Ritz Cinema
134 Church Street,
Preston,
PR1 3BT
134 Church Street,
Preston,
PR1 3BT
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The Ritz Cinema, with 1,650 seats opened in March 1937. It has a 40 foot wide screen and a shallow stage.
It was sold to Leeds based Star Cinemas chain in 1968 who made some improvements but the Ritz Cinema was by now hopelessly too large for the town and it closed to be converted to bingo in the stalls area and a club in the former circle.
The screen end of the building seems to have been demolished (2004) with the rear wall now seemingly following the curve of the balcony. The remainder of the building survives as a nightclub and dining rooms.
Contributed by
Ian Grundy
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
i am the new owner of Ritz cinema Preston do you have any photos etc of when it was a cinema as i am trying to receate the original artdecco design which as been hidden away above a false ceiling many thanks Paul Milner
I worked at this cinema in 1966
would like to hear from you
hi,
im a film location manager looking for a place with charachter to film for 6 weeks from october 15th. Do you have any information on the cinema in question in Preston?
Many thanks
Dan Connolly
07979 592113
When the bingo club use had ceased in March 1986, the building began use as the Empire Skate Building (a skating area) and a nightclub in another section. The front facade had been reduced in height by then.
The Ritz Cinema opened on 23rd March 1937 with George Formby in “Keep Fit”. The original seating capacity was for 1,650 in a stadium plan, with no overhanging balcony.
This is a recent photo of the Ritz nightclub.
Another shot of the Ritz:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/340783642/
exterior in 1938:
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