Rainbow Theatre (Finsbury Park)
Encyclopedia
The Rainbow Theatre is a Grade II*-listed building, in the Finsbury Park
area of North London
. Built as a cinema in 1930, it later became well known as a music venue
and is now a Pentecostal church.
built by film exhibitor Arthur Segal. It was opened on 29 September 1930: there were three other Astorias, Streatham
, Old Kent Road
and Brixton
. It was in use as a cinema until September 1971 when it was permanently given over to live music - although rock concerts had been a feature throughout the 1960s.
The plain faience
exterior, designed by Edward A. Stone, acted as a foil to a lavish 'atmospheric interior' by Somerford & Barr, with decoration carried out by Marc-Henri and G. Laverdet. A Moorish
foyer with a goldfish-filled fountain
(which survives today) led to an auditorium recalling an Andalucian
village at night, with seating for 3,040. The stage, 35 feet (10.7 m) deep and spanned by a 64 feet (19.5 m) proscenium
arch, was equipped with a twin-console Compton 3-manual/13-rank theatre organ (opened by G. T. Pattman). Backstage, there were 12 dressing rooms. The opening night, 29 September 1930, featured Ronald Colman
in Condemned and a Gala Stage Spectacle, with artists from the other Astoria Theatres making a special engagement on the stage.
In December 1930, the Astoria was taken over by Paramount Pictures
. It was taken over again, on 27 November 1939, by Oscar Deutsch's Odeon Theatres
Ltd.
It was at this theatre that Jimi Hendrix
first burnt a guitar, with the collusion of his manager Chas Chandler
and a journalist from NME
. Press officer Anthony Garland was dispatched to purchase lighter fluid and Jimi proceeded to set fire to his Fender Stratocaster
guitar on 31 March 1967 on the opening night of the Walker Brothers
tour, resulting in a hospital appointment for Jimi's burnt fingers and a moment that set the precedent for rock performances. Jimi later repeated the stunt at Monterey. Despite press commentary that Frank Zappa
was handed the burnt Astoria/Miami guitar it is highly unlikely that months after the stunt, the guitar was taken to Miami. When Jimi left the stage at The Finsbury Astoria, the guitar was intact apart from burns. The guitar handed to Frank Zappa in Miami was a burnt body without a neck. The Beach Boys
' album, Live In London, was recorded here in 1968.
on 25 September 1971 with Bill Travers in Gorgo and Hayley Mills in Twisted Nerve. It was converted into the Rainbow Theatre from 4 November 1971, when The Who
performed the first concert in the newly named theatre.
Pink Floyd
went for a four-night stand at the venue during the beginning of their Eclipsed Tour, on which its main set is mostly known as the "pre-Dark Side Of The Moon" set, from February 17 to 20, 1972. The last night performance was partially broadcast on BBC Radio. Also, on April 11, 1973 the band performed two concerts in order to promote their now ready Dark Side Of The Moon album.
Yes
filmed their concerts on 15 and 16 December 1972 at the Rainbow for the 1975 film release "Yessongs". This is not necessarily the same recordings used for the triple live album Yessongs
which was recorded from February through December of 1972, and released in 1973. However, the two performances that are the same on the album and the film are "Close to the Edge" and "Würm".
Queen
recorded a concert in 1974 called Live At The Rainbow
Genesis
performed many times at the Rainbow over their career. One of their most famous concerts was "Live at the Rainbow Theatre"; October 20, 1973. The concert recording was included on the first Genesis Archive set, released in 1998. On January 1, 1977; Genesis also performed Wot Gorilla?- a Track from Wind & Wuthering
. The performance of this song on January 1, 1977 is the only known live recording of the song played on the 1977 tour.
The Sweet also appeared at the Rainbow Theatre on December 21st 1973 and subsequently released a live album called " Live At The Rainbow 1973"
Van Morrison
performed two nights at this venue in July 1973, with his band at the time The Caledonia Soul Orchestra
. The second of the performances was broadcast in May 1974, as the first ever simultaneous broadcast, on BBC 2 and Radio 2. The concert was voted by Q Magazine
readers as one of the top live performances of all time. Several of the songs featured in the two concerts were included in Morrison's 1974 double live album It's Too Late to Stop Now
.
