Cineworld Haymarket

The Carlton is actually owned and operated by UGC cinemas, having been acquired in the take over of the Virgin circuit, who took over the old MGM Cannon Circuit, It has never been operated by Odeon, They did have an theatre just up the road from the Carlton, Which closed about two years ago.

the lobby and screen 1 retain much of the very rich italian renaissance plasterwork although they are painted in very gaudy shades of pink and purple, the interior is very close in design to that of the nearby Plaza which has recently been gutted again this time to become a supermarket!
UGC are rumoured to want to expand the ground floor of the Haymarket from 2 screens to seven and make it a dedicated arts film venue, it does need some money spending on it, the exterior is very grimey and the signage is rusting and faded (not what one would expect from a top price west end hall)

The Carlton (as it it still fondly remembered) was designed by architects Frank T. Verity and Samuel Beverley. It was a project of Carlton Theatre Co, a company set up by Paramount Pictures Ltd who owned the nearby Plaza, Regent St. The Carlton opened as a live theatre, but went over to full time film use in May 1929. The original seating capacity was 1,159. After many years being operated by Paramount Pictures it was taken over by Twentieth Century Fox in March 1954 and they installed CinemaScope. In 1960 the stage was brought back into use for the last time when Anthony Newley starred in a special stage show prior to the screenings of his starring movie "Let's Get Married".

In the ongoing saga of 'rebranding' this is now the Cineworld Haymarket.

May 2005 photo at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/howardbhaas/69196524/

Don't want to be rude but the photo is already out of date it's been rebranded to Cineworld, which means it's got a black thing with the new logo in the place of the UGC ones.

You can feel the Bakerloo line in screen 2, which is a poor stalls conversion and worth avoiding.

This a current view of the main screen, located in the former balcony. Decorative details and light fittings are original to the 1929 opening of the Carlton:
http://flickr.com/photos/woody1969/87056496/in/pool-uktheatre/

Doesn't show the grimy wall on the other side of the auditorium :D Saw a picture recently of this cinema before tripling, very ornate you only get glimmers of what it was like in Screen 1.

Anyone know what happened to the Dress Circle?

I worked at this theatre from 1984 to 1992.

In 1986 there was a fire which gutted most of the foyer. It as believed to have been started deliberately by someone ho had broken in at night, and was set in a cupboard on the right side of the theatre as you walked in the main doors, where the public telephones were located. As a result the theatre was closed for about 6 months, and the film Purple Rose Of Cairo was due to start there the next day. The film, and indeed most of the staff were relocated to the Cannon Royal cinema in Charing Cross road instead.

Because of where the fire started, the structure and the wooden staircase at the left side of the foyer was largely intact, so that side of the cinema was cleaned up relatively quickly and the theatre opened for business while the other part of the foyer was cordoned off and restored. Once the right side was restored, the left side was then closed and restored properly while the right section was opened.

The greatest loss was probably the original ceiling - drawings were taken from the remains and new sections were created to look as close to the original as possible.

Because of the extensive damage to the woodwork on the right side, the bannister and stairway had to be replaced - the difference in quality to the left side in very noticable.

A great shame, as it was one of the fewer older cinemas left in London's West End.

cjc;The 'Dress Circle' you refer to in your Jan 20, 2006 posting was actually a Mezzanine with only three rows of seats. The Balcony above it (currently screen 1) was the main circle.

The Mezzanine was located at street level and its entrance was straight off the main foyer. I presume this area is used for storage or staff rooms etc?

Despite the fire the foyer still looks better than most in the West End.

The staff rooms are upstairs, so maybe it is used for stock or projection for the lower screens?

In my day the staff rooms were downstairs, the mens on the right next to the managers office on the ground floor, and the ladies downstairs between screens 2 and 3.

There were 2 floors of offices above the main projection room, which in the Classic cinema days were the main head office. Once they were bought by Cannon and acquired offices in other locations those floors were rarely used, until they converted one of the floors into a state-of-the-art computer facility which housed the companies main financial records. I can remember having a cardkey to access the floor, which was quite unusual in those days.

