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The London Casino 30 Old Compton Street, London - Another view

London’s first Cinerama cinema with a massive 64-foot-wide curved screen

In 1954, the London Casino was altered by architects Frank Baessler and TPH & E Braddock to house London’s first Cinerama cinema with a massive 64-foot-wide curved screen and three projection boxes built in the orchestra stalls. “This Is Cinerama” opened on 1st October 1954 at the Casino-Cinerama Theatre. This was followed by other films made in the Cinerama process “Cinerama Holiday”, “Seven Wonders of the World”, “Search for Paradise”, “South Seas Adventure, “The Best of Cinerama”, “How the West was Won” and “The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grim”.

“Battle of the Bulge”

On 17th December 1965 a simultaneous European Premiere of “Battle of the Bulge” was held here and at the Theatre Royal Cinerama in Manchester. The Royal World Premiere of “Khartoum” was held on 9th June 1966. A World Premiere of “Custer of the West” was held on November 9th 1967. On 3rd February 1972 the re-release of “Zulu” starring Stanley Baker was presented in 70mm. On 18th October 1973 “This Is Cinerama” returned to theatre - “to be experienced by a new generation”. The Cinerama screen was eventually removed in 1974, with a more conventional screen replacing it until 8th April 1978 when it closed as the Casino Cinema with a double-bill of Diana Ross films “Lady Sings the Blues” and “Mahogany”.

On return to live shows in June 1978, it reverted back to its original name, Prince Edward Theatre, opening with the world premiere production of “Evita”. The musical ran for over eight successful years.

A further major alteration and renovations by the architectural firm RHWL in 1993, has modernized the auditorium and made it more attractive than at any time in its history.

It is now a major theatre in London’s West End and has played long runs of “Chess”, “Anything Goes”, “Crazy for You”, “Show Boat”, “West Side Story”, “Martin Guerre”, “Miss Saigon”. “Mama Mia”, “Aladdin”, “Mary Poppins” and “Jersey Boys” - Notes by Ian Grundy.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -