Brightonfilm


Directory of cinemas in Brighton & Hove

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Curzon Cinema


The Queen's Electric Theatre in 1911, occupying the space of two former shops, but still showing the Electric Bioscope sign


By 1930 it was relatively unusual for a cinema to advertise silent films 'with full orchestra'.


The interior of the Scala in 1930.


Newly re-opened Curzon Kinema in 1936, showing the art deco influence

Electric Bioscope (1909-1910)
Queen's Electric Theatre (1910-1915)
Queen's Picture Theatre (1915-1919)
Picturedrome (1919-1922)
Scala Cinema (1922-1932)
Regal Cinema (1932-1936)
Curzon Kinema (1936-1975)
Classic Cinema (1975-1979)

130 Western Road, Brighton
operated 1909-1979

1909 January 13 Opened as the Electric Bioscope in a converted shop by journalist Walter Harold Speer; c50 seats. Seating is by A R Dean & Sons of Birmingham.
1909 October Acquired by World's Biograph Co Ltd. Speer joins the board and remains as manager, along with an interest in the management of other cinemas to be opened in Sussex.
1909 November William Friese Greene now has his 'scientific hall' in the upper part of the building.
1910 August Expands into the neighbouring shop, increases to 250 seats and is renamed Queen's Electric Theatre, complete with upholstered seats, dimmable auditorium lights, curtains revealing the screen, 'hygienic' fan ventilation and an orchestra. The alterations are made by Thomas Garratt. Admission to the balcony costs 1s (5p), to the 'area' or promenade 3d (1p). The signs over the entrances read: 'Continuous performances. Daily from 3 till 10. Come in when you like. No waiting.' It is also open on Sundays. Tea lounge.
1911 Shows daily at 15:00-22:30, Sundays at 18:00-22:00. ‘Over 1½ hours’ entertainment at any time.’ Complete change every Wednesday and Saturday, including Pathé Animated Gazette newsreel. Speer’s children, Walter and Edith, work in the box office.
1911 Speer forms Montpelier Electric Theatres Ltd and moves into production with Brighton & County Film Company (Brightonia).
1912 The cinema is reportedly sold to Mrs A W L Deer about now. However, in October 1913 it is still advertised as being in Mr W Harold Speer's Circuit.
1913 Performances daily 15:00-22:30, Sundays at 18:00-22:00. Prices are 3d, 6d, 1s, 1s 6d, 5s.
1913 Premiere of Brightonia’s production of East Lynne.
1913 Mrs Fannie Speer, wife of the owner, petitions for the winding up of Montpelier Electric Theatres.
1914 Renamed Queen’s Picture Theatre. The manager is E C Roberts.
1915 Renamed Queen's Picture Theatre.
1919 Renamed Picturedrome. It appears to have taken this name when a cinema with that name in Edward Street is renamed the Majestic.
1922 Acquired by George Beyfus of Tivoli Enterprises (Hove) Ltd, who also has the nearby Tivoli. Renamed Scala Cinema
1930 March Equipped with RCA Photophone sound system after resisting sound films with the slogan 'No talkies here!'
1932 Acquired by Kenneth A Nyman (Regal Cinema Co Ltd) and renamed Regal Cinema. Three changes weekly.
1934 Prices are 9d–1s 10d.
1936 August 3 Re-opens as the Curzon Kinema (a last-minute change from the proposed name of the Plaza) and remodelled in Art Deco style by London-based architect James Morrison, who has designed several cinemas for the Gaumont chain. Land behind, the first garden in Montpelier Road (now approximately the position of the Waitrose loading bay) is added to extend the auditorium, resulting in the stalls rising towards the screen; 656 seats, including balcony.
1941 Prices: 9d-2s. Nyman, who had been vice-president of the Cinematograph Exhibitors’ Association in 1937, is based in London.
1947 Prices 10d-2s 3d, continuous performances, booked at hall. Still owned by Regal Cinema Co/Harry Jacobs (who also acquires the Tivoli, Hove this year).
1948 Prices 10d-2s 3d, continuous performances, booked at hall. According to Kinematograph Yearbook it is owned by Regal Cinema Co/Harry Jacobs (who also acquires the Tivoli, Hove this year).
1953 Listed in the Kinematograph Yearbook as owned by K A Nyman (36 Manor House Drive, London NW6) and booked from there. 656 seats. Prices 1s and 3s.
1954 Acquired by Eric R Mills of Kinetours Ltd.
1957 Listed in the Kinematograph Yearbook as owned by Kinetours Ltd, London and booked from there. Prices 1s-3s 6d. Cinemascope, screen 22ft x 11ft 6ins.
1960 Maintenance work was carried out on the building between now an 1965 by D E Burtenshaw Ltd, a local firm of builders and decorators.
1961 Prices 1s 6d-3s 6d.
1965 September Acquired by Classic Cinemas Ltd. 16 staff.
1966 July Midnight matinees are introduced on Saturday nights at 23:00-07:30. £1 admission buys five films and breakfast served on a tray.
1968 Prices 4s 6d-5s 6d. Proscenium 28ft, screen 22ft 4ins x 9ft 8ins.
1970 Renamed Classic Cinema, having been billed as the ‘Classic Curzon’ for some time; 597 seats, continuous, three shows daily, one weekly change of programme.
1971 February House box office record (2,100 admissions) is set by the rock music documentary Woodstock.
1972 Freehold of the site is sold to an investment firm for £114,000. It is acquired by John Lewis Partnership for an extension in due course of its Waitrose supermarket.
1973 Classic Cinemas has plans, never fulfilled, to use the building for a smaller cinema and a casino.
1975 Operating an art-house programming policy.
1978 July All-time house box office record (2,658 admissions) is set by The Silent Witness, a documentary about the Turin shroud.
1979 September 8 Closed, with 18 months left on the lease, which John Lewis Partnership buys up. The last film is The Warriors.

• Waitrose supermarket expanded into the site.

Photos courtesy of Brighton & Hove Libraries' Brighton History Centre

Brighton cinema directory
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Page updated 15 July 2022
© David Fisher