Astoria (London)

• Theatre ID
  3055
• Built / Converted
  1930
• Dates of use
  • 1967 - 1978
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  Cinema (eight-screen cinema)
• Address
  Streatham High Road, Lambeth, London, SW16, England

Details

The theatre was one of the four London Astorias (the others being Brixton, Old Kent Road and Finsbury Park), and although subdivided into eight screens and heavily altered, it is the only Astoria still to be in cinematic use. The four London Astorias were taken over by Paramount in 1931. Grand and imposing frontage in Italianate style in brick with stone facings (similar to Stone's Prince Edward Theatre, West End). The interior was in atmospheric style with an Egyptian feel. Full stage facilities, orchestra pit and Compton organ. There was a restaurant and an elegant ladies' rest room decorated with plaster murals depicting Egyptian scenes. The whole interior had coloured architectural lighting. The Streatham house was home to the London Festival Ballet in 1967-68, followed by a couple of big pantomime seasons. In the early 1970s it was home to major pop concerts. Tripling in 1979 ceased live use, and the addition of further screens in 1999 and 2001 rendered the interior a total reconstruction.

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• Other names
  Odeon
• Events
  • 1967 - 1978 Use:
  • 1930 Design/Construction:
    • Edward Stone - Architect
  • 1961 Alteration: modernisation resulting in destruction of atmospheric decoration
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1979 Alteration: tripled, ending stage use
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1991 Alteration: & additional alterations to provide more screens
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1931 Owner/Management: Paramount
  • 1939 Owner/Management: Odeon
• Listings
  • Grade Not listed
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: Depth: (was) 38ft Width: (was) 78ft
  • Height to grid: (was) 69ft