I wonder if the old lift is still there? It actually started from the first floor rather than the ground, and was on the right hand side as you walk in - you go up the main stairs and it's immmidiately on the right. Very small, 2 people max and a rickety old thing it was too, forever breaking down.

And what about the Soda Fountain restaurant in the basement? I am a little hazy on the full history, but I believe it was either never actually used or only opened for a very short time, some time in the 70's. It was located downstairs on the same level as the screens, but had a separate door which was accessed on the way to the main exit door.

When I worked there, it was actually used for premiere receptions and press receptions/special screenings. The soda fountain counter was used as a bar (it still had the metal trays, scoops, the lot), it was in reasonably good condition and actually had fountains, though they did not actually work.

Over the years there were various attempts to sell it off to outside companies, which never came to anything.

Unfortunately there were a lot of problems with the mens toilets which were directly above, they had some flooding and this completely ruined the restuarant - soaked carpets, mildew on the walls etc and it became unusable.

I often wonder what became of it, anyone know?

Was the restaurant by the entrance to Screen 2? There is a 'no entry' sign there, although I haven't been down you could see the light from a room reflecting on the wall in the corridor. Probably used as a storeroom.

Saw the projectionist going through the doors leading to the former mezzanine area so can probably assume the booths are located here.

Gents, below is a quote from the current manager:

"The old lift is still there but has apparently been decommissioned by the Westminster CC Health and Safety team in the late 80's or early 90's...

We still have the Soda Fountain restaurant in the basement but this area has been turned into a storeroom when Virgin Group refurbished the Haymarket to accommodate a new Cafe Bar between the Projection Booth 2 and 3."

The right hand wall in screen 1 has been cleaned up, looking far better now. The old dress circle now holds the bar and the projection booths for screens 2 and 3.

The only reason to visit this place is to see the screen 1 auditorium as seen in Kens photo above. The building is a perfect example of ' couldnt give a damn cinema managment' I was a regular there in the 80s and from what i hear its just got worse andworse as the years go by.

Virgin and UGC spent no money on their older sites. You can't fault the current team at the cinema. The auditoria needs a lick of paint, and the seating could do with replacing. Other than that the cinema is fine.

Two photos from the 1980's here:-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/1083252736/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/1083252078/

Two September 2007 photos of the foyer here:-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/1349796711/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/1349797043/

Thanks to CTA for forwarding a Daily Mail article. http://preview.tinyurl.com/2aqohk The newpaper reported that a stage production based on David Lean's film Brief Encounters will begin February 2 at "The Cinema on The Haymarket" (this theater) and last until at least June 22. Both stage and screen will be used. The official, gala opening will be on February 17. Top price tickets will be only $29.50 pounds, a bargain for the West End.

Westminster Council agreed to change the use from cinema to live shows on stage.
The article describes the theater as having Italian and Spanish Renaissance "front of house" detail. The articles states that all 444 seats have perfect sightlines because they are designed for a cinema.

The article does not state whether movies will continue in the two auditoriums placed in the former stalls (orchestra).

It is hoped that during the run of 'Brief Encounter' that the two smaller screens will run old black and white movies such as Ealing comedies etc. I think the whole idea and set up is wonderful and i wish it every success.

Thats very interesting that the two smaller screens have been 'mothballed' -does this spell the end of cinema in this building. What with the projector and screen being removed etc etc.
Live theatre returns to The Carlton for the first time since the late 1920s early 30s.

I understand the two smaller screens will still show first-run films during the run.

Some more history and memorabilia on the Carlton Theatre here:
http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/CarltonHaymarket.htm

Movies will resume in the small screens once previews of BRIEF ENCOUNTER are over at the end of the month.

I wonder if they will operate the original plan of black and white movies to complement 'Brief Encounter' the stage show.

A shot of the 'new' Cinema Haymarket taken during previews in Feb 2008 for the stage presentation of 'Brief Encounter'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtians/2280453706/

A close up shot.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtians/2280455354/in/photostream/

If my memory serves me correct I saw the premiere of the movie Bugsy Malone her in 1976 sitting in the upper circle. I Recall the then undivided auditorium being fairly ornate and also recollect the two stage boxes were still being used.After the screening all the kids and maybe adults were handed a free record and paperback book in the foyer as they left. It would be nice one day though probably not cost effective if someone could buy the office building at the back and rebuild the stage.If the planners hadn't been so hasty in 1979 this could have been a much valued Westend Theatre. Still great that some sort of live entertainment is back.

