Jacey Leicester Square
7 Leicester Square,
London,
WC2H 7NA
7 Leicester Square,
London,
WC2H 7NA
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Jacey Cinemas
Architects: Cecil Aubrey Masey
Functions: Casino, Restaurant
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: Monseigneur News Theatre, Jacey Cartoon Cinema
Nearby Theaters
The building actually opened in the 1890’s as the 100-bed Queen’s Hotel beside the Empire Theatre. In 1936 architect Cecil Masey was comissioned to convert the hotel lobby area in a 350 seat newsreel theatre for the Monseigneur circuit.
The theatre had a marquee above which was a neon lit board with the theatre’s name in large letters. When newsreels ended production in the late-1950’s it was taken over by Jacey Cinemas in June 1960 and went over to screening non-stop 1 hour shows of cartoons, re-named Jacey Cartoon Cinema.
Ten years later it was re-named Jacey Leicester Square when it began screening soft core ‘adult’ movies, opening on 16th April 1970 with “Wierd Wierdo”. It closed on 24th June 1978 and was converted into a small shopping arcade. In 1983, the building was gutted, removing all traces of the cinema and was converted into restaurant and casino use. The facade still retains its original 1890’s appearance.
Contributed by
KenRoe
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
Under what listing would I find the Empire Theater in Leicester Square?
The Jacey during the 1970s is featured here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIsMHoq0f2o
The Monseigneur News Theatre photographed at night in November 1955:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/allhails/2808549818/
A vintage photograph of the Monseigneur News Theatre in April 1955, with the Empire Theatre on the left:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/allhails/5154554082/
This cinema (amongst others) was owned by my family business Jacey Cinemas Ltd. that no longer exists. Anyone interested in learning more can find my webpage devoted to the ‘History of the Jacey Group’ that included Jacey Cinemas, this was created by my late Grandfather Joseph Cohen (I am the last surviving Director) Please have a look at my website: – http://www.jncohen.net/JaceyGroup/JosephCohen.htm
The auditorium of this cinema was irregular. Think of it as four squares with the the front half by the screen being the full width of two squares and the rear half being only a quarter square with seating only on the right. Presumably a shop unit occupied the left rear quarter of the space.