Key Words :- cinema

Address :- 186 Hoe Street, Walthamstow, London, Greater London, E17 4QH
Grid Ref :- TQ 37243 89311
Co-ordinates :- Lat 51.585949 , Long -0.020434
Local Authority :- Waltham Forest London Borough Council
Pre 1974 County :- Greater London Council
Site Status :- Listed - Grade II*
Historic England List No :- 1065590,

Description and History of Site:-
Architect: Cecil Masey, interior by Theodore Komisarjevsky
Seating capacity: 2,697
Opened 15 September 1930 with Splinters on the site of the Victoria Hall, 1887-1930
Tripled 16 October 1973 with The Lovers in 944-seat Screen 1, The Poseidon Adventure in 181-seat Screen 2, and A Clockwork Orange in 181-seat Screen 3
Closed 6 January 2002
Acquired by Waltham Forest Council in 2019
Restored, renovated and re-opened in 2025

Alfred Hitchcock's local cinema in his childhood.

Noted for its still functioning organ built by John Christie in the 1930s - restored since 1970s by the Cinema Organ Society - there are two other working cinema organs in the country.

Plaque:

Built in 1930, designed by architect Cecil Aubrey Masey and theatre director and designer Theodore Komisarjevsky. A rare surviving example of elaborate and decorative cinema architecture from the industry's heyday.
Acquired by Waltham Forest Council in 2019
Restored, renovated and re-opened in 2025

Further Reading and References:-
Webb, Malcolm. 'The Amber Valley Gazetteer of Greater London's Suburban Cinemas 1946-86'. Amber Valley, 1986

https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/9397
https://sohotheatre.com/walthamstow/
https://www.cinema-organs.org.uk/

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Contributor :- GLIAS Database - 2 June 2018
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