Carlton Cinema

A photo of the former Carlton Cinema can be seen here:
http://www.irish-architecture.com/buildings_ireland/dublin/northcity/oconnell_street/carlton_cinema_lge.html

Rather more about the continuing history of the Carlton cinema here.

http://www.geocities.com/barrybyrne.geo/carlton.htm

At present, June 2006, the situation remains unchanged with the cinema closed but extant.

As of today, there is basically no change to the situation at the Carlton cinema and no resolution to the dispute concerning redevelopment.

Photo of the Carlton in 2005 here:-

http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/17996421/

While the city recently won the court case concerning the property, or this stage of it anyhow, the Carlton remains closed, while plans for a large redevelopment are developed. This might involve a new public square, on the derelict site next door but recent mentions in the press do not suggest that a multiplex will be developed on the Carlton site as once envisaged. Further up the street, the closed Rotunda / Ambassador cinema is expected to be converted into a new public library

This cinema facade is now supposed to move 50m up the street!

Comprehensive, and likely controversial plans to redevelop this area have just now been published by the developers, involving a new street and square, and a park on the "ski-jump" shaped roof of one of the many new buildings. As a part of this exercise, the facade of the Carlton alone would, pointlessly, relocate up the street and be retained in a complex of mainly glass walled modern development.

Here is another photo of the Carlton.

The most recent redevelopment plans for the Carlton and associated sites, which include 110 retail units, an anchor retailer on O'Connell Street, 108 apartments, office space, three new public squares and a roof-top restaurant quarter are now on hold.

Dublin City Council have now requested additional information, raising queries about traffic management, parking and the movement of construction trucks as well as design aspects, before it will decide whether or not to grant planning permission for this scheme. The Developer will have six months to respond.

Here's a photo I took in 2000: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pulp-o-rama/3035546486/in/set-72157594225038983/

That doesn't look like Art Deco to me.

You are right, Ken Mc, the exterior conforms to the original strict code for the reconstruction of O'Connell Street, post damage in the 1916 Rebellion and in the Civil War, and is not Art Deco. The original interior, however, was much more in the Art Deco style. This was also lost when the cinema was divided.

More info on this site here
http://www.geocities.com/barrybyrne.geo/carlton.htm

The seemingly eternal saga of the poor Carlton, fixed and frozen in time continues.

It seems that the Irish Planning Appeal Board is to consider objections to the very large scale O'Connell St redevelopment plan, which would have seen the Carlton facade (only, rest of facility demolished) reconstructed further up the street, as part of a major shopping / apartment development. A considerable number of objections, some general, but many relating to redevelopment of the premises roughly behind the Carlton in Moore Street,will be considered.

So the situation

New temporary decorative panels have been added to the lower floors of the Carlton, promoting some sort of video arcade style game parlour. A photo is here

http://www.geocities.com/barrybyrne.geo/carlton2.htm

The planning appeal board has made findings critical of the proposed redevelopment of this major site, including rejecting the 13 story block that was one element. They also criticised the local authority, for non respect of their own area development plans.

So more delay, uncertainty and the future of the Carlton, now closed for almost fifteen years, remains unclear. Will a revised development still go ahead, will the Carlton facade move up the street?

A vintage October 1959 photograph of the Carlton Theatre:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldcinemaphotos/2311753091/