Cineworld Haymarket
63-65 Haymarket,
London,
SW1Y 4RQ
63-65 Haymarket,
London,
SW1Y 4RQ
10 people
favorited this theater
Designed for either film or stage use by Adolph Zukor’s Paramount Pictures Inc., it was envisaged as a smaller version of their Plaza Theatre in nearby Regent Street. The Carlton Theatre opened on 27th April 1927 with a musical play “Lady Luck” starring Leslie Henson which ran for 324 performances. This was followed by a musical comedy drama “The Yellow Mask” by Edgar Wallace which transferred to His Majesty’s Theatre along the Haymarket. The next production was the American college life musical “Good News”. After this closed the Carlton Theatre screened its first film when, on 26th March 1928 “Wings” had its UK premier run of four months. Returning to stage shows, a revue “In Other Words” starred George Robey at the end of 1928 and the last stage show to play at the Carlton Theatre was “Merry Merry” starring Peggy O'Neil which opened in February 1929 and later transfered to the Lyceum Theatre.
Seating was provided for a total capacity of 1,159 in stalls (which were below street level), a small mezzanine Royal circle at street level and a large upper balcony. There were boxes containing seating each side of the proscenium opening. The proscenium was 42 feet wide, the stage was 45 feet deep and there were 14 dressing rooms.
The Carlton Theatre was wired for sound in 1929 and went over to become a full-time cinema. The first regular film to be screened was Chester Morris in “The Perfect Alibi”(aka-“Alibi”). Paramount Pictures Inc. took over the Carlton Theatre fully in 1930.
In 1954 it was taken over by 20th Century-Fox and became the West End showcase cinema for their productions, opening with the UK premier of “Beneath the Twelve Mile Reef”. The stage was brought back into use briefly in March 1960, when Anthony Newley performed in “The Anthony Newley Show”, a special show which was staged during the run of his feature film “Let’s Get Married”.
There were hopes that the Carlton Theatre would be designated a Grade II Listed building, but it was turned down by English Heritage. The Carlton Theatre closed on 20th August 1977 with Oliver Reed in “The Prince and the Pauper”(aka-“Crossed Swords”) being the last film to be screened in the original single auditorium. The stage and dressing room block was sold off to developers and were demolished for an office block to be built on the site, known as Samuel House.
The auditorium was split into three screens, with screen 1 in the old upper balcony seating 491 and screens 2 and 3 in the former stalls seating 201 and 222. The former mezzanine Royal circle was sealed off and became office and staff areas. Now operated by Classic Cinemas, it later came under the ownership of Cannon, MGM, Virgin, UGC, and latterly Cineworld until closing in January 2008.
On 2nd February 2008, the former upper balcony screen re-opened as the 440 seat Cinema Haymarket. It was converted into a live theatre with the play “Brief Encounter” based on the David Lean film. Sequences in the play use digital projection as well as the live performances on a new stage which has been built on the front of the seating area. The two mini-cinemas in the former stalls area initially closed, but soon re-opened, screening first run films again. The run of “Brief Encounter” ended on 21st November 2008 and the main upstairs auditorium reverted back to cinema use, with the building becoming the Cineworld again.
Contributed by
Ian Grundy, Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 51 comments)
Here is a couple of pictures from the 80’s I believe of this lovely triplex cinema View link (should work for non facebook members too and the last picture is the Virgin plan of the cinema)
Here’s some more pictures: View link
It’s a shame Brief Encounter left and they decided not to continue with theatre production like they were thinking about, but of course the recession started…just bad timing I guess.
Oh, black and white films downstairs were never going to happen by the way, but the normal art housey type of films the cinema played back then.
Spartacus was wonderful (but not a big fan of it) and the intrude was way longer than it should have been as it was repeated…but it was nice to see the film on the big screen.
When did screen 3 go digital? Saw Biutful in there a couple of weeks ago and aside from an unfortunately noticeable keystone effect the picture was incredibly bright, sharp and vivid and the sound clean and punchy – a world of difference from its oddly angled neighbour screen 2. Can still feel the Tube running underneath though!
Bit of a damp smell in screen 1 tonight, and very cold. Hope it’s nothing major!
Photos of the theatre before tripling: View link
Thanks for the photos zapomatic.
Screen 3 went digital in of last year.
Screen 1 likely has a damp smell due to a leak that was never fully fixed which can sometimes drip heavily when it rains.
B&W newsreel coverage of a glamorous film premiere at the Carlton in the Haymarket: britishpathe
Tweeted today about it being a shame that a big chunk of the plasterwork has recently fallen down at the back of screen 1 and the cinema needing TLC or a refurb and Cineworld Haymarket tweeted back: “We very much agree! We’re working on getting building improvements underway soon…”
Wonder what that’ll bring? Just structural fixes or something more?
Photos taken by English Heritage in 2001 including the former circle bar, now used as storage. Lots of water damage which seems to be recurring. http://viewfinder.english-heritage.org.uk/search/reference.aspx?uid=144281&index=384&mainQuery=cinema&searchType=all&form=home
At long last the missing plaster in screen 1 has been replaced, but not yet painted to match.