Arcadian Cinema

HJHill on July 6, 2012 at 4:16 pm

The curved corner façade was not white stone, but faïence. The entrance foyer, with pay box, was very small, being just behind the curved part. Stairs with a metal balustrade led off it, on the right, up to the circle foyer behind those three vertical windows. Beyond the pay box, on the left, a double door led onto a corridor which ran across the width of the building behind the rear stalls. You can make out the exit at the Legrams Lane end of the corridor in the photo. It is the black shape under the canopy, towards the left. There were two sets of double doors into the stalls, at the head of each aisle, respectively. Seating across the auditorium was in three blocks: a central block and two blocks against the walls.

Access between circle lounge and circle was via a side vomitorium at the Legrams Lane side where patrons entering had their tickets torn by an usherette. There was an illuminated aquarium in the circle lounge, fitted into the space of reduced height where the circle above stepped downwards.

There was a rough earth car park behind the back wall of the stage. Down the auditorium flank along Legrams Lane were three or four mature trees, so the brick bulk of the building was not oppressive.

It was a classy cinema. The Grange, at the other end of Horton Grange Road, was a dated period piece.