A close-up view of the entrance, possibly in the late 1940’s: View link
A vintage view of the Odeon, playing the Odeon release in July 1951: View link
A rather grimy look in this 1960’s view: View link
Hello Charlie. Sorry, but no, I don’t know of Arthur Lawrence. The Chaplin stunt was in the early 1920’s when he must have been one of the owners of the owning company; Majestic (Clapham) Ltd. Nice to hear that the story is still famous in your family.
Only the facade and foyer (designated a Grade II Listed building) were able to survive. Seen here with the new flats pojects on the now demolished auditorium space, almost completed in October 2006: http://flickr.com/photos/92215570@N00/293051127/
This is a view not normally taken of the Gaumont State Theatre. Seen from the cinema car park, it shows the massive back of the stage house and dressing room block. In the distance to the right can be seen the huge tower which is over the main entrance. Photographed in November 2007: http://flickr.com/photos/92215570@N00/2184878219/
A recent view of the auditorium, taken after a performance organised by the community group running the Abbeydale Picture House. There is obviously a long way to go on any possible restoration, but at least the building has re-opened after being shuttered for 15 years: http://flickr.com/photos/evissa/187245864/
According to the book ‘Early Oxford Picture Palaces’ by Paul J. Marriot (Published 1978):
‘After 1932, when Mr Barraclough was the organist, it seems never to have been played again. However in 1965 the old organ was rediscovered housed in a concrete chamber behind the screen, remarkably intact.’
Two interior photographs from September 2005:
View from circle http://flickr.com/photos/nugatory/41974250/
A view from the stage. This shows the front extension to the circle (and the pillars which support it) and the rear of the two mini-cinemas which were created under the circle in 1974. There are two staircases on each side, which must lead lead to the front circle extension. http://flickr.com/photos/nugatory/301246259/
That ‘June 2007’ photo has been ‘doctored’ with photoshop or similar. It is how the building would look if it were ever restored (minus the ‘Odeon’ signage of course, as Odeon have not owned the building for years).
LostMemory;It looks like there could have been at least a couple of theatres here. In the book ‘Michigan’s Small Town Movie Theatre’s’ by Michael V. Doyal the history of the building in your recent photograph above is apparently: Built in 1889 Seating 199. Beginning first as a funeral home, later a furniture store the building finally became a movie theatre in 1969. It is still open at 126 East Lake Street.
Or maybe that 1969 date is incorrect?
“Close Encounters of the Third Kind” had a ‘Gala Premier’ at the Odeon Leicester Square, London, England, UK on Monday 13th March 1978. It was presented in 70mm and Dolby Stereo.
It has been announced that the magnificent Grade II* Listed Gaumont State Theatre has been purchased by Ruach Inspirational Church of God, who have their current base in Brixton, south London. This is the UK branch of the Ruach Ministries, evangelical church.
While this is ‘sort of’ good news, in that the building won’t be left empty and rotting away, concerns are that public access could now be compromised, and it will only be evangelical Christians who will be admitted, to enjoy the building. Will the Wurlitzer organ be maintained to playable condition, as it currently is?. Will the building be available for inspection on the annual ‘Open House’ architectural days, as it has been in recent years?.
I presume that the matter will now go to Brent Council to approve a change of use to a Grade II* Listed building. When the UCKG church purchased the EMD Cinema (former Granada) Walthamstow, permission to change of use to a church was refused and the building has remained empty for the past five years.
If planning applications are approved, Kilburn High Road will then have three former cinemas in religious use;the Grange Cinema(2,028 seats-Grade II Listed) is now a UCKG church, the Maida Vale Picture House (1,001 seats -Grade II Listed) is now a Mosque, plus the Gaumont State Kilburn?
A close-up view of the entrance, possibly in the late 1940’s:
View link
A vintage view of the Odeon, playing the Odeon release in July 1951:
View link
A rather grimy look in this 1960’s view:
View link
Hello Charlie. Sorry, but no, I don’t know of Arthur Lawrence. The Chaplin stunt was in the early 1920’s when he must have been one of the owners of the owning company; Majestic (Clapham) Ltd. Nice to hear that the story is still famous in your family.
A long view of the former Odeon in January 2008:
View link
A close-up view of the entrance in December 2007:
http://flickr.com/photos/leyhillimages/2092758517/
Here are a set of 21 vintage photographs (click on each number):
View link
Thanks Lost Memory. That photograph is just a small section of the current New Imperia Cinema (the second building).
