Comments from Ken Roe

The original seating capacity of the Universum Kino was 1,791 and it was equipped with a theatre organ that had its chambers located on the left-hand side of the auditorium. Full stage facilities were also provided.

In August 1937 it was re-named Luxor Palast and from 1943 it became the Halensee Palast. After the heavy war damage mentioned in the opening text above, from 1948-1973 the foyer was converted into a 282 seat Studio Kino. In 1950 the remains of Mendelsohn’s auditorium was removed and architect Hermann Fehling reconstructed a 899 seat cinema which opened as the Capitol Kino. ‘Roadshow’ movies were followed by a period as a ‘Cinerama’ theatre for several years.

The Capitol was closed in 1968 and was converted into a dance-hall which closed in 1975. From 1976, the entire building, apart from the rounded front of the entrance facade was demolished to build the Schaubuhne. It re-opened in 1981, the exterior side-walls had been rebuilt in the same style as the original, but the auditorium is now a plain box which has removable seating and stepping which allows the space to form any theatre space that is required.

In addition to the Universum Kino, there was an almost matching building across a plaza to the left which Erich Mendelsohn designed as a 2,000 seat theatre named the Kabarett Der Komiker that had a large restaurant located on the first floor. By 1943 this had been re-named Scala and after the war in 1948 it had become the British Centre being used to entertain the troops based in post-war Berlin. It later became the Garden of Eden cabaret theatre and shows such as “Hair” and “Boys in the Band” played here. Later the interior was stripped out to be converted into a bowling alley which I believe still operates today. In 1931 Mendelsohn completed his scheme of buildings on the Lehniner Platz by designing the linking buildings at the rear of the two entertainment sections. These consisted of two blocks of 300 unit apartment blocks, offices and parking spaces which can still be seen today.

The Odeon photographed in its opening week;August 1937 playing the opening film Conrad Veidt and Vivien Leigh in “Dark Journey”:
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A photograph from its final years as a Mecca Bingo Club:
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The Gaumont underwent a modernisation in 1968 and it was at this time that metal cladding was fixed the facade. Here is a photograph taken in May 1970 while playing the Rank release:
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The building was originally St. Pauls Church which was deconsecrated and the Studio Cinema opened in 1977, initially as 2 screens seating 294 & 190. A third screen was added later and they all closed in August 1989. By 1994 the building was derelict and ‘For Sale’.

Located on Main Street (East or West is not stated in my reference which also gives an opening as in the 1920’s), the Capitol Theatre was owned by Bailey Enterprises.

It was demolished in 1977 and a fast food business was built on the site.

The address given in the 1950 Film Daily Yearbook is 1 Nickerson Street, Middleboro, which today maps as Nickerson Avenue. Seating capacity is 800.

In 1941 and 1943 editions of Film Daily Yearbook there is also a Key Theatre listed with 400 seats. The 1943 edition lists it as Closed.

The seating capacity for the New Norwalk Theatre is given as 1,100 in the 1950 edition of Film Daily Yearbook.

The Cine Africa as photographed in October 2005:
http://flickr.com/photos/stttijn/80974937/

The Cinema Xenon screens recent mainstream movies, as can be seen in this June 2006 photograph:
http://flickr.com/photos/msun/194217332/

Just by chance, the Scala Cinema is in the background of this photograph:
http://flickr.com/photos/gerryjo/57257227/

ken mc;Thanks for the update. What a shame, and after 70+ years being there! I am so glad that I managed to capture it before it disappeared.

Two photographs I took of the former Esquire Theatre building in January 2005:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/370817635/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/370819448/