The main screen at the Haymarket Carlton is one of the most attractive in the West End now, but there are lots of unused areas in the building that could have small screens squeezed into them, and the two lower screens could be rebuilt without loss.
The cinema is now run as a Community Interest Company, improvement works are scheduled later this year, including replacing some seats. Photographs from June 2016:–
Actually looking at photos, could this plasterwork be from the even earlier Capitol Cinema (1925)? The 1937 Gaumont was a bit more streamlined. Perhaps the back of the boxes?
Two photos of the gutted auditorium taken in 2015 when the space was being used as a temporary canteen. Interestingly there seems to be quite a bit of plasterwork remaining from the previous Gaumont – possibly from a corridor, possibly the auditorium, it is a bit difficult to place!
If I understood the manager correctly a few weeks back the maximum throw onto the screen in the Impact auditorium is smaller than the screen size and they are thinking of masking it down. See the photo link above “Impact screen from Balcony”
There is a considerable unused edge on the screen. I doubt that tabs are envisaged though!
“my question is, “back in the day,” was the average cinema-goer enthused by cinema interiors” …
Difficult to quantify but I suspect yes to a certain extent. The “roadshow” films had reserved seats, souvenir brochures, and an atmosphere more akin to theatre than cinema. And the way films were distributed through the circuits and regions made the venue more special. There was also very much a heirachy of flea pit through to posh cinemas – and a circle seat at a Palace was the place to be. I (and friends) certainly travelled some distances to get to a good cinema (Embassy Chesham).
But stark truth is – aren’t we just the dying act of the dinosaurs here (myself definitely included)?
I have been a member of the CTA (UK Cinema group)for 4 decades. There are still people there that I met on my first visits, but far fewer new members. The age of the stalls and circle cinema with even one set of screen tabs is largely over. It is great that there are still people who remember the style and glamour of the past – but that is what it is – the past. I try to capture it where I find it (Carlton Westgate take a bow) but I struggle to find the enthusiasm to photograph the average (and they are all average) multi-plex. I wish I had known of the future decimation of the Odeons and ABC’s back in the 1970’s – I would have tried much much harder to record them.
Looking into the future does anyone think there will be a multi-plex appreciation society? I don’t know if the blandness is consumer led or whether it is all todays cinema-goers know and expect, and I deplore the decline in presentation standards exacerbated by digital. At a live screening at the Reel in Grantham recently I had to go find someone to turn the house lights off after the interval, at the SJT in Scarborough last week it was full minute (there was a helpful on-screen clock) before anyone turned on the house lights after act 1 of Hangmen. It is all automated (badly) and showmanship has exited via the fire-escape ladder!
I am not sure if this cinema was ever called the Dovecot. There was a Dovecot Arts Centre, including cinema, which took its name from Dovecot Street, and was located next to the Hippodrome / Cannon, and it is this operation which transferred to the ARC which opened on the site of the Cannon & Dovecot in 1998.
An August 2016 photo here:–
GALA ROYAL
The former Gaumont is now closed and advertised “for sale” as a “redevelopment opportunity”
Photo (August 2016) here:–
BRISTOL GAUMONT
Some photos of the closed theatre being prepared for demolition in August 2016:–
ODEON MARBLE ARCH – OXFORD STREET
ODEON MARBLE ARCH – OXFORD STREET
ODEON MARBLE ARCH – EDGWARE ROAD ENTRANCE
Further photos 15 years later (taken August 2016) as the Komedia Bath :–
EXTERIOR
FOYER STAIRS
AUDITORIUM TO REAR
AUDITORIUM ACROSS BALCONY
AUDITORIUM TO STAGE
Some photos of this gorgeous little cinema, taken in August 2016, can be found here:–
EXTERIOR
SCREEN 1 AUDITORIUM TO SCREEN
SCREEN 1 AUDITORIUM TO SCREEN
SCREEN 1 AUDITORIUM TO REAR
SCREEN 2 AUDITORIUM
The main screen at the Haymarket Carlton is one of the most attractive in the West End now, but there are lots of unused areas in the building that could have small screens squeezed into them, and the two lower screens could be rebuilt without loss.
http://www.digitallook.com/news/news-and-announcements/cineworld-buys-five-cinemas-from-empire-for-94m—1644562.html
Looks like a rebrand – wonder what will happen to the Haymarket cinema?
