New Frognal Kinema

Located on the east side of Finchley Road, just south of a street named Frognal, in the northwest London district of West Hampstead/Swiss Cottage. The Frognal Bijou Picture Palace opened in April 1910. It was a purpose built cinema, with seating on one level and was described as ‘a prettily decorated little kinema’. The exterior is in white stone, with two bay windows on the first floor level. By the beginning of World War I in 1914, it had been re-named Frognal Picture Palace.

In 1920/1921, it was re-named Odettes Picture House, then it gained another name Arcadia Cinema. By 1924, it was known as the Casino Picture Theatre.

Around 1930, it was equipped to screen ‘talkies’, the equipment was installed by a local electrician, and was not that reliable. Now re-named New Frognal Kinema, it was closed in 1931.

The building exists today after many years spent in various retail use. In 2008, it was empty and ‘To Let’. The screen end of the auditorium has been demolished, and the truncated auditorium has been bricked up.

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