Cinema a century ago was a new, exciting and highly democratic form of entertainment. Picture houses nationwide offered a sociable, lively environment in which to relax and escape from the daily grind. With feature films still rare, the programme was an entertaining, ever-changing roster of short items with live musical accompaniment. Here's a collection of 38 pictures that show how British cinemas have changed in the past 100 years.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2AsfWYz_OIbZ8EoCBKgkmnWYJgm6bra7jioQ1-3NWiseVCGBg7ldzpTbJKoCNuhZvdJgmCakYDc2TFBofIjp0I0eeIFtOlsy_0U7rwjWo1R3wsY-XNIYj9hRdks4k3yz3XOMUBXllFN8/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(1).jpg) |
The Cinema House, Sheffield, 1914 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PwpKBmaVzBqOIHPAUFxmQr_WIu7HZSaX-5LcPiODk27Vd0nhNW3HCTq_ES4P3i943vWIOaSoUD1AEf51SKAFpVX0DpfTEPPhZhSH1dLeDckwFoubwFDXGPilaB7e8qvND8SKLSFI3qg/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(2).jpg) |
The Regent Cinema, Sheffield, 1927 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3EWKsTWb6Q6_RgdHUag8g-tWrYL7BUtfF504jUEwVpI6iH2K-bK3wrCi3TSBMVbuZdJK824nRh7mfmaElmaMYYgx8nYu4YPtc-B5kfFm5jEloOoYm8QohGPK8CUiBj2tF7-iR1IC7ks/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(3).jpg) |
The Regal Cinema, Marble Arch, London, c.1928 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Et4q1sM0OL7RG1WncGl8IdsbpegrA2dUcMKYy2OX9nqmO346QpHrI70vkaUXi2UaYueqq3rlh6JEt3wIKg8KaNDcQJevBRz8OBcL4u_iU1oat654HgK6PXb429cDaV_fAm9bTiREbeY/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(4).jpg) |
The Granada, Tooting, London, c.1931 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZnW3F2sHjbPDsFXBpLwLjLfUd0TAWPhuqqpf-MVHksCYSlDZr5W1YAZeMhuhmfhYt4s80iuXs_dWk1pqZPnNE_A-K4ooQKQmBfEDlSjHH3qIGzMqh9MPr2s1Vz31hXx71hByRr1OQiQ/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(5).jpg) |
Gaumont Palace, King's Road, London, 1934 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHEebB4NdGZt-e6WNygcZwvUKlnNnrX-WhqYteOfc1krnTgH9Ysgix6dhHfqgFgwEH2dOzKrCfRtPxKe7PVgN0oW_c5DUA7qA1-OpFoiSlgbQv5Gm0QDdTi8RbnpD4Doi035gWaTefuY/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(6).jpg) |
The Savoy, Enfield, 1935 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Byb1BLVFXga2HxleFYEoPf8QN0PthOJPcgJwt6GOnP1fTI0dTdgpa9We1CHSwLCHICSl2iMU_DKSvJDwuRoPqwcodk_rgiqFIRAV-9VhhY6_SLV2sD27ace5veYRjVT05WiVA4B9TRY/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(7).jpg) |
The Ritz, Barnsley, 1937 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4nWFRYCsV29PimoHXharIQ99IvEv9YDk7Sv69Fj2HWHmRpQEdRZhmi8LEqcnAACFTsxa7N6ldAQI48x7QS88iNW17duOdR4GsNuvZEDs9dw24bgwk9yH_obehibvB8MXBPtIkwUHz_VU/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(8).jpg) |
Gaumont Holloway, London, c.1937 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQC2zliklE8qhUBxtUU8E6vP3iJCOF6xvqNTSjk7SrwKCkQjcY58DrtYQQJ66e6wZb9JRNo3LQ4GN2fWQ40GLL0weYci0Pp3wHAObuD1TJuRZ-lJMVLEi65XYuTiMWFh5YxW_YAVnQpI/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(9).jpg) |
