Opened as the Virginia Theatre in 1909. It was re-modelled by architect Julius Wenig in 1927, the seating capacity was given as 337. It re-opened on 6th April 1927 as the Little Theatre with the Russian classic “The Armoured Cruiser Prince Potemkin” aka “Battleship Potemkin”.
It was one of the first ‘art’ theatres in the city. In early 1929 the Little Theatre was taken over by Moviegraphs Inc of New York;Sydney Lust was on the board of directors. It closed suddenly on November 30th 1929.
Later operated by Mrs Louise Noonan Miller, daughter of the theatre’s builder Col. John J. Noonan of Cincinnati and associated with the Lopert organisation. It closed as an art theatre in May 1951, but continued to show movies for a few more years. In 1956 it was operated by the Trans-Lux organisation.
(Details taken from the book Motion Picture Exhibition in Washington. D.C. by Rober K. Headley (published 1999)
A photograph of the closed down Cameo Cinema that I took in 1961 when Blundell’s Ltd announced they had purchased the building. A few weeks later all the decorative features were removed from the facade. View link
Two views that I took in October 2003. Note the now plain facade, and the original style on the building to the left which was built at the same time as the Cameo Cinema. View link
A photograph I took of the closed down Popular Cinema in 1961. It had closed in March 1958 and would remain shuttered until it re-opened as the “Talk of the Midlands” cabaret club in 1979. View link
Hi Woody; Thanks for the Herbie correction, I thought ‘Goes Back’ didn’t sound familiar (details were taken from Sam Winfield’s book ‘Dream Palaces of Derby’).
Yes you are correct that the building was called Cascades Bingo at some stage, this was before Top Rank Bingo, the last operators, who closed it down on 15th October 2000. According to my records, the building was demolished in March 2001. Prior to demolition, the disused building had been set on fire three times in December 2000.
I have posted the Majestic Super Cinema, Chaddesden and the Rex, Alvaston (my local for the first 21 years of my life when I lived in Derby) onto Cinema Treasures. More to come…..
Could the picture of Tally’s New Broadway Theatre (in the 500 block of S. Broadway) be the Garnett Theatre (ex Tally’s) which was located at 554 S. Broadway? The Garnett Theatre has it’s own listing here on Cinema Treasures.
The address 601 S. Broadway and details come from the Los Angeles Conservancy Theatres Database. I have to agree from the evidence gathering here that it is looking less likely that a theatre ever existed in this building. However we will have to wait and see what further evidence turns up.
Regarding the Tally’s New Broadway Theatre in the 500 block of S. Broadway, could the Garnett Theatre (former Tally’s) be the one? Listed on Cinema Treasures under Garnett it was located at 554 S. Broadway.
The American Motion Picture Directory 1914 – 1915 gives an address of National Avenue, Corona.
No address is given in Film Daily Yearbook;editions 1926, 1927 or 1930, but the seating capacity is consistant as 600 in all these. The 1930 edition of F.D.Y. also lists status of the Hyperion Theatre as (Closed).
It is a Listed Grade B building. Unusual internal features were:– the orchestra sat on a garden bridge (now missing), the exterior of the projection booth was shaped like a Chinaman, with the projection beams coming out the two slanted eyes!
The auditorium walls were decorated in the manner of a ‘Chinese Garden’ with red, black and gold murals painted on the walls. Within the barrel vaulted ceiling were outlines of painted dragons and scrolls (now painted over).
Seating at the Rialto Cinema, Lochee (a western suburb of Dundee) was arranged in a stadium configuration, with a raised section at the rear and no overhanging circle. It had a barrel-vailted ceiling in the auditorium and the proscenium opening was 32 feet wide.
The Little Theatre, Washington D.C. has its own listing on Cinema Treasures.
Opened as the Virginia Theatre in 1909. It was re-modelled by architect Julius Wenig in 1927, the seating capacity was given as 337. It re-opened on 6th April 1927 as the Little Theatre with the Russian classic “The Armoured Cruiser Prince Potemkin” aka “Battleship Potemkin”.
It was one of the first ‘art’ theatres in the city. In early 1929 the Little Theatre was taken over by Moviegraphs Inc of New York;Sydney Lust was on the board of directors. It closed suddenly on November 30th 1929.
Later operated by Mrs Louise Noonan Miller, daughter of the theatre’s builder Col. John J. Noonan of Cincinnati and associated with the Lopert organisation. It closed as an art theatre in May 1951, but continued to show movies for a few more years. In 1956 it was operated by the Trans-Lux organisation.
(Details taken from the book Motion Picture Exhibition in Washington. D.C. by Rober K. Headley (published 1999)
A photograph I took in 1961 when the former Cosmo Cinema was operating as a Bingo Club, just before its closure by the police.
