Grove Cinema

473 Dudley Road,
Birmingham, B18 4HE

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Clifton Circuit

Architects: Roland Satchwell

Firms: Satchwell & Roberts

Functions: Retail

Styles: Rustic

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Located in the Winson Green district of Birmingham on Dudley Road between Halberton Street & Grove Street. The Grove Cinema was opened on 22nd August 1932 with Lionel Barrymore in “Arsene Lupin”. The opening ceremony was performed by George Parker, the Chairman of the owning company Grove Cinema(Birmingham) Ltd., who’s Principle Directors' were Leon Salberg & Sydney Clift.

Designed by the architectural firm Satchwell & Roberts, with Roland Satchwell as supervising architect. The interior decoration had a Rustic style, imitating a garden grove. Seating was provided in stalls and circle levels. It was equipped with BTH projection equipment.

The Grove Cinema is considered the starting point of the establishment of the Clifton Circuit. The cinema later become wholly owned by the Clift family. It was sold to an independent operator in 1978.

The Grove Cinema was closed on 24th October 1981 with Melissa Sue Anderson and Glenn Ford in “Happy Birthday to Me” and Kurt Russell in “Used Cars”. It is now a Bathroom Sales Centre.

Contributed by Mike Blakemore

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Recent comments (view all 3 comments)

Johncine on May 24, 2012 at 1:22 pm

Ahhh, The Grove. For a nine year old boy living just down the road from this cinema brings back glorious memories of watching the likes of SINBAD AND THE EYE OF THE TIGER / SPIDER-MAN (Nicholas Hammond) in 1977, THE RESCUERS, BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS and being allowed to watch this and STAR TREK – THE MOTION PICTURE twice on the same night. Had fine memories of seeing the first FRIDAY THE 13TH poster outside. Bollywood films would play at the weekends. Tended to play CIC / COLUMBIA/EMI/WARNER – DISNEY distributed fair, although on occasion you’d get films like THE EXTERMINATOR playing. In 1980 BRONCO BILLY was playing and we tried to get in, but they had a technical fault with the projectors. Was told apparently that the biggest audiences were for things like GREASE and SOLDIER BLUE.

Johncine on May 24, 2012 at 1:23 pm

Also remember seeing THE SPY WHO LOVED ME / THE PINK PANTHER STRIKES AGAIN in a double bill.