Clock Cinema, Leeds, 1938 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTzdBZW-pCTxiRQkOrQYvesRAcd2clr0sm_bIysgdBj_wJ8SrgFx0LlBTo4tUMpPY5ZhsXxepxhnjfQMzqBEf2NWKvvLBEyGrPYLtx1gZNp6iRw1xDOmHJOVczP2eQadEmOSHjuWlhKco/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(10).jpg) |
News Theatre (now Tyneside Cinema), Newcastle, 1938 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvvHR8t2rXnW-YT-8oRDw6S1AyZ8S6ezaYS3LAgJomNzOF3fSVfPC1SxggQUC33fV4l0SJbr_GTsbYuboelDJCb-QnNHRglCPWgNBUlIsUOU6EHQpo_FeHWklY__fKZmrJ6irY1Q8UaY/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(11).jpg) |
The Academy Cinema, Oxford Street, London, c.1945 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimc0ak020riNBTlTZsJs-cfhDJ8EM1WCnywFOJfMp7fq6G2mYnd3igzmz4_ZBZWHKScgGnKlSrIoIrjywZ1fbyCnVpE5VBsikcXNUI0VAUrZTdcn0rcvc7gIvq4X0rRRFZVmZrMSuBVaM/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(12).jpg) |
Warner West End (now Vue Leicester Square), London, 1946 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DMiuBdbjnB3YkBwHKjRYxgvrdGQOrLx95WwnEhMhFIbE71Z7SWSu3wStx4IgMbVtPdbR6iH29Vdq6lBL_4UoOChI00mgWq2t2hC2By-03hqKbTdgVm4VYZJcA2-DV-9Kv4qLXR-4Nm8/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(13).jpg) |
The Carlton, Nottingham, 1946 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqRtmCMf5ILtl6W7yZgTkac9nMjFGnI_TmJEgVOYFX0IClXKbidfUOOzhwaJW9-52xcQ9vct4FIJaEc1P63iioPjYzvhmbcCbEwRVHUNH05Jjagoanj0lM75uhfZQWBCFsURWLeT2lXcQ/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(14).jpg) |
National Film Theatre Telekinema at the Festival of Britain (later moved to the current BFI Southbank site), London, 1951 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqy0biO-FKNFd_KTz_LaYcDSxSP_R5YcJG-Ui001Y4LAPS2sFF8SE5teGF_jrqPNMpzKC0-vAW1MuosJfXoh5LVX7840ehs1Jl7ODWxcK4xiZnAT61NOOwYVxyeSmTPujBIXAPjuE-aw/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(15).jpg) |
The Astoria, Charing Cross Road, London, 1956 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfziRoEqxxpCm0xFHWSXOpY2kR97qwTNeDvi9Q6zcElglYK0-i2s4ZF9t8CbWjpx4rhdCBS4wJXKZhHdSTnALxCc_-0VVsGh5xZotN7ztfX1Lu6WqAO1JfYRzrIgJm6WkE4v5ESgIE1Ak/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(16).jpg) |
Columbia Cinema (now Curzon Soho), London, 1958 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvZBDQwwgn8cg_KenBDLTQGrjgtXoMU8YROd91ZVBVneJJYf7b3OPTPkBNCxYe0as2nqymVH7Qd9KW7m1lvLh1WhLEeWNxYVBQFUuojdfo5YG4FVQujbUYzYeXiTu590BBlD9WmGvx-4/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(17).jpg) |
The Empire Theatre (now The Empire Leicester Square), London, 1959 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdtZjmdU4Jj24aKKY8-lTjlWNIKqLm5xPYuGDFPE_8lHwPybkKimEmkvQz3lnvVTSinGDtQolWtKjd3Ed29TqFqVX_k17o4wPhgLh6uoproSJi-wqQ4Y6BHOtAGyc_AYp6a5lxJ9pOOw/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(18).jpg) |
The Cosmo (now Glasgow Film Theatre), Glasgow, 1960 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxdjgp-v6_ClES3fHLv8CZlPNE-VaYPGUfZqSAh6boIPW-Zzcbb5SBrusbqIYy3_sN6k6we33hHI-odCItNiUWYitBjp4NOXTiuXztxjihZId6JmpHZuR7DWC1KpjFAbSKJ-qdSY0vfo/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(19).jpg) |
