Clifton Cinema

geoffjc on April 29, 2010 at 2:41 am

The upper part of the original frontage has survived. Examination of the original plans reveals that the entrance was on the corner with pillars but that the long-lost copper dome above was originally designed at roof level but was placed on a raised plinth with circular holes,( shown in old photographs from its time as Woolworths.)
As designed, the building allowed for a planned later expansion behind the adjoining shops, as at first the hall was quite narrow,but wider at the screen end.

edithapearce on April 18, 2009 at 3:21 am

Some of the staff working at the Splott around 1960 could remember the Clifton and that is how I first learned of its former existence. Apparently the entire frontage of the cinema was painted blue, earning it the local nickname “The Blue Palace.”

I later walked down Clifton Street and at that time the upper part of the facade, above Woolworth’s windows, was very obvious as being the remains of a cinema frontage.I’m wondering if this upper frontage is still existing in 2009.

geoffjc on August 16, 2007 at 10:01 am

Press report in 1930 stated that it was owned by the Splott Cinema Company but was not included in their block advert for the group’s five cinemas when this began shortly afterwards. Did it become surplus to requirements after the Splott had been rebuilt?
In the next ten years the group doubled in size, operating 10 Cardiff Cinemas by acquiring the Plaza, redeveloping the Tivoli and building Monico,Avenue, and County as well as carrying out extensions and upgrades of several of the others.