Splendid Cinema

Ken Roe on November 28, 2006 at 12:07 pm

Originally this was to be known as the Delphine Cinema, it was built and operated as an independent cinema by John Thomas Halliman and remained an independent throughout its life. It opened as the Splendid Super Cinema with Marion Davies in “Not So Dumb”.

Although designed by Major W.J. King, the Italianate/Swiss Atmospheric interior was designed by artist F.L. Philie. He created a scene that depicted Chalets, villas, mansions and a castle which were set among trees and flowering shrubs. Winding lanes climbed through wooded slopesto distant mountains. The blue of the sky met and extended across the ceiling in which was set a large central lights fitting which could be set to reproduce the changes of colour from sunrise to sunset.

Unfortunately, the Splendid Cinema became a victim of falling audiences due to the impact of television and rowdy youths in the audience and it closed with the film “My Man Godfrey” starring David Niven. Proposals to use the building as a Roman Catholic church or a rag store both fell through and it was demolished in the summer of 1958.

Flats named Crystal View Court were built on the site, together with a petrol station.