Cinema

Astoria Cinema, London Road, Brighton

From a private collection

Astoria Cinema - Striding down the wide staircase

by Martin Nimmo

"When 'El Cid' came to the Astoria (I must have been around ten at the time) I contrived to see the film three times! Striding down the wide staircase to the closing theme was tremendous (did I escape before the National Anthem?).

"My earliest cinema memory was of the Paris in New Road, where we went to see "Dumbo". I also recall somewhat later seeing 'Around the World in Eighty Days' and 'Journey to the Centre of the Earth' at the Curzon in Western Road, which I think was my favourite cinema, and going as a family to view 'A Night to Remember' at the Odeon, Hove.

"All were big treats as, despite my repeated visits to 'El Cid', we only went occasionally to the cinema."