Electric Cinema
47-49 Station Street,
Birmingham,
B5 4DY
47-49 Station Street,
Birmingham,
B5 4DY
5 people
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Related Websites
The Electric (Official)
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Cannon Cinemas, C.D. Cinemas Ltd., Classic Cinemas (UK), Electric Theatres(1908) Ltd., Jacey Cinemas
Architects: Bertie Crewe, Cecil E.M. Fillmore
Styles: Art Nouveau, Streamline Moderne
Previous Names: Electric Theatre, Select Cinema, Tatler News Theatre, Jacey Cartoon Cinema, Jacey Film Theatre, Tivoli Cinema, Cannon
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News About This Theater
The Electric Theatre was opened as a cinema on 27th December 1909 in the centre of the city and has been showing movies almost ever since. It was first operated by Electric Theatres (1908) Ltd. Is the Electric Cinema the oldest working cinema in Great Britain? At the moment it seems it is, by just a few months. It was designed by noted ‘live’ theatre architect Bertie Crewe.
In 1921 it was re-named Select Cinema and was operated by C.D. Cinemas Ltd. Taken over by Jacey Cinemas, on 20th March 1937 it changed its name again and became the 400-seat Tatler News Theatre. It had been given a new Streamline Moderne style façade and interior designed by architect Cecil E.M. Fillmore. It was equipped with a British Thomson-Houston(BTH) sound system and looking into the immediate future it had been wired for Television. In the 1950’s another name changes to the Jacey Cartoon Cinema.
During the 1960’s the cinemas programming policy and name changed to the Jacey Film Theatre and specialised in showing “continental” (pornographic) films. In the 1970’s the old Electric became part of the Classic chain of cinemas and maintained its “continental” film programme. It was at this time that a second screen seating 78 was added.
In the 1980’s under a change of ownership and another change of name it became known as the Tivoli Cinema. Another change of ownership in 1993 brought about another change of name, however, this time back to the Electric Cinema and operating as an independent, second run, cinema.
The company owning the Electric Cinema went into liquidation in December 2003. The last film shown was “Kill Bill”. The property was put up for sale but, because of a Preservation Order, the Electric’s destruction was prevented. Because of the Order it couldn’t be converted into offices or apartments.
In the summer of 2004 the lease of the Electric Cinema was sold, the new owner’s intention being to use it as a recording studio. However, the new owners became so enamoured of the building it was decided the interior be restored, the old features being retained, but with the technical innovations of the 21st century installed. It had a total seating capacity of 372 in the two screens.
The twist at the end of the tale is that UGC’s Arcadian Multiplex nearby closed in 2003.
The Electric Cinema was closed in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and due to its 88-year lease about to expire, it was announced in May 2021 that the closure would be permanent.
In November 2021 it was taken over by Kevin Markwick who operates the Picture House, Uckfield, East Sussex. Following refurbishment it reopened on 21st January 2022 with Kenneth Branagh’s “Belfast” & Bradley Cooper in “Nightmare Alley”. The Electric Cinema is equipped with 35mm projectors to screen classic films. The seating capacity has been reduced to 189: (109-seats in screen 1 & 80-seats in screen 2).
The Electric Cinema was closed on 29th February 2024 due to a new owner of the property refusing to extend the lease.
Contributed by
chris perman
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Recent comments (view all 16 comments)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLsqhNnMMO4
Take a look at this, to see the technology in place during 2000. A film by Fred J.Fullerton, which will be of interest to ‘techies’ everywhere.
photo taken around 2005 of the derelict facade
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/63364702/
and photo of the rear showing the TATLER painted sign
View link
The Classic company did not carry on with the continental programmes . They tried 2nd run. When Cannon bought out ABC. They then got the Futurist.. ABC New Street and Bristol Road. They then sold the lease to “Theatre One Coventry… They then sold lease to Elephant Films..
I used to visit the Jacey as a kid 1954 to 1959 ish on a Saturday morning pending my pocket money there wonderful memories.
allan3381. I worked at the tattler in 1948 as 3rd projectionist, And worked the super B T H PROJECTORS. Before that I worked at the Bristol, Bristol rd. After.that, I worked at the CARLTON Sparkbrook. I migrated to Australia, in 1950, and worked at the Savoy News Theater Adelaide. years later I became The Picture Show Man showing Movies all around country South Australia.
Hello,
I’m gathering content for a photo book of the Electric Cinema, Birmingham. Would you be happy to submit your photo of the Electric for consideration?
All images will be credited. My email address is .uk
Also if anyone else has any photos or memories they’d like to share that would be great.
Best wishes,
Kate
The new owner of the Electric has released a film about the history of the cinema, and its return from the dead. “The Last Projectionist” is well worth an hour and a half of anybody’s time, as is essential viewing to anybody remotely connected to the film presentation industry.
Correct. The Last Paragraph is wrong The second screen was added in the 1990’s by Classic Cinemas soon after their take over from Jacey.
Grand reopening as Tatler News Theatre on March 19th, 1937
I remember visits to the Jacey in the late sixties when it still played non-stop news and cartoons. It had a silver screen in front of which instead of a stage was a large, sloping, lightly coloured board down to the footlights. There was also a rising silver festoon. This whole screen area was most unusual but was very effective when lit between programmes.