EMD (Granada) Walthamstow
Encyclopedia
The EMD cinema
on Hoe Street, Walthamstow
, was opened on 15 September 1930. There has been an arts venue on the site for over 100 Years. The original building opened in May 1887 as a meetings and performing arts venue. The (original) cinema was one of the first venues to broadcast a film in the year of film's birth, 1896. It was made into the areas first full time cinema in 1906.
Grade II listed) had 2,697 seats and was opened as the Granada Cinema, with flamboyant interior decorations by the Russian stage designer Theodore Komisarjevsky
, on 15 September 1930.
until it was sold to EMD cinemas in 2000.
(UCKG), but since then the building has been empty due a local campaign against it gaining planning permission.
in situ.
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
on Hoe Street, Walthamstow
Walthamstow
Walthamstow is a district of northeast London, England, located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. It is situated north-east of Charing Cross...
, was opened on 15 September 1930. There has been an arts venue on the site for over 100 Years. The original building opened in May 1887 as a meetings and performing arts venue. The (original) cinema was one of the first venues to broadcast a film in the year of film's birth, 1896. It was made into the areas first full time cinema in 1906.
Refurbishment 1930
In 1930 the Victoria Hall was purchased by Granada Theatres who decided to reinvent the site as a modern 'Super Cinema'. The new cinema (English HeritageEnglish Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
Grade II listed) had 2,697 seats and was opened as the Granada Cinema, with flamboyant interior decorations by the Russian stage designer Theodore Komisarjevsky
Theodore Komisarjevsky
Fyodor Fyodorovich Komissarzhevsky or Theodore Komisarjevsky, as he is better known in the West, was a Russian theatrical director and designer. He began his career in Moscow, but had his greatest influence in London...
, on 15 September 1930.
Refurbishment 1970s
The cinema was then refurbished in the 1970s to suit the tastes of the time, but retained the architectural features for which it became famous. The cinema was split up into three cinemas (one before) putting a partition under the circle and halving it, making two smaller cinemas and a large theatre for blockbusters.Ownership changes
In 1989 the cinema became part of The Cannon Group and then OdeonOdeon Cinemas
Odeon Cinemas is a British chain of cinemas, one of the largest in Europe. It is owned by Odeon & UCI Cinemas Group whose ultimate parent is Terra Firma Capital Partners.-History:Odeon Cinemas was created in 1928 by Oscar Deutsch...
until it was sold to EMD cinemas in 2000.
Closure
In 2003 the cinema was closed and bought by the Universal Church of the Kingdom of GodUniversal Church of the Kingdom of God
Universal Church of the Kingdom of God is a Pentecostal Christian organisation established in Brazil on July 9, 1977, with a presence in many countries...
(UCKG), but since then the building has been empty due a local campaign against it gaining planning permission.
Reopening campaign
Local activists are still protesting to this day for the building to be reopened for the purpose it was built. The EMD Cinema is the only British venue to have an original Christie theatre organTheatre organ
A theatre organ is a pipe organ originally designed specifically for imitation of an orchestra. New designs have tended to be around some of the sounds and blends unique to the instrument itself....
in situ.