The City Lights Cinema is location in part of the balcony of the former 1930’s Capitol Cinema. All of Valletta’s old cinemas have closed, this may be the one with any of the original decor surviving as the rest (Savoy, Embassy, Coliseum and Imperial) have either been completely demolished or totally gutted inside.
The condition of the former Odeon continues to deteriorate. The frontage onto Princes Way is looking particularly poor now, after the removal of the lightbox and canopy. Photos from April 2008 here:–
Derby Hippodrome High Court judgement welcomed by The Theatres Trust
10th April 2008
Mhora Samuel, Director of The Theatres Trust attended the High Court hearing held today in London where Derby City Council (the claimant) applied for an injunction to prevent the owner of the Derby Hippodrome (the respondent) from carrying out further demolition of the theatre. In the three and a half hour hearing the owner continued to assert that his experts declared the building was unsafe and required demolition, contrary to the views of the Council and English Heritage who considered that the building was safe to the public on the street and could be saved.
The respondent’s barrister stated that the owner was not required by listed building legislation to preserve the theatre and intended to demolish the building. He raised the issue of asbestos in the safety curtain and that this continued to pose a health and safety risk. The owner wanted to remove it by using a machine to go in and lift it out of the building. He said that the proscenium would not survive this process of removal.
Mhora Samuel said, “I was very concerned to hear that the owner’s approach to making the building safe would result in the loss of the proscenium. I am pleased that the final judgement issued by the court identified that it is a criminal offence to undertake works to a listed building without consent, and that whilst he was not in a position to adjudicate on this matter, the judge did state that advance notice of the works to the roof on the 28 March had not been given to Derby City Council. I now urge the Council to proceed with prosecution and enforcement to have the theatre restored.â€
The view of the judge, Mr Justice Saunders, was that the status quo should be retained until a proper trial could take place but issues of health and safety were serious considerations that needed attention. Faced with ‘two sets of experts diametrically opposed to each other’, both parties agreed to the appointment of an independent expert who would produce a report on the state of the building for a further hearing on the week beginning 21 April. In the meantime the judge ordered that the health and safety issues in the building be kept under close scrutiny by both parties.
The Elite is indeed open again for movies and stage performances in 2008, it has now been renamed the Picture house and is enthusiastically run by a team of volunteers. It has two performances daily on Thursday, Friday and Saturday as a general rule.
The Odeon continues in April 2008. Despite being done by ABC the tripling preserved much of the art deco detailing of this cinema as can be seen in these April 2008 shots:–
As the theatre prepares to go dark and get boarded up, due to failure of the Council to appoint a new management company, these pictures were taken in March 2008. 42nd Street, by the local amateur operatic society is playing to good business – but will the show go on for the theatre?
Another earlier photo of the top of the Pros arch and start of the arches at upper circle level (hidden behind the partition wall in the auditorium photos) here, showing how the building has been modernised, whilst retaining the basic structure.
Sadly the conversion to the Life cafe, stripped out most of the decorative detail of the former cinema, in a needless (since the basic form of the building remains) attempt at modernisation. A false floor has been constructed at LOWER balcony level (correction to main text above), with the upper balcony remaining (but stripped of its Edwardian Plasterwork) The is a Studio in what used to be the stalls.
The City Lights Cinema is location in part of the balcony of the former 1930’s Capitol Cinema. All of Valletta’s old cinemas have closed, this may be the one with any of the original decor surviving as the rest (Savoy, Embassy, Coliseum and Imperial) have either been completely demolished or totally gutted inside.
Interior and exterior photographs of the ABC, taken in May 2008, here:–
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Interior and exterior photographs of the Lyric, taken in May 2008 here:–
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Exterior photo taken May 2008 here:–
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Exterior photo taken may 2008 here:–
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Exterior photo (the large white building) taken May 2008 here:–
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The condition of the former Odeon continues to deteriorate. The frontage onto Princes Way is looking particularly poor now, after the removal of the lightbox and canopy. Photos from April 2008 here:–
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Application to demolish is circulating – the council have stated it is an “art deco building, but without merit” and see no reason to retain it.
Another original Odeon soon to go?
An April 2008 view here:–
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Photos of the Regal as a bingo hall in 1986 here:–
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Latest news
Derby Hippodrome High Court judgement welcomed by The Theatres Trust
10th April 2008
Mhora Samuel, Director of The Theatres Trust attended the High Court hearing held today in London where Derby City Council (the claimant) applied for an injunction to prevent the owner of the Derby Hippodrome (the respondent) from carrying out further demolition of the theatre. In the three and a half hour hearing the owner continued to assert that his experts declared the building was unsafe and required demolition, contrary to the views of the Council and English Heritage who considered that the building was safe to the public on the street and could be saved.
The respondent’s barrister stated that the owner was not required by listed building legislation to preserve the theatre and intended to demolish the building. He raised the issue of asbestos in the safety curtain and that this continued to pose a health and safety risk. The owner wanted to remove it by using a machine to go in and lift it out of the building. He said that the proscenium would not survive this process of removal.
Mhora Samuel said, “I was very concerned to hear that the owner’s approach to making the building safe would result in the loss of the proscenium. I am pleased that the final judgement issued by the court identified that it is a criminal offence to undertake works to a listed building without consent, and that whilst he was not in a position to adjudicate on this matter, the judge did state that advance notice of the works to the roof on the 28 March had not been given to Derby City Council. I now urge the Council to proceed with prosecution and enforcement to have the theatre restored.â€
The view of the judge, Mr Justice Saunders, was that the status quo should be retained until a proper trial could take place but issues of health and safety were serious considerations that needed attention. Faced with ‘two sets of experts diametrically opposed to each other’, both parties agreed to the appointment of an independent expert who would produce a report on the state of the building for a further hearing on the week beginning 21 April. In the meantime the judge ordered that the health and safety issues in the building be kept under close scrutiny by both parties.
Two 2008 photos here:–
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The Elite is indeed open again for movies and stage performances in 2008, it has now been renamed the Picture house and is enthusiastically run by a team of volunteers. It has two performances daily on Thursday, Friday and Saturday as a general rule.
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Some 2008 views of the former Zetland here:–
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The Odeon continues in April 2008. Despite being done by ABC the tripling preserved much of the art deco detailing of this cinema as can be seen in these April 2008 shots:–
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Three further photos of the Derby Hippodrome, taken in 2007, here:–
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Devastating news. This was a structurally sound building of national importance.
A press release will be issued in the next days regarding this destruction.
Two more images taken in 1987 here:
Exterior:
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Interior:
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Three exterior pictures from March 2008 here:–
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A few pictures of the Pavilion taken in March 2008 here:–
Exterior:
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Interior:
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Two photographs of the building taken in March 2008 here:–
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As the theatre prepares to go dark and get boarded up, due to failure of the Council to appoint a new management company, these pictures were taken in March 2008. 42nd Street, by the local amateur operatic society is playing to good business – but will the show go on for the theatre?
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Another earlier photo of the top of the Pros arch and start of the arches at upper circle level (hidden behind the partition wall in the auditorium photos) here, showing how the building has been modernised, whilst retaining the basic structure.
View link
Sadly the conversion to the Life cafe, stripped out most of the decorative detail of the former cinema, in a needless (since the basic form of the building remains) attempt at modernisation. A false floor has been constructed at LOWER balcony level (correction to main text above), with the upper balcony remaining (but stripped of its Edwardian Plasterwork) The is a Studio in what used to be the stalls.
Photos here:
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Four more photos – two interior two exterior:–
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