It was almost certainly designed by Campbell & Fairhurst, and bears a close resemblance to the Dingle Picturedrome and the Belmont Picture House, both in Liverpool and both known to be designed by C & F.
The Stafford Picture House is also almost certainly by C & F.
In my notes I have that Cine-City opened in 1912 as the Scala Palace, but (like most others) I rely on others for information.
Cine City Wilmslow Road, Withington. M20 3BG. (0161) 445 9888 ex 3301/8181. Seats (by 1983): 1:150, 2:150, 3:150. Seats (by 2001): 1:130, 2:132, 3:154.
Opened 1912 as Scala Palace. Architects: probably Campbell & Fairhurst. Renamed Scala by 1940. 603 seats by 1961. Renamed Cine City in the 1970s. Closed 23 Jan 1997 (Manchester’s oldest cinema). Reopened. Still open as at 8 April 2000. [Closed by September 2001].
Like the Forum in Liverpool, the initial designs for the Savoy and the Forum cinemas were by F C Mitchell who was Savoy Cinemas architect.
The exteriors of both cinemas are substantially as designed by Mitchell.
The Promenade facade of the Savoy is a twin of the curved corner of the Forum, as drawn by Mitchell on the first plans of the Forum.
From the back.
Obviously rebuilt at some time, but still occupying the same footprint, and giving some idea of how new auditoria were added to existing shop fronts: View link
2006 photo.
The entrance was obviously converted from an existing shop.
Above ground floor level the front still looks like it would have done in 1911.
Note the circular window of the operating room: View link
Named after Sir Henry Irving who laid the foundation stone on 11 October 1899, and who stipulated that his name could only be used if serious theatre was presented.
It was opened on 18 December 1899, and was one of James Kiernan’s theatres.
This was said to be the first Irving Theatre in the country and one wonders why Sir Henry allowed Liverpool-born James Kiernan this unique privilege, because Mr Kiernan had about half-a-dozen music halls but no legitimate theatres.
The architect may have been J H Havelock-Sutton, who is known to have worked for Mr Kiernan.
Sir Henry’s bust was in the circular frame on the facade.
After a fire in 1908 it reopened as the King’s Theatre (a music hall), never to be called the Irving again.
Films were first shown in 1904, and it became a full-time cinema – La Scala – in 1912.
A couple of years later it became a music hall called the Hippodrome.
Cine variety from 1936, when it was first called the Embassy.
In 1938 the interior was reconstructed as a cinema which closed in 1959 in favour of bingo, which continues to date.
The rest of the history of this cinema is very sketchy.
In December 1972 a “Studio 1” cinema in Earlestown was advertised in the local paper.
Presumably this building (?), after which it seems to have been an EMI Bingo Club (by 1975), and a Coral Snooker Centre by the 1980s.
Recently demolished.
David.
You should say why you’ve changed the opening date from “about 1920” to “26 Dec 1913”.
A gap of 7 years is quite big.
It’s always best to cover yourself in case your source is wrong.
Regards from Philip.
It opened on 26 December 1913, and was closed for alterations on 11 June 1915. The floor was then raked, and a stage and balcony were inserted. It reopened on 16 August 1915.
May 2008 photo:
View link
It was almost certainly designed by Campbell & Fairhurst, and bears a close resemblance to the Dingle Picturedrome and the Belmont Picture House, both in Liverpool and both known to be designed by C & F.
The Stafford Picture House is also almost certainly by C & F.
In my notes I have that Cine-City opened in 1912 as the Scala Palace, but (like most others) I rely on others for information.
Cine City Wilmslow Road, Withington. M20 3BG. (0161) 445 9888 ex 3301/8181. Seats (by 1983): 1:150, 2:150, 3:150. Seats (by 2001): 1:130, 2:132, 3:154.
Opened 1912 as Scala Palace. Architects: probably Campbell & Fairhurst. Renamed Scala by 1940. 603 seats by 1961. Renamed Cine City in the 1970s. Closed 23 Jan 1997 (Manchester’s oldest cinema). Reopened. Still open as at 8 April 2000. [Closed by September 2001].
Like the Forum in Liverpool, the initial designs for the Savoy and the Forum cinemas were by F C Mitchell who was Savoy Cinemas architect.
The exteriors of both cinemas are substantially as designed by Mitchell.
The Promenade facade of the Savoy is a twin of the curved corner of the Forum, as drawn by Mitchell on the first plans of the Forum.
The bingo has now closed.
16 Feb 2009.
The day after the fire:
View link
Obviously rebuilt at some time, but still occupying the same footprint, and giving some idea of how new auditoria were added to existing shop fronts:
View link
2006 photo.
The entrance was obviously converted from an existing shop.
Above ground floor level the front still looks like it would have done in 1911.
Note the circular window of the operating room:
View link
Photo of Liscard Palace.
The front was rebuilt just after WW2:
View link
The Gaumont Palace (Egremont) was built so low because of ancient “Rights to Light”.
June 2008.
From the back:
View link
Named after Sir Henry Irving who laid the foundation stone on 11 October 1899, and who stipulated that his name could only be used if serious theatre was presented.
It was opened on 18 December 1899, and was one of James Kiernan’s theatres.
This was said to be the first Irving Theatre in the country and one wonders why Sir Henry allowed Liverpool-born James Kiernan this unique privilege, because Mr Kiernan had about half-a-dozen music halls but no legitimate theatres.
The architect may have been J H Havelock-Sutton, who is known to have worked for Mr Kiernan.
Sir Henry’s bust was in the circular frame on the facade.
After a fire in 1908 it reopened as the King’s Theatre (a music hall), never to be called the Irving again.
Films were first shown in 1904, and it became a full-time cinema – La Scala – in 1912.
A couple of years later it became a music hall called the Hippodrome.
Cine variety from 1936, when it was first called the Embassy.
In 1938 the interior was reconstructed as a cinema which closed in 1959 in favour of bingo, which continues to date.
Photo: Jan 2008.
View link
The rest of the history of this cinema is very sketchy.
In December 1972 a “Studio 1” cinema in Earlestown was advertised in the local paper.
Presumably this building (?), after which it seems to have been an EMI Bingo Club (by 1975), and a Coral Snooker Centre by the 1980s.
Recently demolished.
Photo. April 2008.
View link
David.
You should say why you’ve changed the opening date from “about 1920” to “26 Dec 1913”.
A gap of 7 years is quite big.
It’s always best to cover yourself in case your source is wrong.
Regards from Philip.
It opened on 26 December 1913, and was closed for alterations on 11 June 1915. The floor was then raked, and a stage and balcony were inserted. It reopened on 16 August 1915.
At night – 2007:
View link
1986 photo:
View link
Under demolition – 2006:
View link
A 2005 photo:
View link
It is now called Mint Casino.
View link
Update: July 2010.
Everything is derelict, and demolition is imminent.
October 1983 photo:
View link
It was almost certainly designed by Nagington & Shennan, being a twin of their Homer cinema.
Here’s a recent photo:
View link
It was always just Mayfair, not Mayfair Super.
Here’s a 1982 photo:
View link
Very accurate description, David.
Just for the record, it was a Kwik Save, not a Tesco.