Discovering the long lost cinemas of Hackney
The Rio Cinema in 1985
More films are probably watched in the current era than at any other time in movie history – the majority on TV screens, computers, tablets and even mobile phones.
But to experience the splendour of cinema on the big screen there are only two places in Hackney: the Rio on Kingsland High Street and Hackney Picturehouse on Mare Street.
This wasn’t always the case. Over 60 cinemas have existed at one time or another within Hackney, and although all 60 were never in operation at the same time, there were around 30 cinemas operating in the golden years between 1920 and 1950. It is difficult to imagine stepping out onto Kingsland Road or Mare Street on a Saturday night and having 30 cinemas from which to choose!
Many of the Hackney cinemas opened during a flurry of entrepreneurial activity just before the First World War. There were extraordinary profits to be made; it was like a gold rush and numerous speculators and opportunists were all trying to get in on the cinema act. Film historian Luke McKernan called it “a phase of greedy speculation in cinema building”, with 52 cinemas established in Hackney in seven years, between 1907 and 1914.
Above: The Electric Picture Palace (boarded up, left) and the Hackney Picture Palace around 1914. Below: the site of the former cinemas on Mare Street today.”
Above: Hackney Pavilion on Mare Street circa 1960. The cinema opened in 1914. Below: The site of the former cinema. which is now a bank, today
Some were converted shops, chapels, churches and skating rinks, whilst others were struggling theatres and music halls eager to boost audiences and cash in on the phenomenon of moving pictures by installing screens and projectors. Still more were new, purpose-built cinemas. Although some closed down after a few years (their owners seemingly took the money and run), there was another flurry of cinema activity in the 1930s, when six luxurious ‘super’ cinemas were opened, with elegant art deco architecture and lavish interiors.
The Odeon on 211 Hackney Road, which later became a Mecca Bingo. Below: the same site, which is set to become flats, in 2016
Above: The ABC (formerly Regal) on Mare Street in 1970. Below: site of the former cinema today
These were the Regent (later renamed the Odeon) in Stamford Hill, the Regal (later the ABC) on Mare Street, the Savoy on Stoke Newington Road (later also an ABC), the Odeon on Hackney Road, the Ritz (again renamed the ABC) in Stamford Hill and finally the Odeon Dalston, along Kingsland Road, close to Dalston Junction. With gigantic interiors and massive screens, Hackney cinemagoers could wallow in the dark in warmth and comfort as the films unspooled.
Above: The Regent in Stamford Hill, which opened in 1929. Below: Sainsbury’s, which occupies the same site today
It is generally thought that the decline in cinema attendance in the 1950s was the result of the boom in television (the birth in fact of electronic home entertainment), but this is only part of the story.
Bombing during the Second World War had destroyed over a million buildings in London, and left 1.2 million Londoners homeless. As families moved to new towns such as Stevenage, Harlow, Hatfield and Basildon, communities broke up and traditional work and leisure patterns eroded. Cinema-going and many other pursuits were abandoned or displaced. By 1970 there were just nine cinemas in Hackney and by 1980 only three remained. When I left the Rio in 1989, it was down to one: the Rio was the only cinema still operating in the borough. But again leisure patterns have changed, and that number has now doubled.
Today there are campaigns and plans to restore both the Clapton Cinematograph Theatre (the Kenning Hall cinema) and the Castle in Brooksbys Walk. If successful, an additional two cinema venues in the borough will mean that the opportunities for Hackney residents to see films on the big screen will have doubled yet again!
The accompanying pictures show some of Hackney’s glorious cinemas; how they once looked, and how the sites look now. If you have any memories of cinemas and cinema-going in Hackney, leave a message in the comments below.
This article is based on a talk given to the Friends of Hackney Archives on 7 September 2016.
Photo credits: Hackney Archives, Cinema Theatres Association, Cinema Treasures
For further information about the Clapton Cinematograph Theatre campaign, visit saveourcinema.org/ and for the Castle Cinema see kickstarter.com/projects/pillowcinema/revive-the-castle-cinema
ABC cinema (formerly Savoy) on Stoke Newington Road in 1963. Below: Efes snooker club, which operates on the same site today
Above: Coliseum cinema at 31-33 Stoke Newington Road in 1970. Below: the same site 15 years on in 1985
Odeon Dalston on Stamford Road in 1948. Below: the site today
Above: The 1928 film Why Sailors Go Wrong plays at Stamford Hill Cinema. Below: Asda, on the site of the cinema today
You didn’t include the Plaza cinema which was situated in Kingsland Road. Site now a bus garage for the 488 bus.
There was a ‘flea pit’ on Goldsmiths Row, which became a snooker hall.
I remember the Gaumont in Dalston Lane (site is now occupied by the new library). This cinema had an electric organ which played on some nights. We used to get value for money in those far offr days. Going to the pictures was a wonderful night out, even during the war, especially if the picture was in technicolour. I would sit entranced staring at the screen. Then to come out into the black night, no lights anywhere, what a contrast!
Can I add the ABC clapton pond, the flee pit next door, name i cant remember. I have photos of all these and more – I did my discertation on cinema architecture in the 70’s-
Are you a member of the Cinema Theatre Association Patrick Hendricks? Your dissertation of cinema architecture in the 70s sounds very interesting and I’m sure other members of the CTA would agree.
I am hoping someone can help my 2nd g grandfather died outside a picture house in dalston 2nd october 1931 after watching a film but cant find which one any help would be a graet help if any help he lived on bolyen road so was maybe near there
I’m writing an article about the South Hackney Picture Palace (later called the South Hackney Odeon) which was on the corner of Cassland Road and Well Street and closed in 1941. I only have one photo of the cinema – does anyone know of any photos (or more info) anywhere (I have searched the Hackney Archives to no avail)? The article is going to be in Garageland Magazine and there will also be a day of talks called Ghost Cinema at Transition Gallery in Hackney on 13 May 2017 if anyone is interested
There was also the Rink on Lower Clapton Road, site now occupied by a filling station, not forgetting the Essoldo at St Thomas’s Square, replaced with halls of residence.
I lived on the corner of Cassland road and Wells Street. It was maisonettes called Lever Court, never knew there was a Cinema on the sight. Would love to see picture of that, we moved there in 1962
it was bombed during the war and as a kid it was our favourite bombed site!
I would lovc to see the picture you have!
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e0ab43e32e68f1b48a1e4a87218bbc3e61c7ba62f1dc722f306325a95f8af660.jpg
I only have this image which is from The Hackney Archives
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e0ab43e32e68f1b48a1e4a87218bbc3e61c7ba62f1dc722f306325a95f8af660.jpg
Thank you so much Cathy. I’ve now found a pdf “Ghost cinema” which is very interesting too!
Thought I’d said thank you yesterday. Maybe not
Many thanks Cathy!