Studio 7
Cromwell Road,
Kingston upon Thames,
KT1
Cromwell Road,
Kingston upon Thames,
KT1
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Star Cinemas
Previous Names: Electric Picture Hall, Kingston Kinema, X Cinema Club
Nearby Theaters
Located on the corner of Richmond Road/Clarence Street at Cromwell Road. A conversion of a church hall, the Electric Picture Hall opened on 22nd August 1910 and had a seating capacity for 350. The conversion was designed by architect Arthur Phillips.
It was closed in 1930, for a refurbishment and the installation of ‘talkies’. The facade was modernised and a balcony had been added, increasing the seating capacity to 578. It was re-named Kingston Kinema, re-opening on 10th November 1930 with John Boles in “Song of the West”. The proscenium was 20 feet wide.
On 19th October 1969, it was taken over by the Leeds based Star Cinemas chain and underwent a modernisation in March 1970 and re-opened as Studio 7. They introduced part-time bingo on several nights a week. In mid-July 1975, Studio 7 began programming ‘X’ rated adult films and operated as the X Cinema Club, screening uncensored films. In August 1976, it reverted back to regular films and closed on 26th January 1983 with "ET - The Extra Terrestrial".
It was converted into a Pine World furniture store and remained in this use for many years. The screen, stage and proscenium were still in place. It was closed and demolished in 2000.
A new development, which contains the 14-screen Odeon multiplex (opened in October 2002) now stands on an enlarged site (it has its own page on Cinema Treasures).
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 4 comments)
A photo of the cinema as Pineworld here:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/2705824157/
The Studio 7, photographed just after closing in January 1983:
View link
Eleven months later it had become Pineworld:
View link
Unfortunately it was an AWFUL dump, compared to other screens a short walk away. Also, parking was a great problem too. I don’t think too many tears were shed over this one, I’m afraid!
I did relief here when it was the Kinema, and actually closed it when it was Studio 7 Projection box was very cramped and you had to go over the roof to reach the boiler house! health and safety would have a fit today!! The managers office was twice the size of a broom cupboard squashed between the ladies and gents in the circle foyer