Davenport Cinema

Stockport, Cheshire, England

Buxton Road

, Stockport, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom SK2 7AF

(map)

Status:	Closed/Demolished
Screens:	Twin
Style:	Art Deco, Art Moderne

Function:	Unknown
Seats:	1930
Chain:	Unknown

Architect:	Charles Hartley
Firm:	Unknown

Interior view of the Davenport Cinema (without its signature Holophane lights on)

Photo courtesy of Ian Grundy

Opened on 17 June 1937 and designed by Charles Hartley, this was a dual purpose cinema and live theater with a seating capacity of 1,750.

There was a spacious vestible with a wide staircase rising to the balcony foyer with entry to the balcony on the rear side and entry to the cafe at the front.

Inside the auditorium there was a Compton 3Manual/6Ranks theatre organ on a rising platform to the left of the stage. Above the procenium arch there was a large area treated with silver paint which changed colour courtesy of the Holophane Lighting control. There was a fully equipped large stage and orchestra pit.

It was owned and run by Mrs. Esther Harriet Burns who in 1964, at age 89, sold the Davenport to Tatton Cinemas who continued to run it with a mix of film and stage use.

Mrs. Burns contined to have an interest in the cinema until her death just short of 100 years old!

In 1972, the former cafe was converted into a luxury cinema seating 180.

During the early 1990's, the entire Tatton circuit was sold to Apollo Theatres who maintained the policy of the Davenport until 1997 when it was sold to the neighbouring Stockport Grammar School. The Davenport Cinema was closed in March 1997 and demolished in August 1997 to provide a car park!

The Davenport Cinema was a location for the 1979 John Schlesinger film "Yanks" starring Richard Gere, when it can be seen in a scene featuring Ronald Curtis playing the Compton theatre organ in an audience sing-a-long.

Contributed by Ian Grundy

YOUR COMMENTS

Featured in the film "Yanks". Original projection was Ernemann Vs, W.E. Mirrorphonic and Ashcraft arcs. I've got the opening night programme.

posted by John Cannon on Oct 7, 2003 at 12:07pm

It was such a shame that this place was demolished, the main screen was wonderful, very similar to the Ardwick Apollo down the road, im sure it had an organ when i saw pretty woman there in 1990
screen 2 was a very groovy 70's affair with an orange colour scheme and funky bucket style velour chairs
during the demolition you could look up through the front windows and see a lot of uncovered 30's stencil work on the lobby walls
it was demolished after failing a wiring test and was aparently to costly to repair, the land is now an enlarged enterance for the school next door

posted by woody on Feb 6, 2004 at 7:28am

I went to the school next door (Stockport Grammar School), and in the late 1960's we used to have our "Speech Day" (prizegiving etc.) there. My best memory is of the whole school waiting for the guests to appear on stage, when out of the pit rose out elderly music teacher (name?) playing the Compton as if he had done so all his life, using all the bells, whistles and effects he could find - a magnificent performance with got him a huge cheer! I did see films and stage shows there as well - a truly great theatre. I believe the Copmton was saved and will be (is?) restored - can anyone confirm this?

posted by Larry JW on Nov 8, 2004 at 2:03pm

How could the school demolished such a beautiful theatre to make room for a car park, what a ridiculous event!

posted by Suwanti on Jun 26, 2005 at 1:43pm

More photos of the Davenport here:-
Exterior:-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/406856831/
Interior:-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/406856826/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/406856824/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/406856820/

posted by Ian on Mar 1, 2007 at 5:51am

yes the compton was saved i just wish i was old enough to have played it in the cinema hmmmmmm i would have been 4 then when it was knocked down hehehe how time flys yes indeed the compton was saved and is currently in storage and has been since 1997 when demolition begun the interesting thing is that recordings were made just hours before it was demolished

posted by wurlimad on Mar 8, 2007 at 9:17am

photos taken during demolition, a bit fuzzy as they were on a disposable 35mm camera
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/65270047/sizes/l/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/2120707789/sizes/l/

posted by woody on Mar 16, 2009 at 6:34am

and a shot from the rear showing the half demolished auditorium
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/3390631020/

posted by woody on Mar 27, 2009 at 2:24pm

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