The first cinema to be build in Arnold arrived in 1911 as the Electric Pavilion, a tin and brick building on Front Street about where Ravenswood Road is now situated. This building only existed for about 12 months as a cinema as a new and spectacular building, the St Alban’s Picturedrome, was built in 1912. (Cinema’s Back by Bob Massey)
By comparing the 1913 map with extant buildings (pubs!), the cinema was where the block containing Mac’s Fish & Chips now is, at 72 Front St, Arnold, Nottingham NG5 7EG. After the cinema closed, it became a Woolworths.
In the ‘60s I (as a boy scout) collected for something in the foyer of the Mechanics Cinema. I particularly remember it had a steep flight of stone steps between the street and the box office. While the film was on I got myself invited to the box, something which fascinated me then and still does.
The Cinema is still in operation, albeit for private bookings only. In December 2017, Nottingham Post reported “Once the "world’s smallest cinema”, Nottingham’s Screen 22 has been turned into the home of a ticketing software company (Savoy Systems) – but will still be available for private bookings."
“Did it only operate at odd hours?” – I have always assumed the name was a reference to being the place to go if you had an odd hour and wanted something to do.
I have added a historic map to the ‘Grand Theatre’ entry. You can see the location of this ‘Picture Theatre’ at the corner of Radford Road and Terrace Street.
This cinema was located at the junction of London Road and Arkwright St. All the roads have been re-aligned, so the site is now in the middle of London Road beside the end of Turney St.
This was where I had my first colour experience! The film was ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and the transformation from monochrome to full colour was mind-blowing. I had never seen a colour film before that!
The location shown on the map is miles out; but the text is correct.
This was my local cinema until it was so sadly closed and demolished. We went to the Saturday morning kids' bunfights (6d in the stalls, 9d in the circle) and had a couple of school trips to see films; one was ‘The Ten Commandments’. It was located on the corner of Central Avenue and Rectory Road, where the tui holiday company now is.
http://www.beeston-notts.co.uk/palace.htm
The first cinema to be build in Arnold arrived in 1911 as the Electric Pavilion, a tin and brick building on Front Street about where Ravenswood Road is now situated. This building only existed for about 12 months as a cinema as a new and spectacular building, the St Alban’s Picturedrome, was built in 1912. (Cinema’s Back by Bob Massey)
By comparing the 1913 map with extant buildings (pubs!), the cinema was where the block containing Mac’s Fish & Chips now is, at 72 Front St, Arnold, Nottingham NG5 7EG. After the cinema closed, it became a Woolworths.
The address should be ‘Kirkwhite Street’. Manifold Gardens did not exist at the time of the cinema.
In the ‘60s I (as a boy scout) collected for something in the foyer of the Mechanics Cinema. I particularly remember it had a steep flight of stone steps between the street and the box office. While the film was on I got myself invited to the box, something which fascinated me then and still does.
In the ‘60s this was the Players No.6 gift showroom where we exchanged the cigarette coupons for stuff (to make us feel good about smoking!)
The Cinema is still in operation, albeit for private bookings only. In December 2017, Nottingham Post reported “Once the "world’s smallest cinema”, Nottingham’s Screen 22 has been turned into the home of a ticketing software company (Savoy Systems) – but will still be available for private bookings."
“Did it only operate at odd hours?” – I have always assumed the name was a reference to being the place to go if you had an odd hour and wanted something to do.
On the map I’ve posted you can also see the Boulevard Picture Theatre further down Radford Road.
I have added a historic map to the ‘Grand Theatre’ entry. You can see the location of this ‘Picture Theatre’ at the corner of Radford Road and Terrace Street.
This cinema was located at the junction of London Road and Arkwright St. All the roads have been re-aligned, so the site is now in the middle of London Road beside the end of Turney St.
This was where I had my first colour experience! The film was ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and the transformation from monochrome to full colour was mind-blowing. I had never seen a colour film before that! The location shown on the map is miles out; but the text is correct.
This was my local cinema until it was so sadly closed and demolished. We went to the Saturday morning kids' bunfights (6d in the stalls, 9d in the circle) and had a couple of school trips to see films; one was ‘The Ten Commandments’. It was located on the corner of Central Avenue and Rectory Road, where the tui holiday company now is.