Kool & The Gang
recorded three live tracks at the Rainbow for their Love & Understanding
album, released in 1976.
In 1977, the Ramones
played a gig at the venue that was recorded and released as the It's Alive album.
August 1977 Little Feat
played 4 nights there, 1st-4th, with the Tower of Power
horn section. The concerts were recorded and some material was later released on "Waiting for Columbus". Mick Taylor
was guest guitarist on night 3 and played on 2 songs, "A Apolitical Blues" & "Teenage Nervous Breakdown".
Bob Marley & The Wailers played on June 1,2,3 and 4 1977 in The Rainbow Theatre, as part of the Exodus Tour. The last show of the tour has been released as an album titled 'Bob Marley and the Wailers Live! at the Rainbow. Thanks largely to this album Bob Marley was established as the Third World's first superstar, a legacy that survives thirty years after the album's release. In the UK alone it stayed on the chart for 56 consecutive weeks and birthed 3 hit singles. Song list: Trench Town Rock; Them Belly Full (But We Hungry) I Shot The Sheriff; Rebel Music (3 O' Clock Roadblock); Lively Up Yourself; Crazy Baldhead; War/No More trouble; The Heathen;No Woman, No Cry
Jamming; Get Up, Stand Up;ExodusIn 1991, the documentary 'Bob Marley and the Wailers Live!' at the Rainbow was released, directed by Keef.
Thin Lizzy
recorded part of their "Live and Dangerous
" album at the Rainbow in 1977. Classic Rock magazine readers voted Thin Lizzy's acclaimed 1978 album "Live and Dangerous" the best live rock album of all time.
Part of Stiff Little Fingers'
first live album, Hanx!
was recorded at the Rainbow in 1980.
The building had been the subject of a preservation order in the 1970s and the management company that operated the venue was unable to maintain it to the required standard. The building was closed permanently in 1982, although there were plans for its conversion to a bingo hall.
In 1995, the building was bought by the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God
and is now used for religious ceremonies.
Occasional films were screened, including "Jimi Plays Berkley in January 1972, the World Premiere of the Leonard Cohen film Bird on a Wire on 5 July 1974, and Paul McCartney
's Wings, which was the last film to be screened at the Rainbow Theatre, on 10 August 1979.
The dramatic climax to the 1980 British film Breaking Glass was shot here. Directed by Brian Gibson, it starred Hazel O'Connor
, Phil Daniels
and Jonathan Pryce
.
beat Roy Shaw
in a dramatic first round knockout
.
, a controversial Brazil
ian Pentecostal church. They began work restoring the building and turning it into a church. The auditorium restoration was the last phase to be completed, in 1999, and the theatre is now the main base for UCKG in the UK.
Finsbury Park, London
Finsbury Park is an area in north London, England which grew up around an important railway interchange at the junction of the London Boroughs of Islington, Haringey and Hackney...
area of North London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
. Built as a cinema in 1930, it later became well known as a music venue
Music venue
A music venue is any location used for a concert or musical performance. Music venues range in size and location, from an outdoor bandshell or bandstand or a concert hall to an indoor sports stadium. Typically, different types of venues host different genres of music...
and is now a Pentecostal church.
Cinema
When it opened in 1930, the Astoria Cinema was one of the largest in the world. Standing at the junction of Isledon Road and Seven Sisters Road on an island site, it was the fourth of the famous London suburban Astoria TheatresLondon Astoria
The London Astoria was a music venue, located at 157 Charing Cross Road, in London, England. It had been leased and run by Festival Republic since 2000. It was closed on 15 January 2009 and has since been demolished...
built by film exhibitor Arthur Segal. It was opened on 29 September 1930: there were three other Astorias, Streatham
Streatham
Streatham is a district in Surrey, England, located in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is situated south of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
, Old Kent Road
Old Kent Road
The Old Kent Road is a road in South East London, England and forms part of Watling Street, the Roman road which ran from Dover to Holyhead. The street is famous as the equal cheapest property on the London Monopoly board and as the only one in South London....
and Brixton
Brixton
Brixton is a district in the London Borough of Lambeth in south London, England. It is south south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
. It was in use as a cinema until September 1971 when it was permanently given over to live music - although rock concerts had been a feature throughout the 1960s.
