in the UK also presented films as part of the programme. At the time, in the early days of cinema, they were the only opportunity for the population to experience this new form of entertainment.
When stores/shops and roller skating rinks were being converted into cinemas they initially would only be screening shorts and newsreels. The same in the USA with Nickelodeon’s, which begs the question are these cinemas?
Theatres such as the Hammerstein’s Victoria should be listed on Cinema Treasures as they are an important and a least documented part of the history and evolution of cinema presentation. According to Damien Farley’s posting on Sept 10th, the Victoria was screening ‘motion picture dramas’ in 1914.
Opened on 12th October 1936 with Sir Cedric Hardwick starring in “Tudor Rose” + a variety show ‘Bric-a-Brac’, Universal Talking News and a Walt Disney cartoon short “Cock O' the Walk”.
Two other pieces of information:
The architect Henry F. Elder was aged 27 when he designed this ‘super cinema’.
During the war, after the bombing of the free trade Hall in Manchester city centre, the Halle Orchestra appeared at the Longford Theatre.
I have information that the Curzon Cinema opened in December 1936. It had a 20feet deep stage, a proscenium opening of 45 feet and 3 dressing rooms. Operated as an independent it was taken over by G.B. Snape Circuit in the mid-1950’s.
In the 1960’s it was altered to become a twin screen cinema and a Bingo Hall. The two screens were name Major (400 seats) and Minor (134 seats).
Opened as the Longford Theatre in 1936. It was designed by architect Henry F. Elder of the Manchester firm of architects Roberts, Wood & Elder for the independent operators Jackson & Newport. Initially it was going to be a live theatre with some film use, but went the other way and opened with films with some stage use.
It was one of the most unusually designed cinemas to be built in the UK. The young architect was only in his 20’s when he came up with marvelous Art Deco design. There were two entrances, the main one on Chester Road was originally set well back from the road and had a courtyard (since road widening the building now abutts the pavement. The facade on this entrance is shaped like a giant 1930’s cash register and was originally faced with ceramic tiles. The other entrance on Edge Lane had a semi-circular recess above the canopy and a concrete column stood in the recess which must originally have had the name of the theatre on it.
There was a cafe that sat 146 persons and the fully equipped stage was 25feet deep. It was the first cinema in the north of England to have electric storage radiators in piping under the seats and the first to have blue neon lighting to light the aisles.
In August 1950 the Longford Theatre was taken over by the Essoldo Circuit and it was re-named Essoldo. It continued screening films until closing in September 1965.
It was converted into a Bingo Club and this lasted for many years. Since bingo pulled out it has sat closed and boarded up (at least 10 years).
The Empress Theatre is listed in the American Motion Picture Directory 1914 -1915. The address given is 550 West 181st Street, so a slight re-numbering has occurred.
The Empress is listed in Film Daily Yearbook;1926 edition with a seating capacity of 600. It retains this seating capacity in F.D.Y. for several decades, until 1957 when it is listed as having 596 seats.
The retail unit operating out of the building is now called ‘Astral Mart Plaza’. It uses the main entrance on 181st street and another entrance has been punched into the screen end of the building on Audubon Avenue. There is a false ceiling inside, so not much to see of its cinematic decoration.
The Empress could have been known in its last years of operation as the Astral Theatre screening Spanish language films and Hollywood films with Spanish subtitles or dubbed.
Thing is lostmemory, that was then, now it looks like they have added screens and possibly built them onto adjoining land? Is the original auditorium intact? Without a phone call to the current theatre operators we will never know! lol
According to the developers, this building had ‘little architectural merit’! I wonder if future generations will say the same about what has been built on the site!
A 1970’s exterior view of the Odeon Biship Auckland here:
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A Christmas 1970 exterior photograph of the Odeon Barnsley here:
View link
Variety theatres in the UK also presented films as part of the programme. At the time, in the early days of cinema, they were the only opportunity for the population to experience this new form of entertainment.
When stores/shops and roller skating rinks were being converted into cinemas they initially would only be screening shorts and newsreels. The same in the USA with Nickelodeon’s, which begs the question are these cinemas?
Theatres such as the Hammerstein’s Victoria should be listed on Cinema Treasures as they are an important and a least documented part of the history and evolution of cinema presentation. According to Damien Farley’s posting on Sept 10th, the Victoria was screening ‘motion picture dramas’ in 1914.
Opened on 12th October 1936 with Sir Cedric Hardwick starring in “Tudor Rose” + a variety show ‘Bric-a-Brac’, Universal Talking News and a Walt Disney cartoon short “Cock O' the Walk”.
Two other pieces of information:
The architect Henry F. Elder was aged 27 when he designed this ‘super cinema’.