View link
Two recent views of the building I took in October 2003.
View link
Http://photobucket.com/albums/y191/KenR-UK/?action=view¤t=DerbyCinemasOct2003001.jpg
A photograph of the Coliseum Cinema I took in its final week, prior to closing in August 1961
View link
Demolition photographs of the Normanton Cinema I took in 1961.
Remains of the front entrance (Note the trolly bus wires over the street)
View link
The Princes Street side view
View link
Back wall at screen end, looking through to the auditorium
View link
A photograph of the closed down Cameo Cinema that I took in 1961 when Blundell’s Ltd announced they had purchased the building. A few weeks later all the decorative features were removed from the facade.
View link
Two views that I took in October 2003. Note the now plain facade, and the original style on the building to the left which was built at the same time as the Cameo Cinema.
View link
View link
Thanks to woody; for these excellent recent photographs
Auditorium view from the rear of the balcony
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/48977123/
Coffered ceiling and chandelier fitting above the circle
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/48977121/
Close-up detail of the coffered ceiling
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/48977122/
A photograph that I took in 1961 of the former Alexandra Theatre in use as the Trocadero Dance Hall.
View link
The Gate Cinema is now known as the Gate Picturehouse.
The Ritzy Cinema is now known as the Ritzy Picturehouse.
A photograph I took of the closed down Popular Cinema in 1961. It had closed in March 1958 and would remain shuttered until it re-opened as the “Talk of the Midlands” cabaret club in 1979.
View link
Hi Woody; Thanks for the Herbie correction, I thought ‘Goes Back’ didn’t sound familiar (details were taken from Sam Winfield’s book ‘Dream Palaces of Derby’).
Yes you are correct that the building was called Cascades Bingo at some stage, this was before Top Rank Bingo, the last operators, who closed it down on 15th October 2000. According to my records, the building was demolished in March 2001. Prior to demolition, the disused building had been set on fire three times in December 2000.
I have posted the Majestic Super Cinema, Chaddesden and the Rex, Alvaston (my local for the first 21 years of my life when I lived in Derby) onto Cinema Treasures. More to come…..
Could the picture of Tally’s New Broadway Theatre (in the 500 block of S. Broadway) be the Garnett Theatre (ex Tally’s) which was located at 554 S. Broadway? The Garnett Theatre has it’s own listing here on Cinema Treasures.
The address 601 S. Broadway and details come from the Los Angeles Conservancy Theatres Database. I have to agree from the evidence gathering here that it is looking less likely that a theatre ever existed in this building. However we will have to wait and see what further evidence turns up.
Regarding the Tally’s New Broadway Theatre in the 500 block of S. Broadway, could the Garnett Theatre (former Tally’s) be the one? Listed on Cinema Treasures under Garnett it was located at 554 S. Broadway.
The American Motion Picture Directory 1914 – 1915 gives an address of National Avenue, Corona.
No address is given in Film Daily Yearbook;editions 1926, 1927 or 1930, but the seating capacity is consistant as 600 in all these. The 1930 edition of F.D.Y. also lists status of the Hyperion Theatre as (Closed).
Two c.1926 photographs of the Granada Theatre, Hollywood here:
Exterior
View link
Auditorium
View link
A recent exterior photograph here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/grange85/21668410/
Thanks to woody, a recent exterior photograph of the Duke of York’s Picture House here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/48112013/
Thanks to woody, some photographs of the newly re-opened Greenwich Picturehouse taken in September 2005 here:
Exterior view
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/48104932/
Lobby view
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/48104931/
Basement screening room stairs view
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/48106434/
Thanks to woody, a couple of photographs of the Regal Cinema/ABC Derby here:
Auditorium in 1938
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/47990139/
Demolition in 1984
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/47990140/
Thanks Rollingrck, they are great photos considering the low light. Looks like it was quite an ornate interior for a neighborhood theatre.
A recent exterior photograph here:
View link
It is a Listed Grade B building. Unusual internal features were:– the orchestra sat on a garden bridge (now missing), the exterior of the projection booth was shaped like a Chinaman, with the projection beams coming out the two slanted eyes!
The auditorium walls were decorated in the manner of a ‘Chinese Garden’ with red, black and gold murals painted on the walls. Within the barrel vaulted ceiling were outlines of painted dragons and scrolls (now painted over).
Seating at the Rialto Cinema, Lochee (a western suburb of Dundee) was arranged in a stadium configuration, with a raised section at the rear and no overhanging circle. It had a barrel-vailted ceiling in the auditorium and the proscenium opening was 32 feet wide.
Listed in the Film Daily Yearbook;1930 edition as the Little Lenox Theatre with a seating capacity of 251.