In August 2024 the former Derby Arms public house, next door to the theatre, opened as an extension. On the ground floor there is a new box office, and then a spacious new bar. Upstairs there is a community hall which can be hired. In the courtyard at the back of the pub / side of the theatre, there are new build connections between the two buildings, incorporating lift access between differing levels. The pub had been purchased several years ago and was in a semi derelict state, but funding of over £1million from the Levelling Up fund has enabled the Hippodrome to enact the planned works.
The photos above show very little of the Empire, being more of the former Victoria Opera House, next door to the Empire. In the B&W photo the Empire is hidden behind the bus, and in the more recent image it is the plain black facade inbetween the small white building and the frontage with 3 windows and lights.
This photo (not mine) clearly shows that at some point the Odeon / Classic was adapted for cinemascope with a new wide screen forward of the original proscenium:-
The architects for the scheme were Covell Matthews, with interior design by Burrows Little. The largest capacity screen is the 264 seat IMAX screen 1 (the screen is 10.85m tall and 19.87m wide), with the smallest (Screen 3) coming in at 36 seats, often used for private hires and containing its own kitchenette for catering. The largest conventional screen is No.7 with around 140 seats, the ones in-between accommodate between 44 and 78. Screens 1,3 & 7 are fully equipped for conference and business meetings with each chair having a power socket. On the ground floor is the 100 cover Backlot Diner. There is a strong community ethos within the cinema, with discounts for local residents, Parent Club & Golden Age screenings, and involvement with local festivals. The overall scheme has been facilitated by £5m of funding from the government’s COVID-19 Getting Building Fund, following formal approval by the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP) in October 2020. Blackpool Council funded the balance of the scheme. The Backlot is distinctly above average for a multiplex, and a vast improvement on the former Odeon Rigby Road, which closed before the new cinema opened.
The upper level of the old cinema auditorium seems to have reopened as a theatre - the Old Electric - is use for a variety of events. The seating appears to be the old screen end, with some surviving plasterwork on the ceiling. Entrance is now from the side of the building in Springfield Road.
The Grand was demolished in 2018, and has been replaced with shops and apartments. After Chicago Rock Cafe closed (when the group went into administration), it became a nightclub called Wonder Lounge which also closed suddenly in 2013.
The Summerland Complex was badly affected by RAAC (concrete cancer) and was scheduled to close at the end of 2003 - an ABBA tribute concert was the closing event on New Year’s Eve. Earlier, in October 2002, concrete blocks from the original complex were dislodged, and the Piazza Level was closed immediately as a safety precaution - a preview and subsequent run of “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” suddenly cancelled. After monitoring and movement indicators were put in place, the Piazza reopened for the final season in May 2003 (some other parts of Summerland had opened in December 2002). A delay in the refurbishment of Villa Marina, meant that Summerland was briefly put back into use in the February 2004 half-term for transferred events - I have not found any evidence, and think it’s unlikely, that the cinema was reused during this week.
Internal stripping was started in 2005, but actual demolition (a few rear parts remain) took place January-March 2006.
I came across the remains of the Olympia Theatre recently, and this should not be recorded as “demolished”. Woolworths converted the store with minimal alteration, later they demolished (circa 1970) the facade and foyer to put a modern entrance onto the store, as can be seen in the CT photos.
However, the auditorium, stage and dressing rooms survive, which can be seen by looking at google earth and my images here:-
Talking to the manager - I was not allowed up - the warehouse at former balcony level retains the theatre ceiling and “some statues”, and what might be the balcony stepping.
The ‘last ever pantomime at the Tivoli’ (Snow White) took place in January 2019, and the theatre was demolished very soon after. It has been replaced by Tivoli Square, a mixed housing / retail development, but there does not appear to be a replacement theatre.
The 1954 Kinematograph Yearbook, shows the Palace (renamed Mayfair Junior) operating with 600 seats and a 28ft wide screen. I believe that the new Mayfair, designed by Joseph Gomersall, opened in June 1956, and this is when the ‘Junior’ - ex Palace - would have closed.
The cinema did not open in 1947, I have recently learned, but on the 5th June 1956 according to a newspaper report, supported by the 1954 Kinematograph Yearbook which lists as open, the Mayfair Junior (former Palace Cinema) which had been reopened following the original Mayfair’s destruction by fire in 1941. Rebuilding under wartime restrictions would probably not have been achievable by 1947. It closed (according to the same report) on 29th September 1994, having been twinned seemingly between 1974 and 1976.
Photo of Screen 1 with the new seating, taken in July 2024
SAVOY - Screen 1
In August 2024 the former Derby Arms public house, next door to the theatre, opened as an extension. On the ground floor there is a new box office, and then a spacious new bar. Upstairs there is a community hall which can be hired. In the courtyard at the back of the pub / side of the theatre, there are new build connections between the two buildings, incorporating lift access between differing levels. The pub had been purchased several years ago and was in a semi derelict state, but funding of over £1million from the Levelling Up fund has enabled the Hippodrome to enact the planned works.
In mid-July 2024 Screen 1 was closed to be reseated with luxury rockers and recliners, reducing the capacity to 130. It reopened on 19th July.
The Studio Cinemas were demolished in 2018.
The photos above show very little of the Empire, being more of the former Victoria Opera House, next door to the Empire. In the B&W photo the Empire is hidden behind the bus, and in the more recent image it is the plain black facade inbetween the small white building and the frontage with 3 windows and lights.
