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Villa Cross Cinema
- Thread starter Richie
- Start date
Chris B
master brummie
Villa Cross at the arrival of sound
Opened in May 1913 as the New Picture House, it was a project of Irving Bosco who went on to form Bosco’s Pictures Ltd in 1920. It was located at the main intersection of Heathfield Road, Villa Road and Lozells Road.
The building was a wonderful example of an early picture palace that was beginning to replace the former shop conversions of half a decade before. The facade was dominated by a huge round ‘Rose’ stained glass window over the main entrance doors. Inside the auditorium, there were sculptured decorative panels on the side walls proclaiming ‘The World Before Your Eyes’ that were guarded by statuary of angels and cherubs. All very charming! Seating was provided in stalls and circle.
The cinema became part of the small Shapeero circuit and it was re-named Villa Cross Picture Palace. It was taken over by the Denman/Gaumont circuit from March 1928 and they continued to operate through the rest of its cinematic life, eventually becoming part of the Rank Organisation. It closed on 20th April 1970 with Rock Hudson starring in “Ice Station Zebra”. It went over to screening Asian films of the Bollywood type for a while and then was converted into a Bingo Hall which closed down in September 1984.
Sadly the Villa Cross Picture House found itself right in the middle of the Handsworth race riots of 9th September 1985 and it was badly damaged in an arson attack by the rioters. What remained of the building was finally demolished in 1989.
A sad demise of a cinema building that today would certainly be worthy of Listed status.
(copyright Ken Roe)
Opened in May 1913 as the New Picture House, it was a project of Irving Bosco who went on to form Bosco’s Pictures Ltd in 1920. It was located at the main intersection of Heathfield Road, Villa Road and Lozells Road.
The building was a wonderful example of an early picture palace that was beginning to replace the former shop conversions of half a decade before. The facade was dominated by a huge round ‘Rose’ stained glass window over the main entrance doors. Inside the auditorium, there were sculptured decorative panels on the side walls proclaiming ‘The World Before Your Eyes’ that were guarded by statuary of angels and cherubs. All very charming! Seating was provided in stalls and circle.
The cinema became part of the small Shapeero circuit and it was re-named Villa Cross Picture Palace. It was taken over by the Denman/Gaumont circuit from March 1928 and they continued to operate through the rest of its cinematic life, eventually becoming part of the Rank Organisation. It closed on 20th April 1970 with Rock Hudson starring in “Ice Station Zebra”. It went over to screening Asian films of the Bollywood type for a while and then was converted into a Bingo Hall which closed down in September 1984.
Sadly the Villa Cross Picture House found itself right in the middle of the Handsworth race riots of 9th September 1985 and it was badly damaged in an arson attack by the rioters. What remained of the building was finally demolished in 1989.
A sad demise of a cinema building that today would certainly be worthy of Listed status.
(copyright Ken Roe)
TOPSYTURVEY
brum
Smashing pics Colin.
judy isnt it a crying shame that this lovely building has gone...like you i spent many a happy hour there...
lyn
cookie273uk
master brummie
Went there a few times in the 50's when I lived in Aston, if there was nothing worth seeing at the 'Vic' or Astoria (Aston Cross). Eric
Great photo Lyn. Could be completely wrong on this but is this half of that cottage? It's opposite what was the Villa Cross pub. We discussed this cottage somewhere else on the forum. I vaguely remember the cottage might be listed.
Sad to see that having demolished the cinema all that's in its place is a car park. Viv
Sad to see that having demolished the cinema all that's in its place is a car park. Viv
cookie273uk
master brummie
Lyn, used to go to Villa Cross if nothing on at the 'Vic', Aston Cross or Astoria and seem to remember a sweet shop next door, could be wrong it was 60 years ago !! Eric
paul stacey
master brummie
my mom and nan were a regular visitor to the Villa Cross .Paul
paul stacey
master brummie
It would have been post war Lyn, when Dad was in the Police. Paul
Knitting for the Navy. Wonder if the cinema patrons knitted while they watched ?! Viv.
![Villa20Cross_[1].jpg](https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/data/attachments/46/46845-5374aa07cf7609337026939fd2b70c6b.jpg "Villa20Cross_[1].jpg")
![Lozells%2520Picture%2520H[1].jpg](/forum/data/attachments/46/46844-8bf6cb52bdefd4ec051f30af39c1238d.jpg)
![Villa20Cross_[1].jpg](/forum/data/attachments/46/46846-5374aa07cf7609337026939fd2b70c6b.jpg)
hello aston lad...yes the interior of the villa cross was lovely...ive just been through this thread and noticed that for one reason or another some photos have been lost...i will try and find time today to repost the ones i posted which do include interior shots and also a couple of the demo of it...spent many happy saturday morning there..sad to see its gone to be replaced by a car park
ps i have reposted the demo photos and one of the foyer but i do have more of the foyer that are on my desk top so will sort those out tonight
lyn
ps i have reposted the demo photos and one of the foyer but i do have more of the foyer that are on my desk top so will sort those out tonightlyn
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Chris B
master brummie
THE VILLA CROSS PICTURE HOUSEahh my old villa cross picture house banjo...we wernt posh round there
lyn
THE VILLA CROSS PICTURE HOUSE
Attachments
Richard Dye
master brummie
Brings back a lot of memories! Looking from the front right just out of the last picture was Mrs Brants Sweet Shop was always really busy on a Saturday morning and just before the regular shows started!
hi richard if you used the villa cross where did you live....new housing on the site of the old villa cross pic house now...the white building to the right in street view below was the little shop we used to use every saturday...would this be your mrs brants shop
lyn
lyn
