Strand Cinema
24 Strand Road,
Londonderry,
BT48 7PX
24 Strand Road,
Londonderry,
BT48 7PX
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Belatedly adding to the comment by popcorn_pete, the Billy James referred to may have been W (for William). L. James who around the same time was the lessee of the Midland Cinema in the Waterside area of the city (see separate entry for Midland Cinema, Londonderry).
If so, then it’s interesting to note that the Strand and the Midland, shortly after James’s involvement with both, became part of the Curran Theatres chain. William L. James in 1939 was a director of Portrush Majestic Cinema Ltd which opened the Majestic Cinema in Portrush that same year. The Majestic (in due course) was also bought over by Curran (see separate entry for Playhouse Cinema, Portrush).
The Strand opened on 17 January 1935 and was originally run by Billy James. It was designed by W.E. Taylor and had marble steps leading up to the lobby which was oak-panelled. The cafe doubled as a dancefloor.