Carlton Cinema

24 Clarendon Road,
Watford, WD17 1JY

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A conversion by F. Edward Jones of a former roller skating rink provided Watford with one of its longer lasting cinemas, opening 21 February 1921 and closing on 12 July 1980. In a town which had some 11 cinema buildings over the years, only the Empire had a longer run.

The converted cinema had most of its seats on the stalls floor, 1108 with the remaining 120 in a small, rather awkward balcony. There was originally a Chinese theme to the decorations and an elaborate proscenium arch with a pit for the highly regarded orchestra.

Cecil Masey was called in for a redesign in 1930 and seating was reduced slightly to 1121, a New Western Sound system was added.

The Rank organisation acquired the lease in 1950 but continued to sub-let the cinema to an independent operator until 1963. On the closure of the Odeon, Rank decided to take control and have the Carlton as a second outlet to the soon to be renamed Gaumont. 25,000 pounds was spent in modernising the cinema into an attractive single level (the balcony was hidden away) 778 seat cinema. The ceiling dome, a relic from the Rink was restored and had 200 lights studded into the plaster as the main decorative feature of the auditorium. A new proscenium, a trapezium shape with the lower edge wider than the upper, was constructed, with a small platform stage in front to allow for use as a conference venue.

Rank declined to renew their lease in 1980, the Odeon (Gaumont) having been tripled in 1974, and the Carlton closed in July.

It bacame a furniture showroom for a short while but very soon acquired a shabby doomed look. It was no surprise then when the demolition team moved in during September 1982. An office block now stands on the site.

Contributed by Ian Grundy