Now a while ago I set down a challenge to find some of our lost cinemas, and quick as a flash Tricia came back with a first and the promise to find more.
So here is what she said and what I know about the Cinematographe in Plumstead High Street.
“That sort of challenge is right up my street Andrew.
I will dig out my many maps of Plumstead & Woolwich & find one for 1913. The first time I ever went to the pictures was at the Cinematographe in Plumstead High Street although it was called the Plaza in the 1950's.
I saw Bambi, I still remember sitting there sobbing when his mummy died.
The Plaza was more or less where Iceland is now. It had one screen & seated 528 people. The second time
I went to the pictures was to see Tom Thumb at the Century Cinema which although was classed as being on Plumstead High Street it was set back and I think the entrance was in Garibaldi Street.
That was a larger cinema than the Plaza although it still only had one screen and seated 913.
It closed in 1960 after which the building was many things, in 2012 it was demolished & is now flats. The images are of the Century the second image after it closed but before it was demolished.”
And that I think has set me off on a new series, Lost cinemas of Plumstead, which might well become Lost cinemas of south east London.**
Location; Plumstead
Pictures; from the collection of Tricia Lesley
*Off to the “flicks” in the winter of 1913 and a challenge for today https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/off-to-flicks-in-winter-of-1913-and.html
**Lost cinemas of Plumstead, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Lost%20cinemas%20of%20Plumsted
Lost cinemas of south east London. https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Lost%20cinemas%20of%20south%20east%20London
So here is what she said and what I know about the Cinematographe in Plumstead High Street.
 |
| The Cinematographe |
I will dig out my many maps of Plumstead & Woolwich & find one for 1913. The first time I ever went to the pictures was at the Cinematographe in Plumstead High Street although it was called the Plaza in the 1950's.
I saw Bambi, I still remember sitting there sobbing when his mummy died.
The Plaza was more or less where Iceland is now. It had one screen & seated 528 people. The second time
 |
| And just before i it was demolished in 2012 |
That was a larger cinema than the Plaza although it still only had one screen and seated 913.
It closed in 1960 after which the building was many things, in 2012 it was demolished & is now flats. The images are of the Century the second image after it closed but before it was demolished.”
And that I think has set me off on a new series, Lost cinemas of Plumstead, which might well become Lost cinemas of south east London.**
Location; Plumstead
Pictures; from the collection of Tricia Lesley
*Off to the “flicks” in the winter of 1913 and a challenge for today https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/off-to-flicks-in-winter-of-1913-and.html
**Lost cinemas of Plumstead, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Lost%20cinemas%20of%20Plumsted
Lost cinemas of south east London. https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Lost%20cinemas%20of%20south%20east%20London
I alway's thought that the Plaza was the larger of the two ! because it had a balcony. It was certainly the posher with it's Brass, and red drape !
ReplyDeleteThe two lost cinemas in Welling were the Granada, Bellegrove Rd and the Odeon, Upper Wickham Street.
ReplyDelete