Curzon Mayfair, London, 1965 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkAoiq0Mpm02IOlRqNvallMAx94ik1xgvkaccO8AaHer2UqMZLReqvsvcQ6cc6EkSHCHR2IE4kysnmsJSJ_n18jX_KMbxskOcHXRhy7ZED9Zls59d0dDGeS3aclaPI3loQ450_xC-kuU/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(20).jpg) |
Cameo Royal Cinema, Great Windmill Street, London, 1967 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRexaiDMlyh2AY6AJ1daSAZNNigbOdggRAjOpBXPRQmofPo3G7aSDZLNK1GIL0YfhvQ-fEE3emqwmz1izU8np0bP3BpIGJ_eg0VZ0GxwY3vMCmW4JSmvPiDHwI7B8VMu6OKxV2AXkgT_w/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(21).jpg) |
The Florida, Enfield, 1970 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNiTNbnL2ZZ3HiMxknZRaaftcEzM8p_iBSVE-gmolCTsfRrZAcQUhYTUOrCRTfR4PmNOaRsbSVn9l9qM1uRy0hmZemmemejdud4wH5lys6iq478dljVeDUHLbAz9WxCELqGneHJBXoI5I/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(22).jpg) |
EMI International Film Theatre (now Curzon Renoir), London, 1976 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXYf0FDksbvMP0wCcOZEYqW5XlGx9JVgMcgQqxmD3DNSEZAErIm_yW-jh6RYKA-i_OF5Of6sVc_jhbqlO_6JFBN1B4A4w6MDy-LQZs-tKv2oN7Cn_GNaS60LdRKcujO8pPMYksjfmUYQ/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(23).jpg) |
Filmhouse, Edinburgh, c.1979. Credit: Edinburgh Evening News. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqX-_-jzw466BiNkcv3TlhyPyoDp7LHG24y3NAr9-2KAnbI7Yj4GWIPLgONvAtMPgDYRp76fspWWrlX_X3151hZLix66PsSvkOl3YwM1zY3CrJZsCkck5jj6or-pOWM0ZVnG0o7uqKJA/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(24).jpg) |
Odeon Chelsea (now Curzon Chelsea), London, 1981 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWN3ZZLS088aBFlbzDpkjggupO1L2j7rZ3eHW0HzrIBD3_LGfkYtFFfdX8howPXWuh-OV_EYSTB5JFlTjHV9n0JhNZ4fRCsbGGd7iqNRU0iN-torW_3deK7JlkXNaxQ5mhV1QJUIGXMO8/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(25).jpg) |
National Film Theatre (now BFI Southbank), c.1981 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Md8h76VCcMyDOc0-UqXyPqN5_O17-8DOFk0uIkjswBiDneJbxlwhqRSEDkbE3YYnMQt5Vaa0Zn266cBLxP9Au5JHsgkfMn8RU_T8uy-rJ1TonMRCrPv8QBQYriztGvPY-oYEPIua2zQ/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(26).jpg) |
Curzon West End (now Curzon Soho), London, 1985 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_t9XjEJ7A36L3ggeyg0JZdEAHpymm_0pfOlUyXhQQ-bLS3BC7lx2Rr0Oi7Sw-hOrSV8PMW-7Qb7MlTnUxQ3gOQHHko7VQ0C5nraBzcDZR0awuvj1EkadhlWTTznTp5X1B2rQRk5syGLc/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(27).jpg) |
Cornerhouse, Manchester, 1986 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5YtPxx1L6ybVL7QEB-uYnldPfBFGrsIK2rwc6vybq33x92NOJrSEXnkJUTCUT2kkWH4OclyyHvA9zB9Wkp7B6Npj6yQ7K3Xm8pdylAjMvpiTUQPlN-FDh-3x66h45IYUSuxRM2pghn5I/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(28).jpg) |
