Oxford

Oxford Cinemas

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Oxford Cinemas & Theatres

Odeon

George Street

Magdalen Street

Phoenix Picture House

Walton Street

Ultimate Picture Palace

Jeune Street

East Oxford

Cowley Road

Regal

Playhouse Theatre

Beaumont Street

Ozone Cinemas

Grenoble Road

New Theatre

Ritz / ABC / Cannon / MGM / ABC / Odeon

Opened as the Ritz in 1936, seating 1654 in a single screen.

Renamed the ABC in 1962.

A bad fire in 1963 destroyed much of the interior, which was later rebuilt.

Tripled in 1975, with 626 seats in Screen 1 (original circle) and 362

and 140 in Screens 2 and 3 (original rear stalls). Screen 1 has since

been futher subdivided, and a sixth screen added in the original stage

area.

Now (2005) with 6 screens seating: 1- 260 2 -260 3 -111 4- 140 5- 239 6- 129.

Entrance Detail:

Decoration Detail:

Oxford Super / ABC / Cannon / MGM / ABC / Odeon

Opened in 1924, a single screen with 950 seats in the stalls, and 350

in the balcony, and featuring an organ. The auditorium was richly

decorated, with large painted murals (one depicting sport, the other

learning) on the side walls. The proscenium was topped with…

Oxford Cinemas

Back Main

Page

Oxford Cinemas & Theatres

Odeon

George Street

Magdalen Street

Phoenix Picture House

Walton Street

Ultimate Picture Palace

Jeune Street

East Oxford

Cowley Road

Regal

Playhouse Theatre

Beaumont Street

Ozone Cinemas

Grenoble Road

New Theatre

Ritz / ABC / Cannon / MGM / ABC / Odeon

Opened as the Ritz in 1936, seating 1654 in a single screen.

Renamed the ABC in 1962.

A bad fire in 1963 destroyed much of the interior, which was later rebuilt.

Tripled in 1975, with 626 seats in Screen 1 (original circle) and 362

and 140 in Screens 2 and 3 (original rear stalls). Screen 1 has since

been futher subdivided, and a sixth screen added in the original stage

area.

Now (2005) with 6 screens seating: 1- 260 2 -260 3 -111 4- 140 5- 239 6- 129.

Entrance Detail:

Decoration Detail:

Oxford Super / ABC / Cannon / MGM / ABC / Odeon

Opened in 1924, a single screen with 950 seats in the stalls, and 350

in the balcony, and featuring an organ. The auditorium was richly

decorated, with large painted murals (one depicting sport, the other

learning) on the side walls. The proscenium was topped with an

elaborate cartouche, and enormous grecian urns sat in arches on either

side. The ceiling was barrel-vaulted, with decorated panels and large

pendant light fittings.

The projection room was set high up in the ceiling above the balcony,

necessitating a steep throw to the screen, which was curved and angled.

Refurbished and modernised in 1971, at which point the organ was removed.

A second screen was added in 19?? in the original restaurant.

The main screen remains undivided with stalls and circle areas, the screen set within the original proscenium.

Decorative murals on the side walls apparently survive intact behind curtains added in the 1970s.

Current seating is 596 in Screen 1, 61 in Screen 2.

New Picture Palace / Penultimate PP / Section 6 / Ultimate Picture Palace

Official Website

Opened 1911; closed 1914. Central paybox.

Used for storage for many years until 1976, when it re-opened as the Penultimate PP, seating 185.

Renamed as the Section 6 in the early 1990s, before re-opening as the Ultimate PP.

Note ladder to projection room on LHS of central paybox:

North Oxford / Scala / Studios 1 & 2 / Phoenix Picture House

58 Walton Street

Opened in 1913 as the North Oxford Cinema, seating 500.

Renamed the Scala in 1918.

In 1971, it was twinned to give 236 and 140 seats as the Studios 1 & 2.

Open in 2005 as the Phoenix Picture House, seating 220 and 109. Also has a cafe-bar.

Empire / East Oxford Theatre / Cowley Road Cinema / Palace

Built as Assembly Rooms in 1890, and converted to a theatre in 1902.

Known as the Empire until 1905, then as the East Oxford Theatre (or East Theatre).

By 1912 it was full time as the Palace Cinema, with 650 seats.

Closed around 1938, and converted to office use.

Photo below shows the large flytower adapted for office use:

Opened in 1937 by Union Cinemas, with 1,674 seats.

Converted for full-time bingo in 1970.

Now derelict.

Ozone Leisure Park, Grenoble Road

Official Site

Opened with 9 screens; now has 12.

1: 378, 5: 194, 6: 451, 7:119, 8:156, 9:194, 10: 153, 11: 102, 12:102

Sheldonian Theatre

Broad Street

Opened in 1933 on the site of the earlier (1886) New Theatre, seating 1,692.

Occasional film shows (especially in the 1970s).

Known as the Apollo from 1980 to 2003.