Description and History of Site:-
This building has had many uses in its lifetime.

It has a very narrow frontage on Portland Road which leads via a corridor to an auditorium at the rear of adjoining premises.

It was originally an early cinema, first opened as the New Electric Theatre on 7 February 1911 (the second cinema in South Norwood).

It had a series of names - Mascot Cinema, La Rosa Cinema, Electric Cinema, and Regent Cinema - before finally closing c. 1935.

During the Second World War it was used as a British or Civic Restaurant and after the war it was used as a dining room for school meals (Croydon Secondary Technical School and Stanley Technical School).

From March 1963, it was converted to the Socco Cheta Youth Club, which also became the home of Croydon Domino Club in 1971. They remain here today as part of Socco Cheta Community Hub (CIC).

Eyles & Skone (1989) reported a flat floor and false ceiling, and a surviving projection room reached by external stairs and used for storage.

Further Reading and References:-
https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/31085

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Key Words :- restaurant cinema

Address :- 44b Portland Road, South Norwood, London, Greater London, SE25 4PQ
Grid Ref :- TQ 3438 6816
Co-ordinates :- Lat 51.396568 , Long -0.069778
Local Authority :- Croydon London Borough Council
Pre 1974 County :- Surrey
Site Status :- Site extant - No Protection
Contributor :- GLIAS Database - 2 June 2018

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © GLIAS Database