The Grand Theatre site of Nottingham’s first public screening of films on 13th July 1896
April 23, 2008
On the wall of the chemists which stands next to Boulevard Gardens are a commemorative plaque and a sign.
The plaque reads “The Grand Theatre site of Nottingham’s first public screening of films on 13th July 1896”. The plaque was raised by the British film Institute in 1996 as part of their commemorations of a centenary of film.
The sign claims that the Boulevard Gardens are built on the site of The Grand Theatre. The theatre opened in February 1886 and in 1921 embarked on a run as a repertory theatre. Sometime between 1921 and 1926 The Grand closed and reopened as a cinema, eventually closing in 1956.
I have always believed the sign, supposing that the Grand stood on the corner of Radford Road and Gregory Boulevard and that the sunken garden constitutes the old theatre cellar, however, prompted by Antony’s question I am revising my assumption and now think that the theatre stood where the chemist now stands. I present the photographic evidence below but welcome any corrections of course.
In answer to Antony’s question, “Is there any truth in the story that this site (Boulevard Gardens) was host to Nottingham’s first cinema?” I suspect not as the site is probably not the theatre and even if it turns out to be the theatre site then I suspect that there was a Nottingham cinema operating before 1921. However Hyson Green does hold the honour of hosting the first public projection for the city, there seems to be very little ambiguity about this.
Alan
Entry Filed under: History, Hyson Green. Tags: Cinema, Hyson Green, Nottingham, Theatre.
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1.
Antony T | May 16, 2008 at 4:43 pm
knew you’d crack that nut.
Though not quite sure of the perspective of the old photograph. Any chance of a modern day re-creation?
2.
Lesley | June 2, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Hi I was looking on the internet at stuff about Hyson Green and came across the deacription below about the Cinema on Hyson Green. There was also a small cinema on Radford Road and one on Ilkeston Road.
GRAND CINEMA / GRAND SUPER CINEMA and VARIETY THEATRE / NOTTINGHAM REPERTORY THEATRE / GRAND THEATRE Radford Road Hyson Green (No 2) Opened Monday 1st February 1886. Lessee: Capt. Kennion. 1888-1898: J. B. Mulholland. C. P. Cooke. Closed Saturday 12th June1920. Re-decorated, re-furnished & re-wired. Opened as Nottingham Rep. Th. Monday 20th September 1920. Compton rep. co. Prop. Mrs. Edward Compton. Direction Eade Montefiore. Failed 1923. Closed as theatre Saturday 28th June 1924 – Trilby. Sold to G-B. October Opened as cinema Monday 19th October 1925. Talkies April 1930. Re-named Grand Cinema from Monday 26th January 1926. By 1941: (BA)-Prop., Provincial Cinematograph Theatres, Ltd., 123 Regent Street, London W.1. Phone Regent 6641. 800 seats. Prices 5d. to 1s. 2d. Booked at H.O. Phone Nottingham 753001. Closed Saturday 29th September 1956. Demolished 1964. Site empty.
3.
Tony | October 16, 2008 at 4:33 pm
It is certainly not correct that the Grand was on the corner of Hyson Green and Gregory Boulevard. The Grand was about 100 yards up the Green, above where the F.W.Woolworths store stood in the 1950’s. I vividly remember playing in the entrance as a child. I also recall sitting on the walls in the alley at the back of the houses (a terrace) which actually stood at the site where the Boulevard Gardens are now.
4.
Tony | October 16, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Lesley’s comment on there being 2 other cinemas made me smile. There were so many cinemas that is not easy to recall them all, or their names.
There were 2 more cinemas on Radford Road. One was called Lenos and the other was situated behind the old Police station which was diagonally opposite the Boulevard gardens. There was the Apollo on Berridge Road (now an Asian place of worship) The Futurist on Nottinghgam Road. (The building and name still exist, but now house offices). There was the Rix on Alfreton Road/ Bobbers Mill. The Essoldo on Hartley Road (now a carpet shop). Another on Vernon Road. In fact before the 1950’s it was difficult to travel much more than about half a mile without encountering another cinema, sadly most of them became bingo halls after the 1960’s.