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Old 23-03-2009, 06:22 PM
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Default The Academy Cinema, London



http://www.independent.co.uk/news/pe...y-1346087.html

The Picture House opened on 25 January 1913, and was originally a single screen venue with a two-level auditorium with 601 seats; 434 in the stalls and 171 in the circle, plus stand spaces for 63. There was a ballroom located in the basement. It was re-modeled in 1929 to the plans of architect Leslie H. Kemp and the seating capacity was reduced to 534.

The building suffered bomb damage in October 1940 and didn't re-open until 14th March 1944. In 1954 it was given a new decorative treatment, designed by photographer Angus McBean, when the auditorium was decorated in a bright red festoon patterned wallpaper.

An additional screen was built in the former basement ballroom, opening on 31st March 1965 with 404 seats. A third smaller screen was built in disused office space, and the cinema was renamed Academy 1-2-3.

The cinema closed permanently on 2 April 1986 screening; Dangerous Moves, The Empty Table and The Wanderer. It was demolished in February 1989 to make way for an office and retail development. Marks and Sparks store on Oxford Street now occupies the former site of the Academy Cinema.






http://bfi.mediastorehouse.com/pics_...y-posters.html


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Old 23-03-2009, 09:28 PM
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billy bentley is poor grammar
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Doojeen, would that be the Marks & Sparks on the right hand side of Oxford St as you walk from Oxford Circus to Tottenham Court Road ?
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Old 23-03-2009, 10:46 PM
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The Academy oozed class, I recall actually being vaguely intimidated going in to it, being more used to the Romford Odeon...

(yes on the right hand side of Oxford St as you walk from Oxford Circus to Tottenham Court Road)
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Old 23-03-2009, 10:50 PM
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Default Academy Oxford Street
Sounds right to me Billy.

At least one of the screens had very posh wooden panelling - it was like seeing the film in the dining room of a stately home. They kept films for incredibly long runs - unheard of now. You'd put off going to see a film there because you knew it would be on forever - and finally decide to go the day after they took it off!
The Lacemaker was on for at least a year.

They often showed Buster Keaton films - I recall Paul Merton mentioning making a trip "up west" to see them at the Academy as being one of the factors in his enthusiasm for silent comedy.

Really hated those posters though!
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Old 23-03-2009, 10:52 PM
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If you go west from Oxford Circus there was the Plaza(?) purveyor of many a Disney reissue in its day.
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Old 24-03-2009, 12:14 AM
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What was the name of the small cinema on Oxford Street opposiite Great Portland Street ? I remember seeing "Blue Water White Death" there.
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Old 24-03-2009, 12:17 PM
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Firstly the name of the cinemas opposite were Studios 1 & 2.I spent many a happy half term in Studio2 as it was a News Cinema.Studio 1 was Disneys West End Cinema.It had a fabulous neon sign.
I also went frequently to The Academy.In particular i remember going to a screening of The black pirate which was introduced by Douglas Fairbanks Jnr.
Unfortunately both of these cinemas fell victim to retail shops.both in my opinion a sad loss to the West End.
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Old 24-03-2009, 01:26 PM
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Orpheum, thanks for the name. There used to be an italian coffee shop across the street on the corner of Great Portland St. called Torino's (I think) I was taken there as a special treat and had a Torino sandwich. Never forgot it ! I took my kids to see "The Black Pirate" a few years back, they really enjoyed it. Did Fairbanks introduce it in person ?
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Old 24-03-2009, 03:27 PM
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Academy 2, in the basement (formerly the Marquee Club)
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Originally Posted by billy bentley View Post
Doojeen, would that be the Marks & Sparks on the right hand side of Oxford St as you walk from Oxford Circus to Tottenham Court Road ?
Yep, Paul Merton was filmed outside it in his BBC4 programme on silent comedy film a couple of years ago, reminiscing about discovering Buster Keaton's films at the Academy - I caught a few of those myself during a Keaton summer season in '75, the only time I've ever seen silent films in a cinema, complete with live piano accompaniment. This all-time classic was one of them:


The Academy also played a part in pop music history - the basement was once a dancehall, which became the first location of the Marquee Club from 1958 to 1964.

The Marquee Club: History: The Oxford St. days (1958-1964)


The Rolling Stones and Cyril Davis at the Marquee Club, January 1963

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Old 24-03-2009, 04:23 PM
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Doojeen for some reason I had thought the original Marquee Club was on the other side of Oxford Street, near the 100 Club (which I think is long gone now). i guess I was wrong ?
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Old 24-03-2009, 05:13 PM
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I always used to go for lunch at Joe Lyons "egg & Bacon2 just opposite the Studio cinema or maybe just up the road to the Corner House at the junction of Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road.after lunch i would go to a roadshow presentation maybe "The Alamo" at the sadly soon to be demolished Astoria.
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Old 24-03-2009, 05:47 PM
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The 100 Club is still there:
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Old 24-03-2009, 05:50 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wearysloth View Post
The Academy oozed class, I recall actually being vaguely intimidated going in to it, being more used to the Romford Odeon...

(yes on the right hand side of Oxford St as you walk from Oxford Circus to Tottenham Court Road)
Romford Odeon ah!
Sunday afternoons after the Lucania Billiards Hall and before the White Lion.
The game played was 'Annoyanusherette' where the torches shone along rows of seemingly innocent faces intently watching the screen.. but one had a trombone under his seat! Or, who banged the paper bag at the strategic moment?
Was it called the Advana before Odeon? there were 3 down the High Street and I cannot remember which one. You just tweaked a memory. thank you.
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Old 24-03-2009, 06:53 PM
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Bernardo, as a lad I sometimes worked in Romford Market. When you came out of the train station, turned left and walked towards the market, there was a cinema on the left. Was that the Odeon ?
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Old 24-03-2009, 07:09 PM
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Default Romford Odeon
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Bernardo, as a lad I sometimes worked in Romford Market. When you came out of the train station, turned left and walked towards the market, there was a cinema on the left. Was that the Odeon ?
the Odeon indeed.

The ABC was further out towards Oldchurch hospital and the abbatoir, lol.

I hear tell the brewery has gone now too?

The Odeon was the clumsiest twinning of a cinema I've ever seen. Screen1 was essentially the balcony of the original auditorium and the additional screens were built into the stalls and jutted out under the balcony of Screen 1
- bizarre.

Still enjoyed Alien there in its day.
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