Classic Chelsea
148-150 King's Road,
London,
SW3 4UT
148-150 King's Road,
London,
SW3 4UT
4 people
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Showing 11 comments
Some of these comments are very mixed up. This was the Classic cinema, when it closed, Classic moved to the Essoldo which went on to run the rocky horror show. I was a part time projectionist at the original Classic in 1963. We had Kalee 12 projectors on Western 1b bases that were still equipped to run sound off synchronous disk. Along with peerless arclamps, the mercury rectifiers were crammed into the projection box. Their was a small rewind room with a trapdoor under the bench leading to an almost vertical shaft dropping to another trap door in the side street. In event of a nitrate fire, you could have escaped with a couple of broken legs.
The old Chelsea Classic received the first transfer of Rocky Horror from The Royal Court Upstairs in Sloane Sq. It then moved down the road to what is now Cineworld Chelsea (known briefly as The Kings Road Theatre before bing divided as a cinema) then ending its run at the Comedy Theatre, in Panton Street off Leicester Sq in around 1980-81 (now the Harold Pinter) The former Odeon built in 1930’s now Habitat and Curzon Chelsea never staged it. The only other theatre on Kings Road The Chelsea Palace was a TV studio for Granada TV but didn’t stage the show at anytime. That is now redeveloped as shops, currently the Metro Bank.
In December 1979 I went to the Rocky Horror Show ( stage production). I feel sure that it was performed at the Chelsea Hippodrome not the Classic . Later the Hippodrome closed and became the Habitat on Kings Road.
Ken Roe’s photo 1967 also shows the Peasantry Arches a great haunt Now a Pizza place -very tame.
I lived in Paultons Square in 1973 (1962-1984) The last night showing was The Great Escape to a packed house. Then the R.H. moved in for what was to be one month Still on the Road. From the Classic it moved to the Elsoldo , Church St x Kings Road for years and years.
Just a couple of historical corrections to the information on this listing, as I think the contributor, or rather the original source from which the information has simply been copied/recycled, has confused the early details of the building with those of the other cinema building in Chelsea that also later became a Classic following the circuits takeover of the Essoldo chain. I can, however, confirm that this cinema did not open in 1910, and its architect was not Felix Joubert referred to. Neither was its original name the “Chelsea Picture Playhouse” as stated (it did however have a couple of additional names not mentioned here).
Hi Jason,
I am looking for an Assistant Manager of the classic cinema Chelsea called Daniel. He worked there about 1965/66. The Manager at the time was called Peter Lucas. He is related to my husband. Any ideas? Thanks Claudia
A vintage photograph of the Classic Chelsea in 1967 ‘Swinging London’:
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Hey jason, thanks for that! I had a pretty good idea it was this one but as there are so many old cinemas in Chelsea i just wanted to make sure. I saw Rocky when it went to the West End but i know a few people who saw it at the Classic. They said it was amazing it was ever allowed to open cos the ceiling was comeing down, wallpaper falling on the audience- how very atmospheric for Rocky! The show lost all its raw fun when it went to the 800+ Comedy, but at least it had a good few years in the West End. Great to be in touch with you on this amazing site
Isnt this the Classic cinema where The Rocky Horror Show played for awhile after premiering at the Royal Court up the road before it went to the West Ends Comedy Theatre??
I might not be here if it wasn’t for this building, my late Father Patrick Mullen was Assistant Manager and later manager in the early sixties and my mother a Drama Student worked as an usherette. They met at work and married soon after. It’s no wonder I have an intrest in cinemas!
This was quite a popular cinema in those days and my mother recalls many actors including Alec Guinness and would call in to watch films unnoticed by the public.