The Reel (Manchester Road) was demolished in June / July 2024
This photo (not mine) clearly shows that at some point the Odeon / Classic was adapted for cinemascope with a new wide screen forward of the original proscenium:-
Odeon as store
The architects for the scheme were Covell Matthews, with interior design by Burrows Little. The largest capacity screen is the 264 seat IMAX screen 1 (the screen is 10.85m tall and 19.87m wide), with the smallest (Screen 3) coming in at 36 seats, often used for private hires and containing its own kitchenette for catering. The largest conventional screen is No.7 with around 140 seats, the ones in-between accommodate between 44 and 78. Screens 1,3 & 7 are fully equipped for conference and business meetings with each chair having a power socket. On the ground floor is the 100 cover Backlot Diner. There is a strong community ethos within the cinema, with discounts for local residents, Parent Club & Golden Age screenings, and involvement with local festivals. The overall scheme has been facilitated by £5m of funding from the government’s COVID-19 Getting Building Fund, following formal approval by the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP) in October 2020. Blackpool Council funded the balance of the scheme. The Backlot is distinctly above average for a multiplex, and a vast improvement on the former Odeon Rigby Road, which closed before the new cinema opened.
Photos from May 2024:-
EXTERIOR
FOYER
FOYER
FOYER
Screen 1 - IMAX
Screen 1 - IMAX
Screen 7
Screen 3
A 2024 shot of the completed rebuild - still no confirmation of the cinema reopening.
GAUMONT Chelsea - exterior
A few photos from the Cinema Theatre Association visit in April 2024
APOLLO Exterior at rear
APOLLO Foyer
APOLLO Balcony
APOLLO Auditorium from rear
APOLLO Auditorium from stage
APOLLO Projection portholes
The upper level of the old cinema auditorium seems to have reopened as a theatre - the Old Electric - is use for a variety of events. The seating appears to be the old screen end, with some surviving plasterwork on the ceiling. Entrance is now from the side of the building in Springfield Road.
Old Electric Website
Film shows ceased when the Savoy Cinema opened.
More images from 2010 here:-
TOOTING GRANADA - Exterior
TOOTING GRANADA - Hall of Mirrors
TOOTING GRANADA - Balcony
TOOTING GRANADA - Entrance Foyer
TOOTING GRANADA - Stage
The Grand was demolished in 2018, and has been replaced with shops and apartments. After Chicago Rock Cafe closed (when the group went into administration), it became a nightclub called Wonder Lounge which also closed suddenly in 2013.
Hi Biffaskin,
I believe it is correct. All sources seem to agree on the date of opening (for example - in some detail):- Bradford Timeline
and Dawson does not seem to have started work until around 1922:- Manchester Architects
Perhaps it replaced an earlier cinema?
An unlisted building on a large island site - the former Odeon must surely be at severe risk now.
Current views of the Odeon Covent Garden (December 2023) here:-
SCREEN 1
SCREEN 2
SCREEN 4
Some photos, taken in September 2023 at the Open City event, of the cinema as the Zoroastrian Centre
EXTERIOR
FOYER
AUDITORIUM
CEILING
The Summerland Complex was badly affected by RAAC (concrete cancer) and was scheduled to close at the end of 2003 - an ABBA tribute concert was the closing event on New Year’s Eve. Earlier, in October 2002, concrete blocks from the original complex were dislodged, and the Piazza Level was closed immediately as a safety precaution - a preview and subsequent run of “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” suddenly cancelled. After monitoring and movement indicators were put in place, the Piazza reopened for the final season in May 2003 (some other parts of Summerland had opened in December 2002). A delay in the refurbishment of Villa Marina, meant that Summerland was briefly put back into use in the February 2004 half-term for transferred events - I have not found any evidence, and think it’s unlikely, that the cinema was reused during this week. Internal stripping was started in 2005, but actual demolition (a few rear parts remain) took place January-March 2006.
Summerland ruins 2023
I came across the remains of the Olympia Theatre recently, and this should not be recorded as “demolished”. Woolworths converted the store with minimal alteration, later they demolished (circa 1970) the facade and foyer to put a modern entrance onto the store, as can be seen in the CT photos.
However, the auditorium, stage and dressing rooms survive, which can be seen by looking at google earth and my images here:-
side wall - old brickwork, former exit, upto stage
former dressing rooms and stage (altered to accommodate goods lift)
Talking to the manager - I was not allowed up - the warehouse at former balcony level retains the theatre ceiling and “some statues”, and what might be the balcony stepping.
Still going strong in 2023:-
PALACE CINEMA - exterior
PALACE CINEMA - Screen 1 auditorium
PALACE CINEMA - Screen 1 screen
PALACE CINEMA - Screen 2
Empire Cinemas went into administration on 6th July 2023, so the prospect of this cinema reopening any time soon are now remote
The ‘last ever pantomime at the Tivoli’ (Snow White) took place in January 2019, and the theatre was demolished very soon after. It has been replaced by Tivoli Square, a mixed housing / retail development, but there does not appear to be a replacement theatre.
The 1954 Kinematograph Yearbook, shows the Palace (renamed Mayfair Junior) operating with 600 seats and a 28ft wide screen. I believe that the new Mayfair, designed by Joseph Gomersall, opened in June 1956, and this is when the ‘Junior’ - ex Palace - would have closed.
The cinema did not open in 1947, I have recently learned, but on the 5th June 1956 according to a newspaper report, supported by the 1954 Kinematograph Yearbook which lists as open, the Mayfair Junior (former Palace Cinema) which had been reopened following the original Mayfair’s destruction by fire in 1941. Rebuilding under wartime restrictions would probably not have been achievable by 1947. It closed (according to the same report) on 29th September 1994, having been twinned seemingly between 1974 and 1976.