markp: No, this is the Apollo Victoria Theatre, located in the Victoria area of central London.
The Apollo Theatre, on Shaftesbury Avenue in London’s West End district was the theatre in the news last night which had a large section of its main auditorium ceiling collapse into the orchestra level, which also caused damage to the front of the dress circle. Luckily no one was killed although there were seven admitted to hospital with serious (though not life threatening injuries) and 79 others were injured. The Apollo Theatre, was built & opened in 1901 and has seating for 771 in orchestra, dress circle, balcony and upper circle levels. The upper circle is the steepest in London’s West End. It is a Grade II Listed building has always been a playhouse/live theatre, so is not eligible for inclusion on Cinema Treasures.
The accident happened around 40 minutes into a performance of the National Theatre’s hit production of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time” which had been playing to sell out capacity audiences since opening in March 2013. The cause of the ceiling fall is being investigated, and one possible cause is that London suffered a violent thunderstorm with 15 lightning strikes in one hour and 8mm of rain and hailstones fell! All performances at the theatre have been cancelled until at least 4th January, 2014.
TURBS, Sorry for this late reply to your comment, but I don’t read every comment posted every day on the thousands of cinemas we have on the site. The photos I linked in my comment above are not my photos. I am sure you will be able to use the same link to your Facebook page with no problem. If you wish to use individual photos, then you will have to ask the owner of the Flickr account and if he says ‘yes’, then credit him.
I would say that the Eden Theatre was most likely a pre-existing live theatre. The Lumiere Brothers were not screening their films in purpose built cinemas, they were to follow later.
In the United Kingdom, the earliest purpose-built cinema is the Duke of York’s Picturehouse, Brighton which opened 22nd September 1910. It is still operating as a cinema today.
The scene set in a cinema with organ playing, in the film “Brief Encounter”, was filmed on location at the Metropole Cinema, Victoria, London (now demolished)
Homopromos:Pleased to hear you enjoyed your ‘Open House’ visit to the former Granada Theatre today. I was one of the 3 tour guides on duty, so not sure if you were on one of my tours of the building.
The 1936 story is new to me, but I am sure there could be other similar tales, long lost in the annuls of time, or never disclosed and covered up forever.
The Star Theatre was screening movies in 1908. In the early-1940’s, movies were part of the burlesque program, and it also screened Italian movies in the mid-1940’s.
I have added some exterior photos I took in June 2013. I went into the supermarket which now operates in part of the former foyer and rear orchestra sections of the theatre, and there is nothing remaining (visible) in that space at all. Just a low ceiling. With all the windows now punched into the facade and side walls, I would say the interior of the building was totally gutted and several levels of flooring have been inserted for the school use. The exterior has been cleaned up nicely.
Joe: The Leonard Theatre is listed in Cezar Del Valle’s book “The Brooklyn Theatre Index” Volume 1 on page 424 (first edition) and on page 423 (second edition).
Bill_Gibbs; The former Gaumont, Plymouth does have its own page on Cinema Treassures, it is listed on the right of this page under ‘Nearby Theatres’ as the Odeon Plymouth (its last operating name).
Bill-Gibbs; Both the Regal Cinema and Red Hall Cinema do have pages on Cinema Treasures and are listed on the right of this page under ‘Nearby Theatres’ as the ABC Walham Green and Gaumont Walham Green.
Mike: Chung-Ling-Soo was shot in the chest in front of a packed house at the Empire Theatre, Wood Green, London, on 18th March 1918, after his bullet catching trick went wrong. I believe he was American, but could be wrong.
In the March 21, 1908 edition of ‘The Billboard’, their list of ‘Electric Theatres and Nickelodeons’ has a Majestic Theatre, Savannah, GA Manager J.R. Carter. Seating capacity:100 playing 10 shows a day.
The list of Electric Theatres and Nickelodeons listed in the March 21, 1908 edition of ‘The Billboard", has the Wonderland Museum, 27 Washington Avenue. Dan J. Labar was the manager, the seating capacity was 150 and there were between 10 to 30 shows a day.
markp: No, this is the Apollo Victoria Theatre, located in the Victoria area of central London.
The Apollo Theatre, on Shaftesbury Avenue in London’s West End district was the theatre in the news last night which had a large section of its main auditorium ceiling collapse into the orchestra level, which also caused damage to the front of the dress circle. Luckily no one was killed although there were seven admitted to hospital with serious (though not life threatening injuries) and 79 others were injured. The Apollo Theatre, was built & opened in 1901 and has seating for 771 in orchestra, dress circle, balcony and upper circle levels. The upper circle is the steepest in London’s West End. It is a Grade II Listed building has always been a playhouse/live theatre, so is not eligible for inclusion on Cinema Treasures.
