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Uploaded on: September 26, 2026

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The Piccadilly Cinema in North Adelaide opened on 23 October 1940 with a grand gala screening of the films First Love (starring Deanna Durbin) and Missing Evidence.

Built by Dan Clifford’s D. Clifford Theatre Ltd and designed in an Art Deco style by Adelaide firm Evans, Bruer & Hall alongside Sydney architect Guy Crick, it was hailed as the most modern theatre in the Southern Hemisphere.

The Forum Era (1967–1983): Acquired and renamed the Forum Cinema by Greater Union in 1967, many original interior features—including a grand Piccadilly Circus mural—were covered up or modified.

(1983–1990): After closing in early 1983, Bob Wallis of Wallis Cinemas purchased the building to save it from demolition, reverting the name back to the Piccadilly and converting it into a three-screen multiplex.

Following a major multi-million dollar restoration that concluded in late 2022, the cinema reopened with its classic Art Deco aesthetic and historical mural fully revitalized. It continues to operate as a vibrant cultural hub for mainstream, indie, and festival films.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -