Ritz Cinema
Mill Road,
Cranfield,
MK43
Mill Road,
Cranfield,
MK43
No one has favorited this theater yet
Additional Info
Previously operated by: London and Provincial Cinemas Ltd., Royal Air Force Cinema Corporation
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: Astra Theatre
Nearby Theaters
Located in Cranfield, 8 miles to the southwest of Bedford, Bedfordshire. The Ritz Cinema was opened in July 1937. It was operated by London & Provincial Cinemas Ltd. Seating was provided for 396 in the stalls and 60 in the circle. The proscenium was 40 feet wide. It was equipped with a RCA sound system. It was said to be a fairly plain building both externally and internally.
The Ritz Cinema was closed on 3rd September 1939 when World War II was declared. It was taken over by Royal Air Force and renamed Astra Theatre, for the specific use by the military based at RAF Cranfield. Following the end of World War II it reurned to civilian use and re-opened in the late-1940’s as the Ritz Cinema. It was equipped with CinemaScope in 1955.
The Ritz Cinema was closed on 9th August 1960.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 1 comments)
Closed to the public during WW2, it continued as a cinema for RAF personnel only for RAF Cranfield as the ASTRA, operated by the RAF Kine Corps., the cinema had been built next to the accommodation area of the RAF base to cater for them, as the actual village of Cranfield was, and still is, very small!