Here are two photographs from August 2006, showing the current ‘real’ condition of the building:
http://flickr.com/photos/92215570@N00/203996493/
http://flickr.com/photos/92215570@N00/203996492/
Only the facade and foyer (designated a Grade II Listed building) were able to survive. Seen here with the new flats pojects on the now demolished auditorium space, almost completed in October 2006:
http://flickr.com/photos/92215570@N00/293051127/
This is a view not normally taken of the Gaumont State Theatre. Seen from the cinema car park, it shows the massive back of the stage house and dressing room block. In the distance to the right can be seen the huge tower which is over the main entrance. Photographed in November 2007:
http://flickr.com/photos/92215570@N00/2184878219/
A November 2007 photograph of what is now named the Venue, in the former New Cross Super Kinema:
http://flickr.com/photos/92215570@N00/2184876893/
Two photographs of the Ormonde Cinema from October 2006:
http://flickr.com/photos/43944923@N00/262804070/
http://flickr.com/photos/43944923@N00/262804069/
An exterior photograph of the Picture House pub in April 2006:
http://flickr.com/photos/kromanfromcrs/137369216/
The auditorium as the Picture House pub in April 2006:
http://flickr.com/photos/kromanfromcrs/137613301/
A full frontal view for its days as a nightclub:
http://flickr.com/photos/evissa/324936198/
A side on view from March 2006:
http://flickr.com/photos/sheffdave/273704686/
A close-up view of the facade from June 2006:
http://flickr.com/photos/harryhalibut/374974446/
A recent view of the auditorium, taken after a performance organised by the community group running the Abbeydale Picture House. There is obviously a long way to go on any possible restoration, but at least the building has re-opened after being shuttered for 15 years:
http://flickr.com/photos/evissa/187245864/
According to the book ‘Early Oxford Picture Palaces’ by Paul J. Marriot (Published 1978):
‘After 1932, when Mr Barraclough was the organist, it seems never to have been played again. However in 1965 the old organ was rediscovered housed in a concrete chamber behind the screen, remarkably intact.’
I wonder what happened to to it?
Two interior photographs from September 2005:
View from circle
http://flickr.com/photos/nugatory/41974250/
A view from the stage. This shows the front extension to the circle (and the pillars which support it) and the rear of the two mini-cinemas which were created under the circle in 1974. There are two staircases on each side, which must lead lead to the front circle extension.
http://flickr.com/photos/nugatory/301246259/
Some recent photographs of the former Washington Luxury Cinema:
Two night views
http://flickr.com/photos/dip108/316767879/
http://flickr.com/photos/ben_salter/384103029/
Top of facade detail:
http://flickr.com/photos/recurrence/2951624/
A current 2007 view of the facade
View link
That ‘June 2007’ photo has been ‘doctored’ with photoshop or similar. It is how the building would look if it were ever restored (minus the ‘Odeon’ signage of course, as Odeon have not owned the building for years).
The former Globe Theatre was demolished in December 2007.
Here are some vintage and current photographs (click to expand) of the former Savoy Cinema (Grade II Listed building):
View link
An October 2007 photograph of the exterior:
http://flickr.com/photos/billogs/2117606153/
LostMemory;It looks like there could have been at least a couple of theatres here. In the book ‘Michigan’s Small Town Movie Theatre’s’ by Michael V. Doyal the history of the building in your recent photograph above is apparently: Built in 1889 Seating 199. Beginning first as a funeral home, later a furniture store the building finally became a movie theatre in 1969. It is still open at 126 East Lake Street.
Or maybe that 1969 date is incorrect?
“Close Encounters of the Third Kind” had a ‘Gala Premier’ at the Odeon Leicester Square, London, England, UK on Monday 13th March 1978. It was presented in 70mm and Dolby Stereo.
It has been announced that the magnificent Grade II* Listed Gaumont State Theatre has been purchased by Ruach Inspirational Church of God, who have their current base in Brixton, south London. This is the UK branch of the Ruach Ministries, evangelical church.
While this is ‘sort of’ good news, in that the building won’t be left empty and rotting away, concerns are that public access could now be compromised, and it will only be evangelical Christians who will be admitted, to enjoy the building. Will the Wurlitzer organ be maintained to playable condition, as it currently is?. Will the building be available for inspection on the annual ‘Open House’ architectural days, as it has been in recent years?.
I presume that the matter will now go to Brent Council to approve a change of use to a Grade II* Listed building. When the UCKG church purchased the EMD Cinema (former Granada) Walthamstow, permission to change of use to a church was refused and the building has remained empty for the past five years.
If planning applications are approved, Kilburn High Road will then have three former cinemas in religious use;the Grange Cinema(2,028 seats-Grade II Listed) is now a UCKG church, the Maida Vale Picture House (1,001 seats -Grade II Listed) is now a Mosque, plus the Gaumont State Kilburn?
A December 2007 photograph of the closed-down Cinemas Gemelos:
View link
A photograph of the former Cine Reforma as seen in December 2007:
View link