Studios 1-2-3-4
120 Bolton Street,
Chorley,
PR7 3DX
120 Bolton Street,
Chorley,
PR7 3DX
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Star Cinemas
Architects: S. Bradley, W. Bradley
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: Plaza Cinema
Nearby Theaters
Located in Chorley, Lancashire, just outside the town centre. The Plaza Cinema was opened on 22nd March 1937 with Cecily Courtneidge in "Everybody Dance". Built for the independent John Buckley Theatres Ltd. chain, it had seating for 1,320 provided in stalls and circle levels. It was equipped with a Western Electric(WE) sound system. The proscenium was 40 feet wide, and the stage was 29 feet deep with five dressing rooms. There was a café and dance lounge in the building.
In 1941, a Christie 3Manual/8Ranks organ was installed and it was opened by organist Reginald Liversidge. The organ had originally been a 2Manual/4Ranks (enlarged in 1930 to 2Manual/6Ranks) instrument installed in 1928, in the Pavilion Cinema, Piccadilly Circus, London.
The Plaza Cinema was taken over by the Leeds based Star Cinemas chain in 1962. Occasional use of the stage for live shows continued, and also wrestling was presented. In 1970, it was tripled, and later a fourth screen was installed in the former cafe/dance lounge. Seating was now provided for 130, 198, 131 and 94, and was re-named Studios 1-2-3-4. This was closed in August 1986. It was converted into a Body Rock gymnasium. By 1997 the remainder of the building was converted into flats and shops, known as the Astley Centre, retaining the original Art Deco style façade. The building was demolished in 2012.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
The former Plaza/Studios building, photographed in November 2008:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/davel59/3004644515/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/davel59/3004645599/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/davel59/3005482672/
map placement is way out
This was not twinned in 1970 but in fact tripled from the start. Studio 4 was then added by utilising the old restaurant space just off the circle foyer. It was the fastest conversion at the time with only 21 days elapsing from the Plaza closing to the Studios 1-2-3 opening. The building was demolished in 2012.
The site is now a used car lot which incorporates the closed and converted, adjacent Eagle Hotel.
When The Plaza was tripled in 1970, my dad Jim Monks, a former projectionist at the cinema who sadly passed away at the beginning of 2024, documented the conversion work on 16mm film.
I’ve posted a short video showing some of this footage on Youtube, which can be seen here;
https://youtu.be/0_5LkSYfEXs
I’m working on a longer video about this cinema and will post an update here when that’s available.