The annual National Cinema Day aims to celebrate Cinematic art, and this year it is taking place on Saturday 3rd September. In honor of National Cinema Day, we are bringing you some of the forgotten cinematic history of Putney!
Available at: http://cinematreasures.org/
Putney Electric Cinema – Located on Upper Richmond Road, the Putney Electric Cinema opened in 1910 until 1929! In 1929, the cinema operated as an independently owned establishment and was re-named, ‘Globe Kinema.’ On September 21st 1968, the ‘Globe Kinema’ aired their last ever screening with the Japanese film, “Seven Samurai” directed by Akira Kurosawa. But this was not the end for a the cinema location, as the site was bought by the Compton Cinema Groups, where a new cinema, called, ‘Cine Club 24’ was opened in 1969. This cinema often screen uncensored films, which required a membership for admission; one of the first uncensored to be screened was Swedish Film, “As the Naked Wind From the Sea,” & though this film was not banned. The cinema closed it’s doors for a final time in 1976 and the cinema was demolished, however the site remained vacant for several years.
Available at: http://cinematreasures.org/
Before the Odeon… – The Odeon, located on Putney High Steert, is a well-known and loved Cinema, however the site holds some rich cinematic history, which is often overlooked. Before being home to the Odeon, the site opened it’s first cinema in 1907, known as the “Electric Pavillon,” operated by the pioneer of high-class cinema entertainment, Israel Davis. The site was taken over and rebuilt as the Putney Palace Theatre on 11th October 1926, where it was visited by film star Betty Balfour, during it’s opening show, “What Happened to Jones.” Due to the war, the site was shut and re-open several times, until it finally rebuilt and opened as the, ‘Odeon’ in 1975.
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Putney on screen – As well as being home to two cinemas with a historic background, Putney has also made its appearance on screen in film! Classic romantic-comedy, Love Actually, directed by Richard Curtis, used ‘Elliot School,’ (now known as the Ark Putney Academy) as one of their filming locations!
If you’re feeling inspired by National Cinema Day and would like to take part in appreciating great cinema, you can do it right here in Putney! The Odeon Luxe are screening movies for £3.00! And family tickets are available for £5.00, exclusively for National Cinema Day on Saturday 3rd September 2022!