Lewisham is one of two London boroughs (the other being Waltham Forest) without a cinema. But, back in the 1930s, there were over twenty venues showing films! This page gives more information about the cinemas that used to exist throughout the actual borough, including Lewisham Central, Lee, Catford, Downham, Sydenham, Hither Green, Forest Hill, Brockley, Deptford and New Cross.
Lewisham central
The Obelisk, 12 Loampit Vale, Lewisham. Opened in 1912, closed in 1923. Now the site of the Lewisham main bus and rail station.
Gaumont Palace, 1-5 Loampit Vale. Opened in 1932, later renamed Odeon, closed in 1981 and demolished in 1991. The largest cinema in Lewisham, it initially had 3050 seats.
Prince of Wales Cinema, 210 Lewisham High Road. Opened in 1922, closed in 1959 and later demolished.
King’s Hall, 15 High Street, Lewisham. Opened in 1912, bomb-damaged during the second world war. Later known as the Rex Cinema, then Studio 6 & 7. Closed in 1986 and was later demolished. A new house and an access road (Kings Hall Mews) were built on the site.
Rex Cinema, later renamed Studios 6/7, 15 Lewisham High Street. Opened in 1950, closed in 1986 and demolished in 1988.
Catford
The Eros Cinema, 135-137 Rushey Green, Catford. Opened in 1952 in what used to be known as the Hippodrome (which also showed films between 1931 and 1933). Closed in 1959 and was demolished in 1960. The Eros House now sits on the cinema’s location.
The Electric Picture Palace, 8 Sangley Road in Catford. Opened in 1909. It closed in 1914, the building was demolished in the 1990s and replaced by a bloc of flats.
Deptford
The Deptford Odeon was opened in 1938 on the site of a former the cinema, the Palladium. One of Lewisham’s largest cinemas, the Deptford Odeon had a capacity of ca. 1700. It closed in 1970 and was demolished in 1988. Shops and flats have replaced it.
Broadway Theatre, 496 New Cross Road in Deptford. Converted into a cinema in 1911. In 1955, it was renamed the Century Cinema. It closed in 1960. Demolished in 1963, the theatre was replaced with a row of shops.
The New Cross Empire, 483-489 New Cross Road. Closed in 1954 and later demolished. Currently a hand car wash business.
Brockley
The Ritz, 7 Coulgate Road in Brockley. Opened in 1913 as the Brockley Picture Theatre. Later used to be known as Giralda Cinema and New Palladium Cinema. Closed in 1960 and demolished. Now a MOT centre.
Forest Hill
Stanstead Picture Palace, 12 Wastdale Road in Forest Hill. Opened in 1913, it had a capacity of 825. Later known as the Astoria Cinema, Balmoral Cinema and New Astoria Cinema. Closed in 1955, demolished and replaced with housing.
Sydenham
The Queen’s Hall Electric Theatre, formerly 22-23 Empire Parade in Sydenham. Opened in 1910. Later re-named the Classic Cinema, then the Naborhood Cinema. Closed in 1943 after being damaged by bombing. Demolished in 1953. The site is now occupied by the the Post Office and the Narborhood Centre (whose name was inspired by the cinema’s last name).
The State Cinema, Sydenham Road. Opened in 1931 with a capacity of over a thousand, taken over by the Granada chain in 1949 and then renamed the Granada, it closed in 1971 and was later demolished. The site, on the corner of Girton Road, is now occupied by Somerfield.
Lee
The Imperial Picture Theatre, 404/408 High Road in Lee. Opened in 1913. Later renamed the Savoy and the Pullman Cinema. Closed in 1959 and demolished in 1986. The Sainsbury’s supermarket stands on the site today.
Downham
The Splendid, Bromley Road, Downham. Opened in 1930. It had a capacity of 2244. Closed in 1957, the site is now occupied by a petrol station.
Map of former cinemas in Lewisham
This interactive map shows the locations of a most old cinema venues in Lewisham with further information, pictures and links.
If you are interested to learn more about the history of cinemas in Lewisham, we recommend two booklets written by local historian Ken George (Two Sixpennies Please: Lewisham’s Early Cinemas and The Big Five: Lewisham’s Super Cinemas, available from the Lewisham libraries) as well as cinematreasures, the London Project and, for archive photographs, dusashenka.
All photos and photomontages are copyrighted. With thanks to the Lewisham Local History & Archive Centre and dusashenka.
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Pingback: Photography and History « Claire Barthelemy
I just recently moved to Brockley and had no idea about this. Nice post!
http://clairebarthelemy.wordpress.com/2011/01/30/photography-and-history/
Thanks for your comment Claire, and welcome to Brockley! Hopefully see you soon at the Jack!
The loss of these (well many of them) is like a catalogue of crimes against architecture. Is it the only London Borough without a cinema now?
Not sure that made grammatical sense but you get the drift. Any old cinema buildings left? The Rivoli was a cinema at one time wasn’t it or was it always a ballroom? Also there is still the New Cross Kinema (AKA The Venue).
Hello James, there are quite a few buildings still standing, like the Rivoli and the Venue as you correctly suggested, as well as the Coronet in Forest Hilll, the Globe in Hither Green, the ABC/Cannon in Catford and a few others. We will add some info about the remaining buildings to this page soon. We will also double-check but our understanding is that Lewisham, with Waltham Forest, are the only two London boroughs without a permanent cinema.
I am excited about your idea.Used to live in Lewisham a while back. I like exploring urban history encoded in the structure of our surroundings.
What a great project! Thanks for sharing this, and what a loss some of those buildings are – that deco Deptford Odeon was amazing!