I think you mean 'Bugsy Malone-The Musical' that was two doors down the road at Her Majesty's Theatre in 1984. 'Bugsy Malone' the movie opened at the Odeon Leicester Square.

Hi Ian, I recall the musical at Her Majestys in 1984 but it was the film I saw, I still have the soundtrack album and book somewhere. It may not have been the actual premiere but some sort of special advance screening for trade clients. My father worked as a senior manager for Granada Motorway Services at the time. I really recall the foyer and staircase from the upper circle as much the same as it is at todays Cinema Haymarket. The reason it was shown here (if only once) may be that the film was a 20th Century Fox release and I think they still ran the Carlton at this time?

jason; It sound like it was a morning Trade Show or Press Show you attended. These were private, by invitation only and the were held at many cinemas in the West End from the 1940's into the 1980's. It was normal to hand out booklets, photos etc. The distributers of "Bugsy Malone" in the UK were Fox-Rank.

Thanks Ken for clarifying the distributer details. Also I now suddenly recall that we left the cinema in bright daylight so it must indeed have been a trade or press showing as you suggested.

Ian 'adoraKiaOral' :sorry to be a snob,but "Bugsy Malone" hit the screens at the Leicester Square Theatre,not the Odeon. July 7 -August 23,1976 to be exact. Then transferred to the Odeon,Marble Arch and then in order to maintain a subsequent outlet in Central London when out on general release was parked at the Metropole and Odeon,Kensington simultaneously.

No, not at all, no problem. I was young!!!! and obviuosly hadnt got my bearings around London by then! I have now !lol
I saw it at Swansea Odeon and then again in Marble Arch.

The intro should Live theater and cinema as screens two and three are showing films.

This theatre may have been part of 20th Century Fox Film Corp. but it was never owned or operated by the FOX chain of theatres. At one time they operated several theatres in Canada ( under the National General Corp.) That is about as foreign as that chain ever got with movie theatres!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/2411131966/
canopy close-up
would be nice if they had replaced all the blown bulbs

Lol I don't think I've ever seen a full set of those bulbs in all the years they've been there. They are so obvious!

Brief Encounter is brilliantly staged in the former screen one. The set and mix of film and live action are extremely clever. The film is recreated with added classic Noel Coward songs performed by the cast coupled with a live jazz band that serenades the audience before the show. This production should not be missed. It would be good if more theatre could be done in this space, in the meantime lets hope this show gets a further extension.

A few weeks ago they announced Brief Encounter' would extend until mid-October. I can now tell you that in the next 2 or 3 weeks a further announcement will be made stating that it will now run until Feb 22nd 2009....at least!
To back up what Jason has just said above , I can not recommend this show enough! It is simply stunning and I saw it for the 3rd time last Sunday afternoon.
What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. The tickets are only £39.50 top price- most plays in the West End are topping at £55-60. Bargain!

some more pix here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldcinemaphotos/sets/72157604326524350/

Here is a photo of the Virgin Haymarket from 1999.

Upstairs in the large auditorium this past week, the movie "Synecdoche, New York"

A sign at the theater states there will be presentations in "digital" of "Spartacus" I'm curious as to whether that classic has been put into 2 k or 4 k (the digital that some new movies are presented in, though neither would likely equal 70mm) or DVD or blue-ray (neither of which would equal 35mm)?

The digital projector was 2K in the big screen when I last went up to the box which was late 2007, doubt that has changed. Although Spartacus will have been presented in 2K digital the remastering could have been anything up to 8K. The digital image in Screen One at Haymarket is very good, and I was annoyed at missing Spartacus.

photos of screen 1 with the lights up showing the stunning plasterwork and deco lights
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/82722937/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/82722936/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/82722935/
the foyer and box office
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/82725949/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/82722938/
and the exterior taken when match point was playing
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/82719491/