Court Cinema

160 High Street,
Berkhamsted, HP4 3AP

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Shipman & King Cinemas Ltd.

Architects: Ewen S. Barr

Firms: Howis & Belcham

Styles: Art Deco, Moorish

Previous Names: Court Theatre

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Court Cinema

Located in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire at the corner of High Street and Water Lane. The 620-seat Court Theatre opened of the 24th March, 1917, the name inspired by The Inns of Court Officer Training Corps, then stationed in the town. It was designed by architect Ewen S. Barr in a Moorish style.

The cinema passed to the Shipman and King circuit in March, 1930, who reconstructed and enlarged the Court Cinema with 959 seats, during 1934 when it was closed for six weeks and reopened on 13th September 1934. The Art Deco style cinema was designed by A. Belcham of architectural firm Howis & Belcham with the decorative treatment provided by interior designers Mollo & Egan. A Christie 3 manual 6 ranks organ with illuminated console was added. The stage held more stage shows into the World War II period, after the Rex Cinema opened. The organ was removed to S & K’s new Embassy Cinema, Waltham Cross in 1937.

The Court Cinema closed on the 11th June, 1960 with John Wayne in “The Horse Soldiers”. It was converted into a Tesco supermarket, which was badly damaged by fire in 1969. A larger Tesco supermarket now stands on the site.

Contributed by Martin Tapsell

Recent comments (view all 2 comments)

Biffaskin
Biffaskin on February 2, 2021 at 8:10 am

The interior decoration for the improved cinemas was by Mollo & Egan, using a similar design to that used at the Embassy-Braintree, Regent-Horley & the Majestic-Reigate. This was the underwater theme with fish swimming amongst seaweed.

Ron Knee
Ron Knee on August 12, 2021 at 5:20 am

The very first Mollo & Egan Marine panel was installed in the Princess Theatre Dagenham which opened 8th October 1932 with similar panels continuing in other cinema interiors until 1936.

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