Here is a January 1970 photograph of the Odeon playing the ABC circuit release. This was normal at this period of time as the Odeon release was played at the nearby Odeon Swiss Cottage and there was not an ABC cinema in the area: View link
The Bedford Theatre can also be seen in the 1952 film “The Secret People” when it ‘stood in’ for a Dublin theatre. Audrey Hepburn had an early role in this British made crime drama.
Sinclair;It must have been the Beau Geste Cinema when I first visited San Francisco in 1976 and sadly I didn’t check it out. I do remember going into the building when it had become the East of Castro Club on a later visit to the city. From what I remember there were sets of enclosed ‘stalls’ with glory holes in the walls and gay porn movies screened high up on the main walls. This seems to tie-in with your recollections of the interior of the building at that time.
Here is an October 1965 photograph I took while I was the Assistant Manager of the Odeon. “The Guns of Navarone” was the film playing that week: View link
The Leicester Square Theatre was still a 1,760 seat single screen, with its original auditorium decoration intact when I took this photograph in July 1964: View link
Here is a photograph I took of the Empire in July 1964. The Thomas Lamb exterior was hidden for almost 30 years behind that 1960’s advertising cladding: View link
After closing as the Granada Cinema, it was converted into a Granada Bingo Club which was opened on 1st May 1968 by pop singer Joe Brown. The bingo operation was short lived and closed down in 1969. The new extension to the Town Hall that was built on the site was officially opened in 1977.
Here is a photograph of the Century Cinema that I took in 1964: View link
Here are 3 links to views of the Odeon, re-opening week in December 1954 after repairs from wartime bomb damage:
View link
In this photograph, Benos Restaurant seen on the right of the entrance, is today the entrance to the Screen on the Hill Cinema:
View link
A December 1954 night view:
View link
Here is a January 1970 photograph of the Odeon playing the ABC circuit release. This was normal at this period of time as the Odeon release was played at the nearby Odeon Swiss Cottage and there was not an ABC cinema in the area:
View link
The Bedford Theatre can also be seen in the 1952 film “The Secret People” when it ‘stood in’ for a Dublin theatre. Audrey Hepburn had an early role in this British made crime drama.
Here is a link to more details and history of the Bedford Theatre plus some photographs:
http://www.johnbarber.com/bedford.html
Some more history and photos at this site:
http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/Bedford.htm
One of the last photographs of the Bedford Theatre + some more history:
http://www.tnunn.f2s.com/bedford.htm
A photograph of the balcony entrance in April 1971. Shame about the photographer cutting off the top section of the tower:
View link
Queer queues at the Castro:
View link
An early evening view:
View link
A well lit marquee:
View link
Here is a photo of the main street entrance, the Gothic style entrance hall is just within:
View link
A view of the proscenium and screen:
View link
The rear orchestra stalls gangway:
View link
A 2005 exterior photo:
View link
An auditorium view:
View link
Side lobby ceiling details:
View link
Two great photographs of the lobby, taken during the Chicago International Film Festival 2005:
View link
Chandelier & ceiling in the lobby:
View link
A recent exterior photograph of the Cine Payret here:
View link
Sinclair;It must have been the Beau Geste Cinema when I first visited San Francisco in 1976 and sadly I didn’t check it out. I do remember going into the building when it had become the East of Castro Club on a later visit to the city. From what I remember there were sets of enclosed ‘stalls’ with glory holes in the walls and gay porn movies screened high up on the main walls. This seems to tie-in with your recollections of the interior of the building at that time.
Here is an October 1965 photograph I took while I was the Assistant Manager of the Odeon. “The Guns of Navarone” was the film playing that week:
View link
A photograph of the Odeon which I took in July 1964:
View link
The Leicester Square Theatre was still a 1,760 seat single screen, with its original auditorium decoration intact when I took this photograph in July 1964:
View link
The Warner Theatre was still a single screen 2,500 seater ‘Home to Warner Brothers’ when I took this photograph in July 1964:
View link
A photograph of the Rialto Cinema that I took in July 1964:
View link
Here is a photograph I took of the Empire in July 1964. The Thomas Lamb exterior was hidden for almost 30 years behind that 1960’s advertising cladding:
View link
A photograph of the Odeon Astoria which I took in July 1964, playing the Odeon release film of that week:
View link
Oops, here that 2nd link again:
View link
A photograph I took of the Dominion in July 1963 on the evening of the European Premier of “Cleopatra”:
View link
‘Swinging London’ in the 1960’s. A photograph I took of the London Pavilion in 1964 screening the World Premier run of “A Hard Days Night”:
View link
A photograph of the Cameo Royal that I took in 1964:
View link
After closing as the Granada Cinema, it was converted into a Granada Bingo Club which was opened on 1st May 1968 by pop singer Joe Brown. The bingo operation was short lived and closed down in 1969. The new extension to the Town Hall that was built on the site was officially opened in 1977.
Here is a photograph of the Century Cinema that I took in 1964:
View link