The accident happened around 40 minutes into a performance of the National Theatre’s hit production of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time” which had been playing to sell out capacity audiences since opening in March 2013. The cause of the ceiling fall is being investigated, and one possible cause is that London suffered a violent thunderstorm with 15 lightning strikes in one hour and 8mm of rain and hailstones fell! All performances at the theatre have been cancelled until at least 4th January, 2014.
LeonNorman1814: I have added the advertisement in this pages photos section.
MARK; The ‘Cinema Treasures’ book is available at its published retail price $40.00 + p&p from the UK, from the Cinema Theatre Association
nickbits: Thanks for your clarification. I have updated the introduction, and removed the photo of the Town Hall.
There was a problem with e-mail notifications for a couple of weeks, which has now been fixed.
Correction to the previous post by Nuggeteer; The Nugget Arcade (not the Nugget Theater) was constructed in 1970.
TURBS, Sorry for this late reply to your comment, but I don’t read every comment posted every day on the thousands of cinemas we have on the site. The photos I linked in my comment above are not my photos. I am sure you will be able to use the same link to your Facebook page with no problem. If you wish to use individual photos, then you will have to ask the owner of the Flickr account and if he says ‘yes’, then credit him.
The American Motion Picture Directory 1914-1915 listed the People’s Vaudeville Theatre, 2172 Third Avenue.
I would say that the Eden Theatre was most likely a pre-existing live theatre. The Lumiere Brothers were not screening their films in purpose built cinemas, they were to follow later.
In the United Kingdom, the earliest purpose-built cinema is the Duke of York’s Picturehouse, Brighton which opened 22nd September 1910. It is still operating as a cinema today.
The scene set in a cinema with organ playing, in the film “Brief Encounter”, was filmed on location at the Metropole Cinema, Victoria, London (now demolished)
It is correctly placed Mike. Thanks
Homopromos:Pleased to hear you enjoyed your ‘Open House’ visit to the former Granada Theatre today. I was one of the 3 tour guides on duty, so not sure if you were on one of my tours of the building.
The 1936 story is new to me, but I am sure there could be other similar tales, long lost in the annuls of time, or never disclosed and covered up forever.
Ridgewoodken; The original entrance to the Olympic Theatre was on Adams Street, and was moved to Fulton Street when the Tivoli Theatre opened in 1927.
Stephenvb;Different theatre, this is the old Curtis Theatre.
The Star Theatre was screening movies in 1908. In the early-1940’s, movies were part of the burlesque program, and it also screened Italian movies in the mid-1940’s.
I have added some exterior photos I took in June 2013. I went into the supermarket which now operates in part of the former foyer and rear orchestra sections of the theatre, and there is nothing remaining (visible) in that space at all. Just a low ceiling. With all the windows now punched into the facade and side walls, I would say the interior of the building was totally gutted and several levels of flooring have been inserted for the school use. The exterior has been cleaned up nicely.
robboehm; It was an annex to the nearby Palace Theatre, which is listed on Cinema Treasures as the Bridge Theatre.
Joe: The Leonard Theatre is listed in Cezar Del Valle’s book “The Brooklyn Theatre Index” Volume 1 on page 424 (first edition) and on page 423 (second edition).
Bill_Gibbs; The former Gaumont, Plymouth does have its own page on Cinema Treassures, it is listed on the right of this page under ‘Nearby Theatres’ as the Odeon Plymouth (its last operating name).
Bill-Gibbs; Both the Regal Cinema and Red Hall Cinema do have pages on Cinema Treasures and are listed on the right of this page under ‘Nearby Theatres’ as the ABC Walham Green and Gaumont Walham Green.
In the American Motion Picture Directory 1914-1915, the Princess Theatre is listed at 702 South Street.
Mike: Chung-Ling-Soo was shot in the chest in front of a packed house at the Empire Theatre, Wood Green, London, on 18th March 1918, after his bullet catching trick went wrong. I believe he was American, but could be wrong.
In the March 21, 1908 edition of ‘The Billboard’, their list of ‘Electric Theatres and Nickelodeons’ has a Majestic Theatre, Savannah, GA Manager J.R. Carter. Seating capacity:100 playing 10 shows a day.
The list of Electric Theatres and Nickelodeons listed in the March 21, 1908 edition of ‘The Billboard", has the Wonderland Museum, 27 Washington Avenue. Dan J. Labar was the manager, the seating capacity was 150 and there were between 10 to 30 shows a day.
The films showing date the photograph to around March 1932.