The Empress is listed in Film Daily Yearbook;1926 edition with a seating capacity of 600. It retains this seating capacity in F.D.Y. for several decades, until 1957 when it is listed as having 596 seats.
The retail unit operating out of the building is now called ‘Astral Mart Plaza’. It uses the main entrance on 181st street and another entrance has been punched into the screen end of the building on Audubon Avenue. There is a false ceiling inside, so not much to see of its cinematic decoration.
The Empress could have been known in its last years of operation as the Astral Theatre screening Spanish language films and Hollywood films with Spanish subtitles or dubbed.
Thing is lostmemory, that was then, now it looks like they have added screens and possibly built them onto adjoining land? Is the original auditorium intact? Without a phone call to the current theatre operators we will never know! lol
According to the developers, this building had ‘little architectural merit’! I wonder if future generations will say the same about what has been built on the site!
Three photographs of the Odeon, Blackpool, the largest of the Odeon ciruit in the UK.
Exterior photo taken at the time of opening on 6th May 1939 View link
An exterior photo taken prior to closing in December 1998 View link
A view of the auditorium, taken from towards the rear of the balcony in its final months of operation as the Odeon Cinema (Closed 5th December 1998). From 19th April 2002 this re-opened as ‘Funny Girls’ a gay cabaret/nightclub venue. The former balcony lounge/foyer is now a gay bar/pub called ‘The Flying Handbag’. View link
A 1971 photograph showing the ‘new’ entrance on the side of the building, which was formally an exit. The original main entrance, foyer, stalls seating area and stage were by this time being used as a supermarket. View link
The Empress is listed in Film Daily Yearbook;1926 edition with a seating capacity of 600. It retains this seating capacity in F.D.Y. for several decades, until 1957 when it is listed as having 596 seats.
The retail unit operating out of the building is now called ‘Astral Mart Plaza’. It uses the main entrance on 181st street and another entrance has been punched into the screen end of the building on Audubon Avenue. There is a false ceiling inside, so not much to see of its cinematic decoration.
The Empress could have been known in its last years of operation as the Astral Theatre screening Spanish language films and Hollywood films with Spanish subtitles or dubbed.
The Hi-Way is not listed in 1941 or 1943, so it must have opened in 1944/45. In 1950 F.D.Y. is has 400 seats.
Today B Street is known as Victorian Avenue.
Thing is lostmemory, that was then, now it looks like they have added screens and possibly built them onto adjoining land? Is the original auditorium intact? Without a phone call to the current theatre operators we will never know! lol
Listed as open in the 1950 F.D.Y. with a seating capacity of 360.
Hammerstein’s Victora Theatre, 42nd St & 7th Ave is listed in the American Motion Picture Directory 1914 – 1915.
The same publication also lists the Victoria Theatre, 42nd St & 7th Ave.
More history and a photograph of the ABC Romford here:
http://www.romford.org/cinemas/ritz-abc/abc.htm
According to the developers, this building had ‘little architectural merit’! I wonder if future generations will say the same about what has been built on the site!
This is what was lost…..
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ewm/17/lg/10.jpg
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ewm/17/lg/11.jpg
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ewm/17/lg/23.jpg
….and that’s just the outside!
May all concerned in this wanton destruction of our Heritage, hang their heads in shame.
A 1999 exteriot photograph of the Apollo Theatre here:
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ewm/ic7/82.jpg
A 2000 exterior photograph of the Grade II Listed, Rex Cinema here:
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ewm/17/lg/08.jpg
October 1999 night view of the Cornerhouse Cinemas here:
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ewm/ic14/19.jpg
December 1998 – Start of demolition photograph here:
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ewm/ic6/50.jpg
April 1999 – Almost gone, just the stage house remains here:
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ewm/ic9/61.jpg
2000 – This structure was the replacement, does everyone live happy ever after?!!!!!
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ewm/17/lg/13.jpg
An exterior photo of the Roxy, Hollinwood here:
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ewm/17/lg/15.jpg
Three photographs of the Odeon, Blackpool, the largest of the Odeon ciruit in the UK.
Exterior photo taken at the time of opening on 6th May 1939
View link
An exterior photo taken prior to closing in December 1998
View link
A view of the auditorium, taken from towards the rear of the balcony in its final months of operation as the Odeon Cinema (Closed 5th December 1998). From 19th April 2002 this re-opened as ‘Funny Girls’ a gay cabaret/nightclub venue. The former balcony lounge/foyer is now a gay bar/pub called ‘The Flying Handbag’.
View link
Two 2000 exterior photographs when the Odeon was the ABC here:
View link
View link
A close-up view of the main entrance, photographed in 1971 here:
View link
A 1971 photograph showing the ‘new’ entrance on the side of the building, which was formally an exit. The original main entrance, foyer, stalls seating area and stage were by this time being used as a supermarket.
View link
Sorry
Here is the night time shot again;
View link
Three vintage exterior photographs of the Odeon, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne here:
In 1949 with the original Paramount canopy (marquee) and vertical fin (blade) sign, but now sporting the Odeon name.
View link
Daytime in February 1961, the canopy has been re-faced, but th fin sign still remains on show.
View link
Night time in February 1961
View link
A 1968 exterior photograph of the Gaumont, Notting Hill here:
View link
A 1971 exterior photograph of the Gaumont/Mayflower, Southampton here:
View link
Two exterior views of the Pyramid, Sale when it was the Odeon here:
Possibly late 1940’s/early 1950's
View link
In 1971
View link
A 1971 exterior photograph of the Odeon, Newport here:
View link
An exterior photograph (early 1970’s?) of the Gaumont/Regent, Ipswich here:
View link
A 1971 exterior photograph of the Regal, Edmonton here:
View link
A March 1971 photograph of the main entrance to the Regent, Brighton here:
View link