Strand Arts Centre

Belatedly responding to the comments of July 2, which I’ve only just seen - The idea of a cinema on this site was conceived by Strand Cinemas (Belfast) Ltd., a locally owned company. One of their directors, Harry Wilton, was already well-known in local cinema circles. The company purchased the site and plans drawn up by architect Thomas Guthrie were submitted to the City Surveyor on March 26, 1935. Around this time Union Cinemas took over the project. McBride Neil, who was already making a name for himself as a cinema designer, was appointed and his new plans were submitted and approved. Tt seems unlikely that McBride Neil would have borrowed from Guthrie’s ideas, but we shall probably never know as no trace of the latter’s plans have been seen. Harry Wilton was appointed as the new cinema’s first managing director.

The Strand’s 85th anniversary recognition with images.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-55213798?fbclid=IwAR2A5GKu2xcOgAzJuSRcSiBGqXunbLemBGovGx1n_0tsj3A1nl3PkPOD0iY

The last day under ABC ownership was 12 November 1977. The Strand then closed for a week and reopened on 19 November; the lease had been acquired by a local independent operator. However, despite what has been described as “brave efforts” by the new owner, it finally closed for films on 19 November 1983. It was reopened by local businessman Ronnie Rutherford in 1984 as the Strand Variety Theatre; the many well-known acts who performed on its stage included The Drifters and Little and Large. It continued as a live performance venue until 1987 when it closed again. Ronnie Rutherford had always entertained the hope that the Strand would return to being a cinema and his dream became a reality when it reopened for films on 29 April 1988. It had been converted into a 4-screen complex; close on £500,000 had been spent on transforming the building. By 2013 the Strand found itself having to compete with a increasing number of new multiplexes so it took the decision to cease trading as a commercial cinema and reinvented itself as the Strand Arts Centre, a not-for-profit charitable venture, to ensure the short-term survival of the building. There are longer term plans (which include the retention of the four existing screens) to completely renovate the Strand.

A vintage photograph of the auditorium & circle level in 1950:
View link

Favourite local cinema! Can anyone help me with this question. I seem to have an old memory of going to see Orville The Duck, and for some reason I believe it was at the Strand when it was open for live performance. This would date it between ‘83 and '84.. and I would only of been 1 or 2 years old!! Can anyone shed any light.. did this happen or am I imagine things!!