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The Electric Palace, Harwich - a Grade II* listed building
It is one of the very few examples in which most of the features of a silent screen cinema exist unchanged since it opened in 1911.
2003 interior of the Electric Palace, Harwich
The exterior, auditorium and projection room are all unaltered. The external façade has undergone no structural or superficial changes of note since it was built apart from the loss of the ornate lamps. The interior was restored using the original plasterwork to make moulds for the missing sections. The projectors, sound equipment, heating system, the seats and seating layout have all been upgraded.
The Electric Cinema, Portobello Road, London - a Grade II* listed building
It opened on 24th February 1910 and is now London's oldest and one of its finest purpose-built cinemas although the original exterior has been altered to a large extent. It recently underwent restoration and is now a very upmarket venue. The foyer retains its tiny gilt-domed box office and mosaic floor which leads to a baroque panelled auditorium with fine plasterwork..
The East Finchley Picturedrome, London - a Grade II listed building
Now called The Phoenix it opened in 1910 although the exact date is unknown. With Edwardian and Art Deco features it has been substantially altered over the years moving the screen from one end to the other. It was one of the first cinemas in London to introduce sound films in 1929 when it was known as the "Coliseum". The Phoenix Cinema is an independent cinema owned and run by a charitable trust on behalf of the people of North London.
The Duke of York's, Brighton - a Grade II listed building
It opened in September 1910. Its imposing façade was built on to part of the malthouse of Longhurst's Brewery which then became the auditorium: so it is not purpose-built from drawing-board to complete new building. Much of the original façade still exists although it no longer has the original twin domes with flagpoles attached crowning the exterior facade. In 1937 the interior was redecorated on 'modern lines', and a new screen and new seating were installed. As there are no pictures of the interior before the transformation it is not known if the interior, which is very plain, had any Edwardian plaster decoration. The biggest alteration to the cinema was the replacement of the proscenium arch in 1955.
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Last Updated Monday, January 26 2004 at 12:16 PM GMT
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