Take a look back in time to when a cinema trip was reel fun for all the family
GOING to the cinema was once a weekly trip for families and couples looking for an escape from their hectic lives.
Coventry once boasted around 22 cinemas prior to the devastating bombings of the Second World War.
Nowadays the decline of cinema and the rise of Netflix means the city only has two multiplexes.
We take a look back at some of the city’s cinemas that we loved and have now lost.
ODEON, JORDAN WELL 1931-1999
THE cinema was first known as the Gaumont Palace and incorporated the former Coliseum Ballroom & Cafe.
In 1937, the name was shortened to just the Gaumont. It was closed because of bomb damage in 1940 but was carefully restored and reopened by 1949.
It became an Odeon cinema in 1967 and soon opened two more screens.
The cinema eventually became a five-screen picture house in 1990 but was closed down after the nine screen Odeon opened at the Sky Dome in 1999.
The building is now Coventry University’s Ellen Terry Arts and Media building.
OPERA HOUSE, HALES STREET 1889-1961
THE cinema wasn’t actually opened until 1941.
Prior to becoming a picture house, the Opera House as a theatre built over four levels that could accommodate 2,000 people.
Bombs damaged the building in 1940 and after quick repairs it became a cinema in 1941.
According to archives, there were plans to restore it as a live theatre but this never happened. The Opera House was demolished in 1961.
THE PARIS, FAR GOSFORD STREET 1912-1981
THE Paris started out life as The Crown in 1912 - complete with a giant crown topping the building.
It later became the first Oscar Deutsch in 1925. Deutsch later went on to build up the Odeon cinema chain. However it was only in his possession until 1928.
It was closed in 1940 after air raid damage and again in 1957 for modernisation.
When it opened it was called the Paris Luxury Continental Cinema, nicknamed The Paris.
The cinema never really had an success and changed hands multiple times until its final closure in 1981.
Since then it has suffered severe fire damaged, become a snooker hall and is now a nightclub and live music venue.
REDESDALE, FOLESHILL 1933-1956
THE cinema was first opened in January 1933 and could seat 1,500 in plush surroundings.
It briefly became the Roxy under the guidance of the Philpot chain but reverted to its original name in 1954 when taken back by its original owner W.H. BassettGreen.
Sadly it came to a demise in 1956 and was replaced with The Banba Club. At one time, it was the city’s foremost Irish club and social centre. Another Irish club, The Hibernia Club opened in the Redesdale building when The Banba Club vacated in 1969.
Eventually it became the Tree Tops Club in 1977 hosting Pete Waterman’s Coventry Soul Club and Steampacket rock music nights.
Today, the building is known as the Nanaksar Gurdwara Gursikh Temple.
REX, CORPORATION STREET 1937-1940
THE Rex boasted multiple unusual features like a Wurlitzer organ and tropical birds in an aviary in their restaurant.
It served as Philpot Circuit’s head office until it was damaged during an air raid in August 1940. It was later completely destroyed in November 1940 by German bombs.
It served as an outdoor market space until retail outlets were built over.
RITZ, LONGFORD 1929-1981
THE Dovedale Cinema was the original name of this cinema when it opened in 1929. When it was acquired by Philpot in 1934 it became the Rivoli Cinema. Once again when this cinema was acquire by W. H.Bassett-Green it was renamed Dovedale Cinema.
It became the Ritz in 1956 and was later ran as an Asian cinema from around 1969 to 1981 after being sold.
It now stands abandoned.
RIALTO PLAZA, COUNDON 1928-1940
ORIGINALLY opened in 1928, the Rialto Theatre was part of the Orr circuit. Throughout the years, the cinema expanded eventually being able to accommodate 1,261 punters.
The venue was renamed the Rialto Casino Cinema and a ballroom was built next to the picturehouse
The old Rialto Cinema was flattened in the bombings of 1940. The ballroom still stood and became a bingo club.
For two years between 2006 and 2008, two small screens were set up in two shop units to form a revived Rialto Cinema. GODIVA, TILE HILL 1938-1976
THE cinema was opened in July 1938, named the Standard Luxury Cinema after the Standard motor car works residing opposite the Art Deco behemoth.
It was closed for two weeks in 1940 after the electricity was cut off during raids on the city.
It became the Godiva cinema in 1967 after some internal refurbishments.
Since closing in 1976 it’s been a bingo hall and casino.
ASTORIA, EARLSDON
SITUATED on the corner of Albany Road and Winifred Avenue, the cinema opened in November 1922.
After closing in 1959 it became a furniture warehouse and an office showroom, and is now home to the Nexus music academy.
FORUM, WALSGRAVE 1934-1962
THE Forum opened in November 1934 but by the end of the 1950s and early 60s, audiences had dropped dramatically and the final performance was in May 1962.
Before closing down in 1963, the Moulin Rouge went through a number of identity changes. When it first opened in 1911, the site was called the Imperial Picture Palace.
It was damaged by bombs in 1940 and took six years to repair.
Ten years later it was renamed La Continentale before converting to a members only club knowns as the Moulin Rouge in 1958.