Absolutely great feature, I worked at some of these cinemas, & have a considerable knowledge of many of them, especially the Hippodrome. I am a regular contributor to The Cinema Theatre Association. I am not a professional speaker, but, would be most happy to speak on the subject of Lewisham cinema history. Gery Collins.
This is a very interesting site – very enterprising to superimpose the old images of these long forgotten cinemas in their modern (former) settings. I knew, or know of all of these places, and the Lewisham Odeon was the first cinema that I was ever taken to (I later attended the Saturday Morning “Super Show” there). Thanks for the memories! The Rink Cinema at Sydenham, in Silverdale, would have been another good one, if you have a photo.
Don’t forget the Park Cinema in Hither Green Lane. The building is still there, opposite the entrance to the old Park Hospital. I spent many happy hours in what was known as the ‘local flea pit’ in the 1950s, similarly the Savoy at Lee Green which you mention and most of the others. I think there was also a small cinema next to the Eros at Catford which was, certainly in the 50s/60s anyway, known as the Gaumont Catford. Just for info, I worked for the ABC chain in the 60s as an assistant manager (in the days when we had to look like managers and put on evening dress after 6.30) and worked at the ABC Beckenham, ABC Croydon, Capitol Forest Hill and the Ritz at Chatham. Beckenham still survives today in all its Art Deco splendour, albeit converted to multi-screen. Thanks for the time and effort you have put into this; brings back many happy memories.
Ray Dunkley
I remember most of these cinemas, and the closing of some.
I was an ABC minor in the early 60s.
Spencer: Thank you for your post. Unfortunately, I haven’t found a good archive photograph of the Rink Cinema in Sydenham to produce a montage. If anyone was in possession of one, please get in touch!
Wonderful project Jack, enjoyed very much. I lived next to the Lewisham Odeon in those flats above the shops (all gone now) before and after it was demolished. With friends I used to explore the interior, which was hauntingly ‘enigmatic’ as it had been shut down for years and by torch light we always seemed to discover a new aspect each time we went in. I remember after sometime we discovered the old Paradise Garage disco – with mirror balls still in place! What a shame it is no more (who was it who said nothing devours history as much as car parks?). I was in the area recently (after last being there in 96/97) and noticed that the old (ghastly) CitiBank building is looking empty and unused (am I correct?), ironic. I don’t think many would mourn, should it share the same fate as the odeon… Thanks.
Thanks for sharing your memories Craig! I understand that the CitiBank building “is currently used as a decant office to relocate staff and operations in the event of problems at the main Citibank office in Canary Wharf” (the Deputy Mayor’s words).
Such beautiful buildings (on the whole), replaced with something much worse (on the whole). Great Gallery.
Can anybody please help me in finding the excact location of Mr Smith’s club in Rushey Green SE6. I am guessing it was on the site where Eros House now stands near the old Hippadrome?
I have since been informed it may have been at 75 Rushey Green SE6 and was previously the Savoy / Witchdoctor. Can anybody confirm this and the excact Location.
Thank you in advance for all your help.
Mark.
Mark, the Savoy ballroom,later Mr Smiths was at 75 Rushey Green , If you google earth it you will find it is still there, but, as a shop named Mattuci. It was a ballroom before the war, during the war it was taken over by the government for social services, indeed my Mum went there regularly to get her orange juice & cod liver oil allowance for us kids. I believe it remained closed after the war & was later reopened as Mr Smiths , for dancing & gaming,not too reputable , in fact, i think someone was murdered there. Incidently I am trying to assemble a history of the Lewisham Hippodrome formerly situated on the corner of Brownhill road & Rushey Green. If any one has photos or programmes or anything to do with this Frank Matcham theatre I would love to hear from you…Gery Collins.
Hi Gery,
Thank you so much for your reply and excellent information.
You have now confirmed what I thought that Mr Smith’s was at 75 Rushey Green, I was getting it confused with the Hippodrome which I believe once stood where Eros House now stands.
You are correct regarding a murder taking place there. I believe through history books I have been reading that the murder took place on the 8th March 1966 in the early hours of the morning.
There was a gangland fight which started inside the club between to rival London gangs and I believe the one who was murdered was a close associate of the Krays.
Thank you once again for your kind help and like wise if you know of any links to pictures of this club during it’s heyday please let me know. If I find any local pictures of the Hippodrome I will contact you.
Kind regards,
Mark.
can anyone remember the name of the club before it became mr smiths,
Hi Bernard,
From information I have received I believe it was called the Witchdoctor before Mr Smiths.
I was famous for many well known 1960′s Bands who played there.
I believe this information to be correct but if anybody knows different please correct me.
hi thank you for your information, been scratching my head for ages trying to remember it,,,
0this is super
Fantastic memories, I got thrown out of Sydenham Granada for lighting matches and I remember when we would sneak friends in the exit door. Great days
Born & raised in Borough of Lewisham all my life, I remember some of them But I think you forgot one there was a Cinema on the corner of Bromley Plassy rd which is now been converted into a church. Thanks for posting, Great memories. :-)
Fasinating research and really innovative way to illustrate it … shame on Lewisham Council no cinema …. we missed the development boat on Lewisham 2000 … as we used to joke Lewisham 3000 is more like it …
This a brilliant archive. We must send you the photos of the old Park cinema in Hither Green
This is a superb archive! Much appreciated…
You may well be interested to check out our facebook page “Cinema for Camberwell Green”
Our photos folder “Great Lost Cinemas of South East London” doesn’t just concentrate on Southwark but Lewisham too. We have some spectacular photos of the Deptford & Lewisham Odeons as well as the ABC/Capitol in Forest Hill. Enjoy!
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.317226466967.156514.314480941967&type=3