The cinema is now run as a Community Interest Company, improvement works are scheduled later this year, including replacing some seats. Photographs from June 2016:–
ENTRANCE
AUDITORIUM TO SCREEN
AUDITORIUM TO REAR
Actually looking at photos, could this plasterwork be from the even earlier Capitol Cinema (1925)? The 1937 Gaumont was a bit more streamlined. Perhaps the back of the boxes?
Two photos of the gutted auditorium taken in 2015 when the space was being used as a temporary canteen. Interestingly there seems to be quite a bit of plasterwork remaining from the previous Gaumont – possibly from a corridor, possibly the auditorium, it is a bit difficult to place!
ODEON HAYMARKET – SCREEN END
ODEON HAYMARKET – RIGHT SIDE WALL
Photos from May 2016:–
EXTERIOR
FOYER
AUDTORIUM TO SCREEN
AUDITORIUM TO REAR
ACROSS BALCONY
The Olympia HAS now been completely demolished. The facade was not retained.
Hull Screen closed after a spell at the Reel in July 2014, having begun screenings there in September 2009.
This site in 2015 suggests there are substantial remains:–
LINK
Some photos of the theatre:–
EXTERIOR IN 1986
AUDITORIUM TO STAGE in 2015
AUDITORIUM FROM STAGE in 2015
If I understood the manager correctly a few weeks back the maximum throw onto the screen in the Impact auditorium is smaller than the screen size and they are thinking of masking it down. See the photo link above “Impact screen from Balcony”
There is a considerable unused edge on the screen. I doubt that tabs are envisaged though!
“my question is, “back in the day,” was the average cinema-goer enthused by cinema interiors” …
Difficult to quantify but I suspect yes to a certain extent. The “roadshow” films had reserved seats, souvenir brochures, and an atmosphere more akin to theatre than cinema. And the way films were distributed through the circuits and regions made the venue more special. There was also very much a heirachy of flea pit through to posh cinemas – and a circle seat at a Palace was the place to be. I (and friends) certainly travelled some distances to get to a good cinema (Embassy Chesham).
But stark truth is – aren’t we just the dying act of the dinosaurs here (myself definitely included)?
I have been a member of the CTA (UK Cinema group)for 4 decades. There are still people there that I met on my first visits, but far fewer new members. The age of the stalls and circle cinema with even one set of screen tabs is largely over. It is great that there are still people who remember the style and glamour of the past – but that is what it is – the past. I try to capture it where I find it (Carlton Westgate take a bow) but I struggle to find the enthusiasm to photograph the average (and they are all average) multi-plex. I wish I had known of the future decimation of the Odeons and ABC’s back in the 1970’s – I would have tried much much harder to record them.
Looking into the future does anyone think there will be a multi-plex appreciation society? I don’t know if the blandness is consumer led or whether it is all todays cinema-goers know and expect, and I deplore the decline in presentation standards exacerbated by digital. At a live screening at the Reel in Grantham recently I had to go find someone to turn the house lights off after the interval, at the SJT in Scarborough last week it was full minute (there was a helpful on-screen clock) before anyone turned on the house lights after act 1 of Hangmen. It is all automated (badly) and showmanship has exited via the fire-escape ladder!
Some photos of the revamped Empire taken in 2016:–
FACADE
IMAX SCREEN
IMPACT SCREEN FROM BALCONY
IMPACT SCREEN TO REAR
Some January 2016 shots of the gloriously restored Dome here:–
EXTERIOR
LOUNGE
BOXES AT REAR
AUDITORIUM TO SCREEN
AUDITORIUM TO REAR
Still showing films in this 1971 photo:–
EMPIRE CINEMA
I am not sure if this cinema was ever called the Dovecot. There was a Dovecot Arts Centre, including cinema, which took its name from Dovecot Street, and was located next to the Hippodrome / Cannon, and it is this operation which transferred to the ARC which opened on the site of the Cannon & Dovecot in 1998.
DOVECOT
Now in use as a gym, with the Empire name returned. Interior seems to have been stripped of all traces of past use. Photo from December 2015.
EMPIRE
Auditorium of the Rep in use as a pub from 2006:–
AUDITORIUM TO STAGE
A 2005 photo – looking newly spruced-up:–
TIVOLI