London Pavilion
1 Piccadilly Circus,
London,
W1J 0DA
1 Piccadilly Circus,
London,
W1J 0DA
1 person
favorited this theater
This large freestanding building opened as a music hall in 1885.
In 1934, the interior was gutted and transformed into a cinema to the design of Frederick G. M. Chancellor of the Frank Matcham Company, and Cecil Masey. It was unusual because it retained two balconies in the irregular shaped site. Seating capacities were provided for 716 in the stalls, 242 in the circle and 251 in the balcony. The London Pavilion was operated by United Artists from 5th September 1934 as their main premiere cinema in London.
It closed on April 26, 1981 and despite some pleas to have it returned to theatre usage, the London Pavilion was sold and all but the outside walls demolished to have a shopping mall constructed inside.
There were to have been two replacement cinemas located on the top floor, but no one seemed interested in operating them and they were converted into Madame Tussaud’s Rock-and-Roll wax museum.
After many years as a failed shopping centre combined with the next-door Trocadero Centre, five floors inside the building were converted into a ‘Ripley’s – Believe It, or Not’ ‘odditorium’ exhibiton space in August 2008.
Contributed by
Ian Grundy
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Recent comments (view all 21 comments)
Atmospheric photo from 1960-you also get the British weather!
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The date given for this photo is July 30, 1956.
Worked here for a fortnight in the mid 70’s. Feature was one of the latest Pink Panther films doubled with “A Shot In The Dark”. I was assigned to the top balcony, which had no foyer, so was forced to sit through this double-feature for 8 hours a day! We had 2 x 20 minute breaks per shift which involved going down 2 storeys to the stalls foyer,walking the length of the stalls to a side entrance of the stage, walking behind the screen and then climbing an old metal spiral staircase for another 4 storeys to reach the tea room. Of course, after completing this marathon, it was time to turn back and return to your assigned work position!
I also recall an alarming keystone affect of the screen, due to the steep throw from the bio-box which was situated at the back of the top circle.
“Rock Around the Clock” at the London Pavilion, photographed in July 1956:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/allhails/2813393913/
A night-time photograph of “Baby Doll” in January 1957:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/allhails/2821646850/
A vintage photograph of the London Pavilion in 1946:
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a press ad from dec 1979 for MOONRAKER at the London Pavilion
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/4701673160/
A picture of the facade during the 3D run of “It Came from Outer Space” in
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What a history of this theatre.
Loved the BEATLES history and of Course,007 ad.
A vintage postcard view from 1955, showing Piccadilly Circus and the London Pavilion playing “Go, Man Go” the story of the Harlem Globetrotters:
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