Jacey Leicester Square
Queens House Leicester Square,
London,
WC2H 7NA
Queens House Leicester Square,
London,
WC2H 7NA
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The building actually opened in the 1890’s as the 100-bed Queen’s Hotel beside the Empire Theatre. In 1936 architect Cecil Masey was comissioned to convert the hotel lobby area in a 350 seat newsreel theatre for the Monseigneur circuit.
The theatre had a marquee above which was a neon lit board with the theatre’s name in large letters. When newsreels ended production in the late-1950’s it was taken over by Jacey Cinemas in June 1960 and went over to screening non-stop 1 hour shows of cartoons, re-named Jacey Cartoon Cinema.
Ten years later it was re-named Jacey Leicester Square when it began screening soft core ‘adult’ movies, opening on 16th April 1970 with “Wierd Wierdo”. It closed on 24th June 1978 and was converted into a small shopping arcade. In 1983, the building was gutted, removing all traces of the cinema and was converted into restaurant and casino use. The facade still retains its original 1890’s appearance.
Contributed by
KenRoe
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
Under what listing would I find the Empire Theater in Leicester Square?
Ken, here is the Empire Cinema in Leicester Square.
The Jacey during the 1970s is featured here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIsMHoq0f2o
The Monseigneur News Theatre photographed at night in November 1955:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/allhails/2808549818/
A vintage photograph of the Monseigneur News Theatre in April 1955, with the Empire Theatre on the left:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/allhails/5154554082/