The plain faience
Faience
Faience or faïence is the conventional name in English for fine tin-glazed pottery on a delicate pale buff earthenware body, originally associated with Faenza in northern Italy. The invention of a white pottery glaze suitable for painted decoration, by the addition of an oxide of tin to the slip...
exterior, designed by Edward A. Stone, acted as a foil to a lavish 'atmospheric interior' by Somerford & Barr, with decoration carried out by Marc-Henri and G. Laverdet. A Moorish
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
foyer with a goldfish-filled fountain
Fountain
A fountain is a piece of architecture which pours water into a basin or jets it into the air either to supply drinking water or for decorative or dramatic effect....
(which survives today) led to an auditorium recalling an Andalucian
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
village at night, with seating for 3,040. The stage, 35 feet (10.7 m) deep and spanned by a 64 feet (19.5 m) proscenium
Proscenium
A proscenium theatre is a theatre space whose primary feature is a large frame or arch , which is located at or near the front of the stage...
arch, was equipped with a twin-console Compton 3-manual/13-rank theatre organ (opened by G. T. Pattman). Backstage, there were 12 dressing rooms. The opening night, 29 September 1930, featured Ronald Colman
Ronald Colman
Ronald Charles Colman was an English actor.-Early years:He was born in Richmond, Surrey, England, the second son and fourth child of Charles Colman and his wife Marjory Read Fraser. His siblings included Eric, Edith, and Marjorie. He was educated at boarding school in Littlehampton, where he...
in Condemned and a Gala Stage Spectacle, with artists from the other Astoria Theatres making a special engagement on the stage.
In December 1930, the Astoria was taken over by Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
. It was taken over again, on 27 November 1939, by Oscar Deutsch's Odeon Theatres
Odeon 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...
Ltd.
Music venue: 1960s
One-night concerts were held on the stage in the 1960s, with the building becoming one of the premier music venues in the capital.It was at this theatre that Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
first burnt a guitar, with the collusion of his manager Chas Chandler
Chas Chandler
Bryan James "Chas" Chandler was an English musician, record producer and manager of several successful music acts....
and a journalist from NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
. Press officer Anthony Garland was dispatched to purchase lighter fluid and Jimi proceeded to set fire to his Fender Stratocaster
Fender Stratocaster
The Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top...
guitar on 31 March 1967 on the opening night of the Walker Brothers
The Walker Brothers
The Walker Brothers were an American 1960s and 1970s pop group, comprising Scott Engel , John Walker , and Gary Leeds...
tour, resulting in a hospital appointment for Jimi's burnt fingers and a moment that set the precedent for rock performances. Jimi later repeated the stunt at Monterey. Despite press commentary that Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
was handed the burnt Astoria/Miami guitar it is highly unlikely that months after the stunt, the guitar was taken to Miami. When Jimi left the stage at The Finsbury Astoria, the guitar was intact apart from burns. The guitar handed to Frank Zappa in Miami was a burnt body without a neck. The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
' album, Live In London, was recorded here in 1968.
Music venue: 1970s
Re-named Odeon on 17 November 1970, it was closed by the Rank OrganisationRank Organisation
The Rank Organisation was a British entertainment company formed during 1937 and absorbed in 1996 by The Rank Group Plc. It was the largest and most vertically-integrated film company in Britain, owning production, distribution and exhibition facilities....
on 25 September 1971 with Bill Travers in Gorgo and Hayley Mills in Twisted Nerve. It was converted into the Rainbow Theatre from 4 November 1971, when The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
performed the first concert in the newly named theatre.
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
went for a four-night stand at the venue during the beginning of their Eclipsed Tour, on which its main set is mostly known as the "pre-Dark Side Of The Moon" set, from February 17 to 20, 1972. The last night performance was partially broadcast on BBC Radio. Also, on April 11, 1973 the band performed two concerts in order to promote their now ready Dark Side Of The Moon album.
Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
filmed their concerts on 15 and 16 December 1972 at the Rainbow for the 1975 film release "Yessongs". This is not necessarily the same recordings used for the triple live album Yessongs
Yessongs
Yessongs is the first live album from the English progressive rock band Yes, released on Atlantic Records. The album is formed of recordings from their supporting world tours for their studio albums, Fragile and Close to the Edge, between February and December 1972...
which was recorded from February through December of 1972, and released in 1973. However, the two performances that are the same on the album and the film are "Close to the Edge" and "Würm".
Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
recorded a concert in 1974 called Live At The Rainbow
Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
performed many times at the Rainbow over their career. One of their most famous concerts was "Live at the Rainbow Theatre"; October 20, 1973. The concert recording was included on the first Genesis Archive set, released in 1998. On January 1, 1977; Genesis also performed Wot Gorilla?- a Track from Wind & Wuthering
Wind & Wuthering
"It's Yourself" is the B-side to "Your Own Special Way", released February 1977-Related EP:All tracks from the Single Spot the Pigeon 20 May 1977-2007 SACD/CD/DVD Release:...
. The performance of this song on January 1, 1977 is the only known live recording of the song played on the 1977 tour.
The Sweet also appeared at the Rainbow Theatre on December 21st 1973 and subsequently released a live album called " Live At The Rainbow 1973"
Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
performed two nights at this venue in July 1973, with his band at the time The Caledonia Soul Orchestra
The Caledonia Soul Orchestra
The Caledonia Soul Orchestra was the band created by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison in 1973. The band is often considered one of the tightest performing backup groups of the 1970s...
. The second of the performances was broadcast in May 1974, as the first ever simultaneous broadcast, on BBC 2 and Radio 2. The concert was voted by Q Magazine
Q (magazine)
Q is a popular music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom.Founders Mark Ellen and David Hepworth were dismayed by the music press of the time, which they felt was ignoring a generation of older music buyers who were buying CDs — then still a new technology...
readers as one of the top live performances of all time. Several of the songs featured in the two concerts were included in Morrison's 1974 double live album It's Too Late to Stop Now
It's Too Late to Stop Now
It's Too Late to Stop Now is a live album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released in 1974 . Frequently named as one of the best live albums ever recorded, It's Too Late to Stop Now was recorded during what has often been said to be Morrison's greatest phase as a live...
.
Kool & The Gang
Kool & the Gang
Kool & the Gang are an American jazz, R&B, soul, and funk group, originally formed as the Jazziacs in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1964.They went through several musical phases during the course of their recording career, starting out with a purist jazz sound, then becoming practitioners of R&B and...
recorded three live tracks at the Rainbow for their Love & Understanding
Love & Understanding
Love & Understanding is the ninth studio album by the funk band Kool and the Gang, released in 1976. The album had mild success. Three tracks, "Hollywood Swinging", "Summer Madness" and "Universal Sound" were recorded live at the Rainbow Theatre in London, England.The song "Summer Madness" was used...
album, released in 1976.
In 1977, the Ramones
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
played a gig at the venue that was recorded and released as the It's Alive album.
August 1977 Little Feat
Little Feat
Little Feat is an American rock band formed by singer-songwriter, lead vocalist and guitarist Lowell George and keyboardist Bill Payne in 1969 in Los Angeles....
played 4 nights there, 1st-4th, with the Tower of Power
Tower of Power
Tower of Power is an American R&B-based horn section and band, originating in Oakland, California, that has been performing for over 43 years. They are best known for their funky soul sound highlighted by a powerful horn section...
horn section. The concerts were recorded and some material was later released on "Waiting for Columbus". Mick Taylor
Mick Taylor
Michael Kevin "Mick" Taylor is an English musician, best known as a former member of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and The Rolling Stones...
was guest guitarist on night 3 and played on 2 songs, "A Apolitical Blues" & "Teenage Nervous Breakdown".
Bob Marley & The Wailers played on June 1,2,3 and 4 1977 in The Rainbow Theatre, as part of the Exodus Tour. The last show of the tour has been released as an album titled 'Bob Marley and the Wailers Live! at the Rainbow. Thanks largely to this album Bob Marley was established as the Third World's first superstar, a legacy that survives thirty years after the album's release. In the UK alone it stayed on the chart for 56 consecutive weeks and birthed 3 hit singles. Song list: Trench Town Rock; Them Belly Full (But We Hungry) I Shot The Sheriff; Rebel Music (3 O' Clock Roadblock); Lively Up Yourself; Crazy Baldhead; War/No More trouble; The Heathen;No Woman, No Cry
Jamming; Get Up, Stand Up;ExodusIn 1991, the documentary 'Bob Marley and the Wailers Live!' at the Rainbow was released, directed by Keef.
Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums...
recorded part of their "Live and Dangerous
Live and Dangerous
Live and Dangerous is a live double LP by Irish band Thin Lizzy, released in 1978. It was recorded in Philadelphia, London and Toronto in 1977, during the tours accompanying the albums Johnny the Fox and Bad Reputation....
" album at the Rainbow in 1977. Classic Rock magazine readers voted Thin Lizzy's acclaimed 1978 album "Live and Dangerous" the best live rock album of all time.
Part of Stiff Little Fingers'
Stiff Little Fingers
Stiff Little Fingers are a punk rock band from Belfast, Northern Ireland. They formed in 1977, at the height of the Troubles. They started out as a schoolboy band called Highway Star , doing rock covers, until they discovered punk. They split up after six years and four albums, although they...
first live album, Hanx!
Hanx
Hanx! is a live Punk album by the band Stiff Little Fingers, released in 1980 . Originally intended for the American market to introduce the band before they toured there, it was subsequently released at a budget price in the UK as the band were concerned that a lot of their fans would insist on...
was recorded at the Rainbow in 1980.
The building had been the subject of a preservation order in the 1970s and the management company that operated the venue was unable to maintain it to the required standard. The building was closed permanently in 1982, although there were plans for its conversion to a bingo hall.
In 1995, the building was bought by the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God
Universal 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...
and is now used for religious ceremonies.
Occasional films were screened, including "Jimi Plays Berkley in January 1972, the World Premiere of the Leonard Cohen film Bird on a Wire on 5 July 1974, and Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
's Wings, which was the last film to be screened at the Rainbow Theatre, on 10 August 1979.
The dramatic climax to the 1980 British film Breaking Glass was shot here. Directed by Brian Gibson, it starred Hazel O'Connor
Hazel O'Connor
Hazel O'Connor is an English singer-songwriter and actress. She is the daughter of a soldier from Galway who settled in England after World War II to work in a car plant...
, Phil Daniels
Phil Daniels
Philip W. "Phil" Daniels is an English actor, most noted for film and television roles as "cockneys" such as Jimmy in Quadrophenia, Richards in Scum, Stewart in The Class of Miss MacMichael, Mark in Meantime, Kevin Wicks in EastEnders, DCS Frank Patterson in New Tricks and Edward Kitchener "Ted"...
and Jonathan Pryce
Jonathan Pryce
Jonathan Pryce, CBE is a Welsh stage and film actor and singer. After studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and meeting his longtime partner English actress Kate Fahy in 1974, he began his career as a stage actor in the 1970s...
.
Boxing venue
Following the closure of the Rainbow Theatre on 24 December 1981, it was designated a listed building, but lay empty and largely disused for the next 14 years. It was used occasionally in unlicenced boxing matches, most notably in April 1986 when Lenny McLeanLenny McLean
Leonard John "Lenny" McLean , also known as "The Guv'nor," was an East End of London bareknuckle fighter, bouncer, criminal and prisoner, author, businessman, bodyguard, enforcer, weightlifter, television presenter and actor, and has been referred to as "the hardest man in Britain".McLean's...
beat Roy Shaw
Roy Shaw
Royston Henry Shaw , also known as Roy "Pretty Boy" Shaw, Roy "Mean Machine" Shaw and Roy West, is an English millionaire, real estate investor, author and businessman from the East End of London who was formerly a notorious criminal and Category A prisoner...
in a dramatic first round knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
.
Church
In 1995, the building was taken over by its current owners, 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...
, a controversial Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian Pentecostal church. They began work restoring the building and turning it into a church. The auditorium restoration was the last phase to be completed, in 1999, and the theatre is now the main base for UCKG in the UK.
External links
- Astoria, Finsbury Park
- Rainbow Theatre Listing at Cinema Treasures
- http://www.rainbowhistory.x10.mx- A history of The Rainbow/Astoria Finsbury Park, London