My grandfather Harry Lazell worked at the Austral (as it was first called) when he married in 1936 – and later also worked as a projectionist at the Felixstowe Playhouse.
I had confused this cinema with the old New Gallery cinema (a Habitat store until they closed) at the other end of Regent Street near Piccadilly Circus.
The actual new Regent Street cinema, situated in between Oxford Circus and Broadcasting House, has been carefully adapted by the University of London from their old lecture hall, removing the original upper balcony, but building over 200 sumptuous tier seats instead.
Quite the most beautiful cinema in London at the moment, in my opinion.
My grandfather Henry Lazell used to work as a projectionist there until it closed in 1970.
My mother married that same year, and so I came along a year later, so sadly I have no memories of the Playhouse, but it’s nice to think I had a little bit of cinema heritage in me.
Now renamed the King Street Cinema
My grandfather Harry Lazell worked at the Austral (as it was first called) when he married in 1936 – and later also worked as a projectionist at the Felixstowe Playhouse.
I had confused this cinema with the old New Gallery cinema (a Habitat store until they closed) at the other end of Regent Street near Piccadilly Circus.
The actual new Regent Street cinema, situated in between Oxford Circus and Broadcasting House, has been carefully adapted by the University of London from their old lecture hall, removing the original upper balcony, but building over 200 sumptuous tier seats instead.
Quite the most beautiful cinema in London at the moment, in my opinion.
My grandfather Henry Lazell used to work as a projectionist there until it closed in 1970.
My mother married that same year, and so I came along a year later, so sadly I have no memories of the Playhouse, but it’s nice to think I had a little bit of cinema heritage in me.
This local film of Colchester features the Cameo in 1978 (at 4:18), shortly after closure.
http://www.eafa.org.uk/catalogue/883