Comments about Astoria Theatre in London, GB

HowardBHaas on April 21, 2012 at 8:09 am

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-17783420

that’s an article about new theater to be built on site.

CSWalczak on February 17, 2011 at 11:16 pm

A picture and a premiere article from the Cinerama Topcities site which shows the Astoria during its one and only use as a Cinerama venue showing “Krakatoa, East of Java”: View link.

KenRoe on January 19, 2011 at 10:23 am

I too have always been intrigued (call it puzzled) by the ‘Astoria Theatre-123’ sign on the building. The original main auditorium was always one space, and the ballroom in the basement was always another single space.

CSWalczak on September 27, 2010 at 10:22 pm

A number of photos of the Astoria taken over the last two decades posted here on CT and elsewhere –(such as this one: View link – show a small vertical sign attached to the extreme right hand side of the Tottenham Court Road frontage. The sign reads “Astoria Theatre” vertically and “123” horizontally at the bottom. The sign would appear to be over the entrance to the lower level where the former ballroom/Bang/Astoria 2/G-A-Y nightclub was. However, most recent and older London guides I have give 165 as the address for the Astoria 2. Is that “123” an address number or was there once a triplex theater on the lower level?

kencmcintyre on March 10, 2010 at 1:28 pm

Here is a 1957 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/yfhk842

woody on October 24, 2009 at 2:42 am

a last ariel shot of the site now totally cleared and filled in
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/4037816887/

woody on October 10, 2009 at 7:16 am

a few shots of the demolition at mid point
the balcony steppings
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/3979117545/
not sure what this part is or why its painted as a totem pole
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/3979132475/
part of the proscenium??
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/3970122202/
annoying plastic sheeting makes it so diffcult to see whats going on
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/3970123032/
messages from fans on the front pillars
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/3979115679/

KenRoe on August 15, 2009 at 3:43 am

The entrance to the Astoria Theatre in 1957 during the run of “Around the World in 80 Days”:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/allhails/2845860024/

Matthew57 on July 29, 2009 at 5:56 am

Woody, I would very much like to use one of your photos of the Astoria demolition, taken from Centrepoint, on my Arthur Lloyd site here:
View link

Please get in touch through my site if it is possible.

Matthew.

woody on July 17, 2009 at 5:02 pm

ariel shots of the demolition taken from the 32nd floor of centrepoint

roof off and upper levels being removed
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/3730988028/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/3730184323/

close up looking down into whats left of the auditorium
View link

older shots as the scaffolding went up
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/3730172193/
wonder if the sign was saved?
View link

JohnHolloway on July 12, 2009 at 11:50 am

Another nail in the coffin of the disappearing heritage of Greater London. Next to go is Odeon West End. When will the city fathers learn?

KenRoe on May 9, 2009 at 5:00 pm

Many more photographs old and recent, as well as some memorabilia here:
View link

KenRoe on April 4, 2009 at 11:09 am

KenRoe on April 3, 2009 at 10:27 am

Beginning 1st April 2009, scaffold was being erected around the building to prepare for demolition.

smoothie on March 22, 2009 at 1:10 am

Ken,Mar 20,and everyone:– I have the original newspaper ads from 1969 with the Cinerama and Astoria logo. In fact regarding the Astoria logo for every film shown there since the early 1960’s. Roland Lataille has some of my selection to put up on the CineramaTopcities website, but would anyone be interested to a link of my own to share them directly. i would need advice as to whether Flickr or Photobucket(or whatever) would be the best medium, and also how to manage the technicalities. Im a bit of a IT saddo unfortunately.

woody on March 20, 2009 at 11:59 am

so many memories, and such a wonderfully tacky way to enter a club
staircase entry to the ballroom (Astoria 2)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/3371119248/
back corner showing some of the few remaining fragments of plasterwork
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/3370294897/

drguywalker on March 20, 2009 at 9:46 am

Will we bemoan the demolition of another piece of history? Depends if the definition of ‘history’ extends beyond fibrous plaster and mock classical facades. When this was built it was modern, and like all modern buildings was not designed to last much longer than a generation (i.e. thirty odd years). How many music halls and live theatres went out of business when this gaudy monstrosity was built I wonder? How many people bemoaned the loss of history then? Except its not history is it – its nostalgia, which is selective, subjective and fails to recognise the most important thing about history which is ‘context’.

If we’re being nostalgic then I bemoan the loss of the modernist sixties conversion, the one with the Cinerama screen…how could they, it doesn’t make sense, they should be ashamed of themselves, outrageous they got rid of it, etc etc etc…

JohnHolloway on March 19, 2009 at 10:46 am

A long time coming, but finally the end seems inevitable. I wonder if, in 20 years, we’ll bemoan the demolition of another piece of history? Such a shame the facade cannot be retained, although the 1970’s signage will “not” be missed.

woody on February 16, 2009 at 2:43 pm

some more farewell shots
fan messages on the box office pillars
View link
will the signage get saved?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/3286089988/
falconberg mews – astoria stage door by night
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/3286099604/
photoshoped montage tribute to better times
View link

Ian on February 14, 2009 at 4:18 pm

On 12th February the demolition team seemed to be preparing to cut off the water and power supplies to the buildings, including the Astoria, on the corner of Charing Cross Road.

A few last pictures of the Astoria here:–

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3280155534/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3280155052/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3280154732/

AdoraKiaOra on January 17, 2009 at 11:43 pm

Great picture.
Jack Goods musical, ‘Elvis’ had a very successful run there as seen in this photo.
By the way the white cover that was over the building recently has now gone and yesterday afternoon the place looked very sad and sorry for itself.

lostmemory on January 16, 2009 at 6:16 pm

Keep the memories alive. This is a photo from 1978.

AdoraKiaOra on January 15, 2009 at 5:40 pm

A very sad day for London theatres and London history itself.

lostmemory on January 15, 2009 at 4:08 pm

Status can be changed to closed. Here is a recent photo.

lostmemory on December 26, 2008 at 11:08 am

A few more photos are here.

Astoria Theatre

157 Charing Cross Road, London, WC2 8EN

157 Charing Cross Road,
London, WC2 8EN