Opened as the Longford Theatre in 1936. It was designed by architect Henry F. Elder of the Manchester firm of architects Roberts, Wood & Elder for the independent operators Jackson & Newport. Initially it was going to be a live theatre with some film use, but went the other way and opened with films with some stage use.
It was one of the most unusually designed cinemas to be built in the UK. The young architect was only in his 20’s when he came up with marvelous Art Deco design. There were two entrances, the main one on Chester Road was originally set well back from the road and had a courtyard (since road widening the building now abutts the pavement. The facade on this entrance is shaped like a giant 1930’s cash register and was originally faced with ceramic tiles. The other entrance on Edge Lane had a semi-circular recess above the canopy and a concrete column stood in the recess which must originally have had the name of the theatre on it.
There was a cafe that sat 146 persons and the fully equipped stage was 25feet deep. It was the first cinema in the north of England to have electric storage radiators in piping under the seats and the first to have blue neon lighting to light the aisles.
In August 1950 the Longford Theatre was taken over by the Essoldo Circuit and it was re-named Essoldo. It continued screening films until closing in September 1965.
It was converted into a Bingo Club and this lasted for many years. Since bingo pulled out it has sat closed and boarded up (at least 10 years).
The Empress Theatre is listed in the American Motion Picture Directory 1914 -1915. The address given is 550 West 181st Street, so a slight re-numbering has occurred.
The Empress is listed in Film Daily Yearbook;1926 edition with a seating capacity of 600. It retains this seating capacity in F.D.Y. for several decades, until 1957 when it is listed as having 596 seats.
The retail unit operating out of the building is now called ‘Astral Mart Plaza’. It uses the main entrance on 181st street and another entrance has been punched into the screen end of the building on Audubon Avenue. There is a false ceiling inside, so not much to see of its cinematic decoration.
The Empress could have been known in its last years of operation as the Astral Theatre screening Spanish language films and Hollywood films with Spanish subtitles or dubbed.
Thing is lostmemory, that was then, now it looks like they have added screens and possibly built them onto adjoining land? Is the original auditorium intact? Without a phone call to the current theatre operators we will never know! lol
According to the developers, this building had ‘little architectural merit’! I wonder if future generations will say the same about what has been built on the site!
Three photographs of the Odeon, Blackpool, the largest of the Odeon ciruit in the UK.
Exterior photo taken at the time of opening on 6th May 1939 View link
An exterior photo taken prior to closing in December 1998 View link
A view of the auditorium, taken from towards the rear of the balcony in its final months of operation as the Odeon Cinema (Closed 5th December 1998). From 19th April 2002 this re-opened as ‘Funny Girls’ a gay cabaret/nightclub venue. The former balcony lounge/foyer is now a gay bar/pub called ‘The Flying Handbag’. View link
Opened as the Longford Theatre in 1936. It was designed by architect Henry F. Elder of the Manchester firm of architects Roberts, Wood & Elder for the independent operators Jackson & Newport. Initially it was going to be a live theatre with some film use, but went the other way and opened with films with some stage use.
It was one of the most unusually designed cinemas to be built in the UK. The young architect was only in his 20’s when he came up with marvelous Art Deco design. There were two entrances, the main one on Chester Road was originally set well back from the road and had a courtyard (since road widening the building now abutts the pavement. The facade on this entrance is shaped like a giant 1930’s cash register and was originally faced with ceramic tiles. The other entrance on Edge Lane had a semi-circular recess above the canopy and a concrete column stood in the recess which must originally have had the name of the theatre on it.
There was a cafe that sat 146 persons and the fully equipped stage was 25feet deep. It was the first cinema in the north of England to have electric storage radiators in piping under the seats and the first to have blue neon lighting to light the aisles.
In August 1950 the Longford Theatre was taken over by the Essoldo Circuit and it was re-named Essoldo. It continued screening films until closing in September 1965.
It was converted into a Bingo Club and this lasted for many years. Since bingo pulled out it has sat closed and boarded up (at least 10 years).
