Cannon Bristol Road
5 Bristol Road,
Edgbaston,
Birmingham,
B5 7TT
5 Bristol Road,
Edgbaston,
Birmingham,
B5 7TT
2 people
favorited this theater
Located in the Edgbaston district, just a short distance from Birmingham city centre. Quite a large cinema with very modern frontage and grand foyer, the Bristol Cinema opened on 16th May 1937 with Jane Wyatt in “Luckiest Girl in the World” and Richard Tauber in “Land Without Music”. It was owned by the Victoria Playhouse Group. Seating was provided in stalls and circle and the overal decorative scheme was a nautical Art Moderne style. It was taken over by Associated British Cinemas(ABC) from 1st January 1944 and was re-named ABC from August 1959. Closed on 4th May 1963 for conversion into a Cinerama theatre, which re-opened on 14th September 1963.
It was divided into a triple-screen operation in July 1972 with seating provided for 482, 353 and 175. In 1986 it was taken over by the Cannon Group and re-named Cannon. It was closed on 24th September 1987, and the building was sold for re-development, demolished later in 1987. The site of the cinema now contains a drive-through MacDonald’s restaurant.
Contributed by
DEREK.L.HUNT
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
The Bristol Cinema opened on 16th May 1937, the architect was Hurley Robinson, built and decorated in an Art Deco style it had a seating capacity of 1,712 seats. It was taken over and operated by ABC Cinemas in 1944 and was re-named ABC Bristol Rd in 1959.
It was closed briefly in 1963 to be converted into a Cinerama Theater, re-opening as ABC Cinerama with 1,232 seats. It closed in 1972 for tripling, was later re-named Cannon and closed in September 1987 and was immediately demolished.
Thanks for you updates re Bristol Cinema
The Bristol Cinema site is now occupied by a Macdonalds.
Thanks for update re Bristol Cinema.Shan’t bother to go there.
This site has a photo of the ABC Cinerama.
The ABC Cinema Bristol Road was never run by the Classic Cinema chain. It was with ABC from 1944 onwards until taken over by the Cannon Group.
Site of Cannon Cinema, Corner of Bristol Road & Belgrave Road.
I have now put on the Cinemrama interior.. Still have not found the original interior views…
Some great memories here, although by the twilight year of 1987, the cinema was not really getting the custom it used to. Films like INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM, SUPERMAN II and BACK TO THE FUTURE was long-runners here. I do remember watching the Charles Bronson movie ASSASSINATION and STAND BY ME and having to watch repeat screenings of the Music Promo for AN AMERICAN TAIL, SOMEWHERE OUT THERE. I also attended a preview of FLETCH in the autumn of 1985 and a double-bill of FIRST BLOOD and RAMBO 2
watched watership down here such a great loss these lovely old cinemas,instead they put up these ugly modern boxes with no charactor whatsoever if this is progress they can keep it, walking into a cinema doesnt excite me like it used too,its business business business no frills