O2 Academy Brixton
211 Stockwell Road,
London,
SW9 9SL
211 Stockwell Road,
London,
SW9 9SL
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The Astorian mentioned in one of the entries above was the house magazine of each of the Astorias. I have a copy of the 4th April 1932 vol 4 for the Old Kent Road Astoria found when I had the sad job of going in to aid the closure and clear out. My youngest son is Box Office Manager at the 02 Academy Brixton, its nice to see the building in regular use and the magnificent stage being used for live performance, but sadly the interior is not in good state.
Some mainly exterior photos from 2017 here:–
FACADE
FACADE DETAIL
FOYER
SIDE VIEW
BACK VIEW
A repertory, smoker-friendly cinema named Cinema Fumée opened here on 5th August 1994 for a year; the last that was heard of it was its role in a Placebo tour in ‘95. It reopened for a very limited time at Shepherd’s Bush Empire in 1998. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWD0Ol32kcw http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/a-light-in-the-dark-for-smokers-1381966.html
Unfortunately, the Brixton Academy has recently suffered some damage from a fire. But not to sure how mucg damage. See the BBC report about the fire: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-16325908
an odd find in the London Museum, a magazine called The Astorian – the official organ of the Astoria Brixton – the best south-west… Brixton wonder picture theatre!
presumably dating from around the opening
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/5447963081/
Viewed from the balcony during a concert:
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Some unusual shots of the Astoria can be seen in the 1970`s film “Eskimo Nell” namely the projection room, managers office, rear circle,stage, and rear fire escape. Shots of the boiler room are featured in “Confessions of a Plumbers Mate” These were all filmed on location whilst the building was closed to the public. Both films turn up on Ebay quite regularly
some great pix here
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more photos night views dec 3 2007 at a CSS gig
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/2087472060/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/2087475938/
lobby
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/2087481152/
auditorium shot of CSS on stage
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/2087489330/
while it looks in great condition in these photos the building is actually in a shockingly poor state, delicate plasterwork and marble are treated with no respect and are in battered condition
A night view in 2003:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjwillow/283436072/
The building was open to the public for London open House weekend, here are some shots of the maazing interior
lobby areas
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/246884748/
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follow spot lights
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former projection suite (now VIP bar)
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auditorium
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/246884751/
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exterior 16th sept 2006
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More photos of the Academy here :–
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A recent photograph of the Academy Theatre, Brixton, south London:
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More history and photographs of the Astoria Brixton here:
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Herewith a link with a lot of recent interior photo’s
best
kev p
www.brixton-academy.co.uk/brixton/gallery/index.cfm?gallery=brixton_venue
An exterior photo and some history on the Astoria Brixton here:
http://www.tnunn.f2s.com/brixasto.htm
The address of the Astoria is Stockwell Road, Brixton, London. SW9.
The opening film in 1929 was “The Singing Fool” starring Al Jolson. In later years of cinema operation it was known as the Odeon Astoria. It closed on 29th July 1972 with “Red Sun” & “The Looking Glass War” For a short while after closing it was converted into a Sundance dance hall, but this was short lived and the building lay empty until 1982 when it was re-opened in its current use today, as a live rock concert venue the Brixton Academy.
This amazing building is now the Academy Theatre, the exterior has been relit with green and red neon and looks fantastic at night, i went on saturday evening to see the Scissor Sisters in concert and the place was packed with at least 3000 people, the lobby is in pretty good shape considering its used for rock concerts, with the original glass deco light fittings, the auditorium is as above, most of the plasterwork survives and i really would not call it mutilated at all, the more delicate features are protected behind glass screens and the plaster trees and vines are all still in place but could do with being painted a lighter colour so you can see them. The balcony is still seated but the stalls floor is now standing only. Its still an awesome building and surprisingly intact, not that it couldnt do with a good clean.
YOU ARE WRONG ABOUT SKATEBOARDING, THAT WAS AT THE ASTORIA OLD KENT ROAD…
(DEMOLISHED OCT 1984)
THIS WAS ONE OF THE"PARAMOUNT" ASTORIAS…
BRIXTON…STREATHAM…FINSBURY PARK…OLD KENT ROAD…
IT CLOSED ON 29TH JULY 1972…