I’ve just uploaded to Flicker the pictures of the Empire I took in the early nineties (exterior, foyer, auditorium and projection booth). Check the albums here :
https://www.flickr.com/photos/153302575@N06/albums
They are not of good quality but for your convenience, they are downloadable, and copyrighted by me because done in the context of a professional work. So please use them only in private, do not modify or redistribute them. I already had to ask a lawyer once to tour all the sites/forums where they had been redistributed by the same person.
I’ve posted pictures of the cinema when it opened in the eighties (exterior, lobby and large auditorium). Credits to the Mesbur+Smith Architect office, who designed the original complex. Pictures are copyrighted Cineplex Corporation Corporation, photographer name unknown.
The link to the article quoted by CF100 “Four-in-one-cinema” doesn’t work anymore because it was modified. I found it with Google :
https://vads.ac.uk/diad/article.php?title=243&article=d.243.39
Only went once to this cinema while on holiday in London in the eighties, to see “Throw momma from the train”. I found both the seat and screen to be small, and had to sit in the first few rows for a satisfactory “wide screen” illusion. I’m surprised to see it still stands today. I guess the program and refurbishment have been smartly thought out.
When it comes to THX, it should be noted that the largest auditorium was the first European cinema to be equipped with a THX sound system in 1986, using JBL amplifiers and speakers.
For Ben-Hur, The Versailles got equipped in 70mm with projectors leased from MGM. But the theater gave back the projectors after the long Ben-Hur run. It 1978 it played Battlestar Galactica in Sensurround.
To KenRoe:
Yes, this beautiful building was originally built as a cinema. In fact, the front of the Churchill is the side exit of the Forum (/theaters/28534/) and the Churchill cinema was built in the basement of the forum. When there is a rock concert at the Forum, you can sometimes hear the vibrations of the music during quiet moments of projection at the Churchill. A bit annoying, but it’s OK.
The Churchill is a delight for film fans for whom correct projection is a must. All screens have proper adjustable screen masking. The largest auditorium really has a very big screen (for the size of the auditorium) and projectors are equipped to show all ratios 1.37 / 1.66 / 1.85 / Scope. It also has Dolby Digital and DTS.
I’ve just uploaded to Flicker the pictures of the Empire I took in the early nineties (exterior, foyer, auditorium and projection booth). Check the albums here : https://www.flickr.com/photos/153302575@N06/albums
They are not of good quality but for your convenience, they are downloadable, and copyrighted by me because done in the context of a professional work. So please use them only in private, do not modify or redistribute them. I already had to ask a lawyer once to tour all the sites/forums where they had been redistributed by the same person.
I’ve posted pictures of the cinema when it opened in the eighties (exterior, lobby and large auditorium). Credits to the Mesbur+Smith Architect office, who designed the original complex. Pictures are copyrighted Cineplex Corporation Corporation, photographer name unknown.
Hello. I’m desperately looking for pictures showing the inside of these theatres. Does somebody have some? Thank you.
The link to the article quoted by CF100 “Four-in-one-cinema” doesn’t work anymore because it was modified. I found it with Google : https://vads.ac.uk/diad/article.php?title=243&article=d.243.39
Only went once to this cinema while on holiday in London in the eighties, to see “Throw momma from the train”. I found both the seat and screen to be small, and had to sit in the first few rows for a satisfactory “wide screen” illusion. I’m surprised to see it still stands today. I guess the program and refurbishment have been smartly thought out.
When it comes to THX, it should be noted that the largest auditorium was the first European cinema to be equipped with a THX sound system in 1986, using JBL amplifiers and speakers.
For Ben-Hur, The Versailles got equipped in 70mm with projectors leased from MGM. But the theater gave back the projectors after the long Ben-Hur run. It 1978 it played Battlestar Galactica in Sensurround.
To KenRoe:
Yes, this beautiful building was originally built as a cinema. In fact, the front of the Churchill is the side exit of the Forum (/theaters/28534/) and the Churchill cinema was built in the basement of the forum. When there is a rock concert at the Forum, you can sometimes hear the vibrations of the music during quiet moments of projection at the Churchill. A bit annoying, but it’s OK.
The Churchill is a delight for film fans for whom correct projection is a must. All screens have proper adjustable screen masking. The largest auditorium really has a very big screen (for the size of the auditorium) and projectors are equipped to show all ratios 1.37 / 1.66 / 1.85 / Scope. It also has Dolby Digital and DTS.