Rivoli Cinema

In Chorlton-on-Medlock, a suburb just to the south of Manchester city centre, the Rivoli Cinema opened in 1913, at the junction of Aberdeen Street and Denmark Road (listed as being located in Rusholme in newspaper advertising and editions of Kine Yearbooks)). It must have been designed to be a multi-purpose venue, as it was also used as a dance hall in the 1920’s. However, by 1929 it was a full-time cinema, operated by Ben Kantor. It was equipped with a Picturetone sound system.

The 1937 Kine Year Book lists the proprietor as Rivoli Estates Ltd. It had 1,250 seats, the stage was 18ft deep and there were three dressing rooms. By 1944 it had been equipped with a Western Electric(WE) Sound system. By the 1953 edition, the seating capacity had reduced to 1,050.

The Rivoli Cinema closed on 5th March 1960 with Gregory Peck in “Pork Chop Hill” and “Crash Dive”, starring Dermot Walsh.

The building became part of Manchester University housing the department which looks after the university’s grounds.

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