Stella Cinema
207 Lower Rathmines Road,
Dublin
6
207 Lower Rathmines Road,
Dublin
6
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Firms: Higginbotham & Stafford
Functions: Bar, Movies (First Run)
Styles: Neo-Classical
Nearby Theaters
The Stella Cinema was designed in a Classical style by the architectural firm Higginbotham & Stafford and was located just to the south of Dublin city centre (not to be confused with the later Stella Cinema (1955-1976) in the Mount Merion district).
It had a Ballyknockan granite facade that had a central window which was flanked by two decorative columns, topped by decorative stone balls. It opened on 29th January 1923 with Violet Hopson in “The Imperfect Lover”. Seating was provided for 1,283 in stalls and circle levels in what was advertised as the ‘Largest Picture Theatre in Dublin But One’. There was a beautiful water fountain in front of the screen which had different coloured lights played onto it during the interval. An additional facility at the Stella Cinema was a dancehall on the first floor. It was built for and operated by the independent exhibitors the O'Grady family.
In the 1970’s it hosted several concerts by groups such as The Boomtown Rats, and rock artist Elvis Costello performed on stage in March 1978.
In later years the granite facade was covered over by a metal grille and in September 1981 the Stella Cinema was sub-divided into two screens, with seating given as 280 and 180 seats.
In 2003 the Stella Cinema was purchased from the O'Grady family by the Ward Anderson chain and they closed it in August 2004.
Restoration work began in February 2017 and it re-opened as a cinema & cocktail bar on 31st October 2017.
Contributed by
Lost Memory, Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 21 comments)
Remains shut, no signs of any activity either demolition or any preparations for demolition.
Still empty.
still nothing happening there
Very interesting movie on the Irish times website today about the inside of the cinema and how it is fairing 12 years after closing down. The interior ( original 1923 ceiling is phenomenal – Please please please dont let this be demolished – the original interior decor of the cinema is intact and is wonderful http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/selling-the-stella-behind-doors-of-an-old-dublin-institution-1.2616085
Hi what would be the chance of getting a list of all movies played at the Stella in a certain year – is there a historian place I could go to in Dublin for that?
Was due to be auctioned off on 5.11.15 but according to reports appeared to be unsold as of April 2016. Maybe the hefty €1.75 million price tag has put developers off! Pictures of how it looks inside these days are at: http://www.dailyedge.ie/rathmines-stella-cinema-2682126-Mar2016/
Currently being refurbished – Due to be reopened later this year as a single cinema screen luxurious cinema with cocktail bar and luxury seating!
http://www.thejournal.ie/screen-cinema-rathmines-3192039-Jan2017/
http://entertainment.ie/cinema/news/Stella-Cinema-in-Rathmines-is-being-restored-to-her-former-glory/389501.htm
Now fully restored to its original art deco beauty See articles and movie clip: This restoration definitely warrants an article on here
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/a-sneak-preview-inside-the-refurbished-stella-cinema-in-rathmines-1.3263333
https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/movie-news/table-service-cocktail-bar-and-beds-part-of-luxury-cinema-experience-at-restored-stella-theatre-in-rathmines-36238989.html