Gaumont (London)

• Theatre ID
  2780
• Built / Converted
  1938
• Dates of use
  • 1938 - 1944
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  Cinema (multi-screen cinema)
• Address
  417-427 Holloway Road, Islington, London, N7 6LJ, England

Details

Built on a prime corner site in Holloway Road (which had been purchased for another Astoria) and to plans scaled-down because of the impending war, the cinema opened as the last Gaumont Palace. The massive square tower which was equipped with a broadcasting studio was on a huge scale; the lower part contained a caféith a loggia terrace and underneath was a foyer which could accommodate 2000. This had huge Corinthian capitals, painted panelling, a massive sweeping staircase to balcony level with decorative staircases, under a huge dome, lit with chandeliers. The auditorium was similarly grandly decorated. There was a Wurlitzer organ and full stage facilities. In 1944 the auditorium was extensively damaged by a flying bomb and was later rebuilt in plain style, reopening in 1958. Today the grand exterior and foyer remain and the auditorium had been subdivided, with the stage area and the cafélso used for auditoria. However, the fly tower and stage facilities remain intact in spite of the the present use of the stage space.

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• Other names
  Odeon
• Events
  • 1938 - 1944 Use:
  • 1938 Design/Construction:
    • C Howard Crane - Architect
  • 1938 Alteration: ‘later alterations’
    • W E Trent - Architect
  • 1958 Alteration: auditorium rebuilt after war damage
    • T P Bennett & Son - Architect
  • Owner/Management: Gaumont British
  • 1962 Owner/Management: Odeon
• Capacities
  • Original: 3006
  • Later: 1958: 1987
• Listings
  • Grade Not listed
• Stage type
  • Proscenium flat