By the late-1970’s, the Star Cinema circuit had re-named nearly all their existing cinemas Studio with a number. But the numbering is not rational. In London there was the Studios 1-4, Oxford Street, Studios 5-8, Bruce Grove, Tottenham, and in Lewisham, Studios 6 & 7. There never was a Studios 1-5 in Lewisham, or anywhere in the area.
In outer London was the Studios 1-3 in Cheam, Surrey. A city the size of Manchester had the centrally placed Studios 1-5, Oxford Road and the Studios 6-9, Deansgate and in the Greater Manchester area Altringham had Studios 1-3, Bolton had Studios 1-3 and Burnley had Studios 1-3. There were many more.
Only the stage house and a section of the right hand side of the front of the building remain standing in this May 1982 demolition photograph: View link
Additional information to the above Empire Theatre, Leicester Square, London posting; The actual opening date at the Empire was 16th December 1959.
The reason for such a dramatic loss of seating capacity was that as the new projection box was built in the centre of the orchestra stalls, under the front of the balcony, only the front stalls seating was used, with many side seats not sold due to a restricted view. I saw “Ben Hur” here, sitting in the second row of the stalls and was amazed by the size of the screen. Of course seating in the huge balcony gave the best view.
Excellent research Michael :)
The first International booking at the Empire Theatre, Leicester Square, London, UK was the longest run of any of the locations, running for 127 weeks.
A new projection box was built in the centre of the orchestra stalls, resulting in a reduction of the seating capacity from 2,778 seats to 1,723 seats. A new screen was installed that was slightly larger than the proscenium arch and had a picture width of 52 feet. The throw from the box to the screen was only 78 feet. It closed at the Empire on 28th May 1961, was transferred the following day to the Royalty Theatre on Kingsway, where it ran exclusively for a few more months. The reason for the transfer was that the Empire was slated to be closed for re-development, into a smaller cinema and dance hall.
A vintage photograph of the Canterbury Music Hall in 1910;
View link
By the late-1970’s, the Star Cinema circuit had re-named nearly all their existing cinemas Studio with a number. But the numbering is not rational. In London there was the Studios 1-4, Oxford Street, Studios 5-8, Bruce Grove, Tottenham, and in Lewisham, Studios 6 & 7. There never was a Studios 1-5 in Lewisham, or anywhere in the area.
In outer London was the Studios 1-3 in Cheam, Surrey. A city the size of Manchester had the centrally placed Studios 1-5, Oxford Road and the Studios 6-9, Deansgate and in the Greater Manchester area Altringham had Studios 1-3, Bolton had Studios 1-3 and Burnley had Studios 1-3. There were many more.
The Odeon, photographed in May 1971, playing the Rank release:
http://www.mawgrim.co.uk/cavalcade/lewisham.jpg
A set of vintage photographs:
View link
A set of vintage photographs of the King’s Hall/Studios 6 & 7:
View link
The former Imperial/Savoy/Pullman Cinema, photographed in July 1983:
View link
A vintage photograph of the Astral Cinema in June 1985:
View link
Only the stage house and a section of the right hand side of the front of the building remain standing in this May 1982 demolition photograph:
View link
A vintage photograph of Camberwell Empire Theatre in around 1906:
View link
The Odeon photographed on its opening week in September 1935:
View link
A vintage photograph of the Picture Palace in 1919:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/4130845141/
A vintage photograph of the Picardy Cinema in Autumn, 1939:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/4130695255/
Auditorium, looking at the screen/entrance end:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/4131457672/
Auditorium, looking away from the screen/entrance end:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/4130698129/
A photograph I took in Summer of 1993, when in use as a nightclub:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/4130699809/
A vintage postcard view of the Rutland Park Cinema:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/4131079500/
Photographed in 1985, prior to its eventual demolition:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/4130317245/
The HMV building photographed in February 2008:
View link
The cover of a 1930 programme for the Gaiety Theatre:
View link
Photographs, memorabilia and more history here:
http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/DruryLane.htm
The Mayfair Cinema, photographed in 1959:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/4122697038/
Vintage photographs of the Regent Theatre in 1932:
Exterior
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/4120960128/
Auditorium
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/4120187481/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/4120188185/
Two photographs of the Mid City Cinemas:
In Febraury 2006 (note the Village City Centre 4 Cinemas on the left (which closed on that evening):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/4119943709/
A close-up photograph I took in March 2004:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/4120729214/
Additional information to the above Empire Theatre, Leicester Square, London posting; The actual opening date at the Empire was 16th December 1959.
The reason for such a dramatic loss of seating capacity was that as the new projection box was built in the centre of the orchestra stalls, under the front of the balcony, only the front stalls seating was used, with many side seats not sold due to a restricted view. I saw “Ben Hur” here, sitting in the second row of the stalls and was amazed by the size of the screen. Of course seating in the huge balcony gave the best view.
Excellent research Michael :)
The first International booking at the Empire Theatre, Leicester Square, London, UK was the longest run of any of the locations, running for 127 weeks.
A new projection box was built in the centre of the orchestra stalls, resulting in a reduction of the seating capacity from 2,778 seats to 1,723 seats. A new screen was installed that was slightly larger than the proscenium arch and had a picture width of 52 feet. The throw from the box to the screen was only 78 feet. It closed at the Empire on 28th May 1961, was transferred the following day to the Royalty Theatre on Kingsway, where it ran exclusively for a few more months. The reason for the transfer was that the Empire was slated to be closed for re-development, into a smaller cinema and dance hall.
More history, historic vintage & current photographs and memorabilia here:
View link
History, photographs and memorabilia here:
http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/PhoenixTheatre.htm
The auditorium photographed prior to renovation:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/architec/211977156/
More history and details about the restoration, with a current photograph:
View link
The former Trafalgar Cinema/Odeon photographed in use as a supermarket in July 1983:
View link
The Jai Nepal Cinema, photographed in August 2005:
View link