During the war, after the bombing of the free trade Hall in Manchester city centre, the Halle Orchestra appeared at the Longford Theatre.
Some small exterior photo’s and details here:
http://www.johnryan.org.uk/Essoldo.html
A larger, more recent photo of the Chester Road entrance here:
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ewm/ic8/15.jpg
The building is Listed Grade II.
A Winter 1987 exterior photograph (leaves on the trees obscure the view for 5 months of the year).
View link
I have information that the Curzon Cinema opened in December 1936. It had a 20feet deep stage, a proscenium opening of 45 feet and 3 dressing rooms. Operated as an independent it was taken over by G.B. Snape Circuit in the mid-1950’s.
In the 1960’s it was altered to become a twin screen cinema and a Bingo Hall. The two screens were name Major (400 seats) and Minor (134 seats).
Opened as the Longford Theatre in 1936. It was designed by architect Henry F. Elder of the Manchester firm of architects Roberts, Wood & Elder for the independent operators Jackson & Newport. Initially it was going to be a live theatre with some film use, but went the other way and opened with films with some stage use.
It was one of the most unusually designed cinemas to be built in the UK. The young architect was only in his 20’s when he came up with marvelous Art Deco design. There were two entrances, the main one on Chester Road was originally set well back from the road and had a courtyard (since road widening the building now abutts the pavement. The facade on this entrance is shaped like a giant 1930’s cash register and was originally faced with ceramic tiles. The other entrance on Edge Lane had a semi-circular recess above the canopy and a concrete column stood in the recess which must originally have had the name of the theatre on it.
There was a cafe that sat 146 persons and the fully equipped stage was 25feet deep. It was the first cinema in the north of England to have electric storage radiators in piping under the seats and the first to have blue neon lighting to light the aisles.
In August 1950 the Longford Theatre was taken over by the Essoldo Circuit and it was re-named Essoldo. It continued screening films until closing in September 1965.
It was converted into a Bingo Club and this lasted for many years. Since bingo pulled out it has sat closed and boarded up (at least 10 years).
Sandringham is considered a suburb of Melbourne – Victoria is the State name.
Two vintage exterior photographs from 1949 here:
View link
A side view here:
View link
Oopps… link to photo # 2 again here:
View link
More vintage exterior photographs of the Odeon Swiss Cottage here:
Exterior in 1949
View link
Exterior in 1956
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Exterior in 1968
View link
Some more historic details and a recent exterior photograph here:
http://www.tnunn.f2s.com/swisscot.htm
2004 photgraphs here:
Exterior View link
Circle foyer and entrance to Screen 1
View link
Auditorium Screen 1
View link
OOpps here is Link #3 again:
View link
Photographs of the Odeon Muswell Hill here:
An exterior night view in 1947.
View link
An exterior day view in November 1949.
View link
An exterior day view in 1956 with Lawrence Olivier in “Richard III” recieving an Odeon General Release.
View link
A good artists impression of the auditorium.
View link
The Empress Theatre is listed in the American Motion Picture Directory 1914 -1915. The address given is 550 West 181st Street, so a slight re-numbering has occurred.
The Empress is listed in Film Daily Yearbook;1926 edition with a seating capacity of 600. It retains this seating capacity in F.D.Y. for several decades, until 1957 when it is listed as having 596 seats.
The retail unit operating out of the building is now called ‘Astral Mart Plaza’. It uses the main entrance on 181st street and another entrance has been punched into the screen end of the building on Audubon Avenue. There is a false ceiling inside, so not much to see of its cinematic decoration.
The Empress could have been known in its last years of operation as the Astral Theatre screening Spanish language films and Hollywood films with Spanish subtitles or dubbed.
The Hi-Way is not listed in 1941 or 1943, so it must have opened in 1944/45. In 1950 F.D.Y. is has 400 seats.
Today B Street is known as Victorian Avenue.
Thing is lostmemory, that was then, now it looks like they have added screens and possibly built them onto adjoining land? Is the original auditorium intact? Without a phone call to the current theatre operators we will never know! lol
Listed as open in the 1950 F.D.Y. with a seating capacity of 360.
Hammerstein’s Victora Theatre, 42nd St & 7th Ave is listed in the American Motion Picture Directory 1914 – 1915.
The same publication also lists the Victoria Theatre, 42nd St & 7th Ave.
More history and a photograph of the ABC Romford here:
http://www.romford.org/cinemas/ritz-abc/abc.htm
According to the developers, this building had ‘little architectural merit’! I wonder if future generations will say the same about what has been built on the site!
This is what was lost…..
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ewm/17/lg/10.jpg
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ewm/17/lg/11.jpg
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ewm/17/lg/23.jpg
….and that’s just the outside!
May all concerned in this wanton destruction of our Heritage, hang their heads in shame.