How British Cinemas have Changed in the Past 100 Years through Pictures

   

Cinema a century ago was a new, exciting and highly democratic form of entertainment. Picture houses nationwide offered a sociable, lively environment in which to relax and escape from the daily grind. With feature films still rare, the programme was an entertaining, ever-changing roster of short items with live musical accompaniment. Here's a collection of 38 pictures that show how British cinemas have changed in the past 100 years.

 
The Cinema House, Sheffield, 1914

 

 
The Regent Cinema, Sheffield, 1927

 

 
The Regal Cinema, Marble Arch, London, c.1928

 

 
The Granada, Tooting, London, c.1931

 

 
Gaumont Palace, King's Road, London, 1934

 

 
The Savoy, Enfield, 1935

 

The Ritz, Barnsley, 1937

 

Gaumont Holloway, London, c.1937

 

Clock Cinema, Leeds, 1938

 

News Theatre (now Tyneside Cinema), Newcastle, 1938

 

The Academy Cinema, Oxford Street, London, c.1945

 

Warner West End (now Vue Leicester Square), London, 1946

 

The Carlton, Nottingham, 1946

 

National Film Theatre Telekinema at the Festival of Britain (later moved to the current BFI Southbank site), London, 1951

 

The Astoria, Charing Cross Road, London, 1956

 

Columbia Cinema (now Curzon Soho), London, 1958

 

The Empire Theatre (now The Empire Leicester Square), London, 1959

 

The Cosmo (now Glasgow Film Theatre), Glasgow, 1960

 

Curzon Mayfair, London, 1965

 

Cameo Royal Cinema, Great Windmill Street, London, 1967

 

The Florida, Enfield, 1970

 

EMI International Film Theatre (now Curzon Renoir), London, 1976

 

Filmhouse, Edinburgh, c.1979. Credit: Edinburgh Evening News.

 

Odeon Chelsea (now Curzon Chelsea), London, 1981

 

National Film Theatre (now BFI Southbank), c.1981

 

Curzon West End (now Curzon Soho), London, 1985

 

Cornerhouse, Manchester, 1986

 

Curzon Phoenix, Phoenix Street, London, 1986

 

Curzon Mayfair, London, 1986

 

Showcase Cinemas, Nottingham, c.1988

 

UCI, Whiteley's Shopping Centre, Bayswater, London, 1989

 

Broadway, Nottingham, 1993

 

Harbour Lights Picturehouse, Southampton, 1995

 

QUAD, Derby, 2010. Credit: Graham Lucas Commons.

 

Queen's Film Theatre, Belfast, c.2012

 

Odeon BFI IMAX, London, 2012

 

Watershed, Bristol, 2014. Credit: Toby Farrow.

 

 
The Showroom, Sheffield, 2014



Cinema a century ago was a new, exciting and highly democratic form of entertainment. Picture houses nationwide offered a sociable, lively environment in which to relax and escape from the daily grind. With feature films still rare, the programme was an entertaining, ever-changing roster of short items with live musical accompaniment. Here's a collection of 38 pictures that show how British cinemas have changed in the past 100 years.

 
The Cinema House, Sheffield, 1914

 

 
The Regent Cinema, Sheffield, 1927

 

 
The Regal Cinema, Marble Arch, London, c.1928

 

 
The Granada, Tooting, London, c.1931

 

 
Gaumont Palace, King's Road, London, 1934

 

 
The Savoy, Enfield, 1935

 

The Ritz, Barnsley, 1937

 

Gaumont Holloway, London, c.1937

 

Clock Cinema, Leeds, 1938

 

News Theatre (now Tyneside Cinema), Newcastle, 1938

 

The Academy Cinema, Oxford Street, London, c.1945

 

Warner West End (now Vue Leicester Square), London, 1946

 

The Carlton, Nottingham, 1946

 

National Film Theatre Telekinema at the Festival of Britain (later moved to the current BFI Southbank site), London, 1951

 

The Astoria, Charing Cross Road, London, 1956

 

Columbia Cinema (now Curzon Soho), London, 1958

 

The Empire Theatre (now The Empire Leicester Square), London, 1959

 

The Cosmo (now Glasgow Film Theatre), Glasgow, 1960

 

Curzon Mayfair, London, 1965

 

Cameo Royal Cinema, Great Windmill Street, London, 1967

 

The Florida, Enfield, 1970

 

EMI International Film Theatre (now Curzon Renoir), London, 1976

 

Filmhouse, Edinburgh, c.1979. Credit: Edinburgh Evening News.

 

Odeon Chelsea (now Curzon Chelsea), London, 1981

 

National Film Theatre (now BFI Southbank), c.1981

 

Curzon West End (now Curzon Soho), London, 1985

 

Cornerhouse, Manchester, 1986

 

Curzon Phoenix, Phoenix Street, London, 1986

 

Curzon Mayfair, London, 1986

 

Showcase Cinemas, Nottingham, c.1988

 

UCI, Whiteley's Shopping Centre, Bayswater, London, 1989

 

Broadway, Nottingham, 1993

 

Harbour Lights Picturehouse, Southampton, 1995

 

QUAD, Derby, 2010. Credit: Graham Lucas Commons.

 

Queen's Film Theatre, Belfast, c.2012

 

Odeon BFI IMAX, London, 2012

 

Watershed, Bristol, 2014. Credit: Toby Farrow.

 

 
The Showroom, Sheffield, 2014



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