The Broadway Cinema - Bristol
September 2015
Located in the Filwood Park district of Knowle in Bristol, The Broadway Cinema was opened in 1938 by Roy Chamberlain. It seated 1,160 people, had a 30 feet wide proscenium and was equipped with a British Talking Pictures(BTP) sound system. It was built by local firm R J Hurford; Dennis Hurford and Roy Chamberlain acted as architects,.
The council put in a clause stating that a door at the rear of the cinema be included, with its own pay box, that was 'desirable to enable the lower class of patrons to use the back entrance'.
It was re-furbished in 1961, and began part time bingo on several evenings a week. The cinema was also used for boxing matches and as a concert venue. Cinema use ended in 1971 and it became a full time bingo club. It was still operating as a bingo hall until 1991, but was closed soon after.
Its old Kalee 12 projectors and many of its chairs are stored in Bristol's M Shed Museum.
Located in the Filwood Park district of Knowle in Bristol, The Broadway Cinema was opened in 1938 by Roy Chamberlain. It seated 1,160 people, had a 30 feet wide proscenium and was equipped with a British Talking Pictures(BTP) sound system. It was built by local firm R J Hurford; Dennis Hurford and Roy Chamberlain acted as architects,.
The council put in a clause stating that a door at the rear of the cinema be included, with its own pay box, that was 'desirable to enable the lower class of patrons to use the back entrance'.
It was re-furbished in 1961, and began part time bingo on several evenings a week. The cinema was also used for boxing matches and as a concert venue. Cinema use ended in 1971 and it became a full time bingo club. It was still operating as a bingo hall until 1991, but was closed soon after.
Its old Kalee 12 projectors and many of its chairs are stored in Bristol's M Shed Museum.