Astoria Cinema

The Square, James Street,
Ebbw Vale, NP23 6HP

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Jackson Withers Circuits

Architects: David Evelyn Nye

Styles: Art Deco

Nearby Theaters

ASTORIA CINEMA - EBBW WALES - CIRCA 1960

A popular cinema built in 1939 in the traditional style with impressive stadium style seating in the balcony/circle area. The proscenium was 32 feet wide. Owned and operated by the Ebbw Vale Theatres Limited/Jackson Withers Circuit. Some renovation work was carried out in the 1952 to the plans of architect David E. Nye, and he planned the installation of wide-screen and a re-decoration in 1953.

The Astoria Cinema was closed in 1965, and demolished in 1970 to make way for a new Tesco store. The cinema was demolished with seating, projection equipment, screen, tabs etc. intact.

In December 1970 the new Tesco supermarket which replaced the old cinema was closed. Wetherspoons developed the old supermarket into a pub called the Picture House in recognition of the cinema which once stood on the site with memorabilia decorating the walls in replica cinema style poster boards with replica cinema style lighting from the 1930’s and 1940’s. Although a little back from where the current Tesco/pub entrance is. The pub opened on 12th May 1998 and has been a popular venue for the town.

Contributed by JMBRIGHTON

Recent comments (view all 2 comments)

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on April 30, 2010 at 6:14 am

The Astoria Cinema can be seen on the extreme right of this 1960 photograph:
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Jeffrey Morris
Jeffrey Morris on May 31, 2011 at 7:36 am

The new website is a freat improvement. How do we correct the maps? The Astoria cinema was in Ebbw Vale, the map here shows it in Tredegar, which is the next valley.

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