Sandringham is considered a suburb of Melbourne – Victoria is the State name.
Two vintage exterior photographs from 1949 here:
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A side view here:
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Oopps… link to photo # 2 again here:
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More vintage exterior photographs of the Odeon Swiss Cottage here:
Exterior in 1949
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Exterior in 1956
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Exterior in 1968
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Some more historic details and a recent exterior photograph here:
http://www.tnunn.f2s.com/swisscot.htm
2004 photgraphs here:
Exterior View link
Circle foyer and entrance to Screen 1
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Auditorium Screen 1
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OOpps here is Link #3 again:
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Photographs of the Odeon Muswell Hill here:
An exterior night view in 1947.
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An exterior day view in November 1949.
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An exterior day view in 1956 with Lawrence Olivier in “Richard III” recieving an Odeon General Release.
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A good artists impression of the auditorium.
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The Empress Theatre is listed in the American Motion Picture Directory 1914 -1915. The address given is 550 West 181st Street, so a slight re-numbering has occurred.
The Empress is listed in Film Daily Yearbook;1926 edition with a seating capacity of 600. It retains this seating capacity in F.D.Y. for several decades, until 1957 when it is listed as having 596 seats.
The retail unit operating out of the building is now called ‘Astral Mart Plaza’. It uses the main entrance on 181st street and another entrance has been punched into the screen end of the building on Audubon Avenue. There is a false ceiling inside, so not much to see of its cinematic decoration.
The Empress could have been known in its last years of operation as the Astral Theatre screening Spanish language films and Hollywood films with Spanish subtitles or dubbed.
The Hi-Way is not listed in 1941 or 1943, so it must have opened in 1944/45. In 1950 F.D.Y. is has 400 seats.
Today B Street is known as Victorian Avenue.
Thing is lostmemory, that was then, now it looks like they have added screens and possibly built them onto adjoining land? Is the original auditorium intact? Without a phone call to the current theatre operators we will never know! lol
Listed as open in the 1950 F.D.Y. with a seating capacity of 360.
Hammerstein’s Victora Theatre, 42nd St & 7th Ave is listed in the American Motion Picture Directory 1914 – 1915.
The same publication also lists the Victoria Theatre, 42nd St & 7th Ave.
More history and a photograph of the ABC Romford here:
http://www.romford.org/cinemas/ritz-abc/abc.htm
According to the developers, this building had ‘little architectural merit’! I wonder if future generations will say the same about what has been built on the site!
This is what was lost…..
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ewm/17/lg/10.jpg
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ewm/17/lg/11.jpg
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ewm/17/lg/23.jpg
….and that’s just the outside!
May all concerned in this wanton destruction of our Heritage, hang their heads in shame.
A 1999 exteriot photograph of the Apollo Theatre here:
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ewm/ic7/82.jpg
A 2000 exterior photograph of the Grade II Listed, Rex Cinema here:
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ewm/17/lg/08.jpg
October 1999 night view of the Cornerhouse Cinemas here:
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ewm/ic14/19.jpg
December 1998 – Start of demolition photograph here:
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ewm/ic6/50.jpg
April 1999 – Almost gone, just the stage house remains here:
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ewm/ic9/61.jpg
2000 – This structure was the replacement, does everyone live happy ever after?!!!!!
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ewm/17/lg/13.jpg
An exterior photo of the Roxy, Hollinwood here:
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ewm/17/lg/15.jpg
Three photographs of the Odeon, Blackpool, the largest of the Odeon ciruit in the UK.
Exterior photo taken at the time of opening on 6th May 1939
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An exterior photo taken prior to closing in December 1998
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A view of the auditorium, taken from towards the rear of the balcony in its final months of operation as the Odeon Cinema (Closed 5th December 1998). From 19th April 2002 this re-opened as ‘Funny Girls’ a gay cabaret/nightclub venue. The former balcony lounge/foyer is now a gay bar/pub called ‘The Flying Handbag’.
View link
Two 2000 exterior photographs when the Odeon was the ABC here:
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A close-up view of the main entrance, photographed in 1971 here:
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