Do you know which Brighton cinema foyer is shown here?
Do you have a rough estimate of the date?
If you can identify the cinema and know the approximate date, please post a comment below.
Photos and articles about Brighton and Hove in the time of coronavirus. See our collection and add your own!
Do you know which Brighton cinema foyer is shown here?
Do you have a rough estimate of the date?
If you can identify the cinema and know the approximate date, please post a comment below.
Comments about this page
It has been many years since I attended there but I’m fairly sure it is the Astoria. I think that was where they showed ‘Jaws’ with Sensurround, enormous speakers on the balcony that shook the seats with the bass rumble.
I forgot to add that the date must be no earlier than 1954 as the movies listed have release dates of 1947, 1950 and 1954 for “Lilacs in the Spring” starring Anna Neagle and Errol Flynn.
The date is almost certainly 1950 or 1951. The film, ‘Wyoming Mail’ came out in 1950. The cinema could be one of any number of beautiful, art deco picture houses in Brighton, at that time. My guess would be the Astoria but it could have been the Savoy.
Too clever for my own good. I have just checked the film ‘Lilacs in the Spring’ and it didn’t come out until 1954, so I think the date may be 1954 as Lilacs in the Spring appears to be a “[something] attraction”. Perhaps top of the bill.
‘Wyoming Mail’ came out in 1950 , but as to the location…
Would it be the Odeon, West Street?
Philip Burnard, I did a bit of checking by typing Astoria into the search box.
You posted this article only a year ago.
Wrong clock for the Odeon, it had hexagonal Art Deco clocks.
Just to note that the memorably titled, ‘Angel and the Bad Man’ came out in 1947. It sounds as though not much thought was given to naming the film. Whatever the cinema, they certainly offered a range of films from various years. This was a time when few people had TVs and would, I imagine, look to the cinema for varied entertainment. Intervals in films would feature Pathe Pictorial News, which would bring people up to date with some news items – although, as I remember them, they were usually made up of ‘feature’ pieces.
That looks like the ABC logo on the forthcoming attractions posters, so I would guess it’s the Savoy, and certainly post-1953.
Bob Catt. I have done a search and found the piece I wrote last year about the Astoria. However the picture (used in both pieces) was not posted by me, but by the editor of the site. I don’t have any photos of Brighton!
I am much more leaning towards the Savoy. This entrance does not seem broad enough for the Astoria. But it could fit well with the circular front of the Savoy which had more than one entrance.
Could it possibly be the Granada in Hove?
It looks like the Savoy to me from what I can remember.
I also think it is the front entrance to the Savoy on the seafront. There was also another side entrance from East Street. It is now the Grosvenor casino and the side entrance is Days restaurant. It’s definitely not the Granada as I went to Saturday morning pictures every week and can remember it very well.
I am positive that it is the Astoria. I have access to a sister picture (another one from the Regency Society / James Gray Collection) which shows the scene immediately to the left of your puzzle picture. You can see the same flooring pattern in both, the far left of the floor cabinet in the original image shows up in the right side of my sister picture - but, most telling of all, is the semi-circular logo “Astoria” set into the floor at the base of the sweeping stairs leading up to the circle. I don’t seem to be able to attach a pic to this message but will happily do so if pointed in the right direction! Hello Brian, there is a ‘how to’ tutorial on adding photos to your post. It’s on the home page – just above the signpost saying Brighton and Hove tours. If you get stuck, our Editor will gladly help – jennifer@mybrightonandhove.org.uk. Best wishes, Editing Team
The same photo was used at the head of Philip’s article on the Astoria posted on 25 May 2016, so I guess that solves the mystery! It is the Astoria. Well done to Bob and Brian.
Having found some wonderful pictures of the Astoria on line I am having to swallow my earlier comment about this being the Savoy.
Definately the Astoria – my first date with my wife, Diane, back in 1977 was there – we watched “A Bridge Too Far”.
Add a comment about this page