Curzon Phoenix, Phoenix Street, London, 1986 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjl0wTlIPkbRNXkatgZOzC0-eJVT6ITLiyLakjuTXeBkInY_tOZI4UCLuSDpIe_rzpJ7C6Ww36d_9o9ijmmGoqe5_HHJTTdGywi8CXI7lonM3EsZWi2dbXgirLVqxlBrZlN1Y8RZm2OZw/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(29).jpg) |
Curzon Mayfair, London, 1986 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCh_FbUDC04nCK1ctXvZetBBLdlog_OoFnveRntCI89Sr9CPcsIxwiqb0hEKHvREiTpAOdhahIllrH3FfjDejMK9rv7UKAcStupvWSpbba1zUrfuvMUo0kt_JUGNMw4rFLVo5ZsMnM1k/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(30).jpg) |
Showcase Cinemas, Nottingham, c.1988 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuufsm4hCESU2CYrGBS4dmwyoazlvpdtEKVhyphenhyphenR7FbLu9H_Xy58AikqeYcbe45PcwX_TAF4eEHwscUuXyvuIJ9CEDxcn74UK_H-lfWG9YWxX12CigNlFDTWxE8zgMyjLh7y9PEwvr16Hyg/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(31).jpg) |
UCI, Whiteley's Shopping Centre, Bayswater, London, 1989 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIu8SIUcAuIOe9rGeyfvpCkjXuSi-HK1UV3t2lsG7cDnlHTjHPotEi-6iVxhUTK7UnxCyrGZlhooDlFNsMbbSQd1ql5Tb42X4_dtvKtZIYhDUhXgI0PlCRSRU0_E3NvrSeksbT_YBo1E/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(32).jpg) |
Broadway, Nottingham, 1993 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLS_EtC0KbGBw_geyhIEmsn9VjdNXXkB5N9jeMs9LL3KeUfdmIsgBOVuq25ugMO7C2yCErG_YxbJfiMywmFAQdzmMxLECaJyexy-ssMtbvsE7OyHxTcJZM4P0ZJtYbxWl4sKLwGjXiuCA/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(33).jpg) |
Harbour Lights Picturehouse, Southampton, 1995 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzIBrt6WNBUOxw8DHPJntFRla3ZK9pJ90Kzj0EVwRhM8gMeEn-vGigna2VogJKnMl0M69llniWKVr2f9zOksh4Rt7Ia-BIHjkcL7NE2qbI_VuUPIi_c9zaxpOA25C6OtEU75uHf1anKIU/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(34).jpg) |
QUAD, Derby, 2010. Credit: Graham Lucas Commons. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ueoGOBp9oz8kBo11FsUla4ILsDc-RVLJapqUp843iGNwoSdLBDuX2Th0u8PSqEno7HefplutlGBO4gBf3zz3DN0mmOlYRg8gevGCOsw8OjwLsuccbQP04bdzlVHgc9W4Yu8VKjHybr0/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(35).jpg) |
Queen's Film Theatre, Belfast, c.2012 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSdtvPMRm_Xy65pWL4Ul_ySHpqH_9VkarN4zztsAZ8_Xho1gDBWvp6xkjmD5-ZOt1jJiYpObDyZbzZwUUaEg6qiERTDmjWu9XTAecBbRMpxGze7z3zIBzXxczGmTNplUCUlLEY5fjnrZY/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(36).jpg) |
Odeon BFI IMAX, London, 2012 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7mg6OKDgX5xG-aM4adfBYmUUN-JsakCdRifjjd2Vl6uAdZa5a1G-8ffp3hRjioqINZjy0TApBFyeLiCGF4dinHYkPBZgGzeO-7rQf44_i_BzyugVlnc7nblunid-7wa3Hc9mnfrwZeA/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(37).jpg) |
Watershed, Bristol, 2014. Credit: Toby Farrow. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDEbluiRBFd39BZ5tlRLYqq70TCEotRIEk8v6cBmwco92K8EyDg3paweVv9egywvNpGpBdi2dL7xz2dFcEJNM13W6G5W2loszGepRj7O2rdE_ok1AHMV_sbOIzp4u4E4W6W0mHgoFa1K4/s1600-rw/How+British+Cinemas+have+Changed+in+the+Past+100+Years+through+Pictures+(38).jpg) |
The Showroom, Sheffield, 2014 |
(via
BFI)
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