Birmingham Cinemas

[A Sparks]

The Futurist Cinema in John Bright Street has been given Grade 2 listed status...

An old Birmingham cinema that spent years as a strip club and shisha bar has been granted Grade II listed status.
The Futurist, on John Bright Street, has been listed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), aknowledging that it is of special interest.
The old cinema, built in 1919, was the first in Birmingham to show a 'talkie' film after years of silent shows, screening The Singing Fool back in 1929.

 

[Richard Dye]

The Futurist Cinema in John Bright Street has been given Grade 2 listed status...

An old Birmingham cinema that spent years as a strip club and shisha bar has been granted Grade II listed status.
The Futurist, on John Bright Street, has been listed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), aknowledging that it is of special interest.
The old cinema, built in 1919, was the first in Birmingham to show a 'talkie' film after years of silent shows, screening The Singing Fool back in 1929.
View attachment 201607

What a beautiful building and still standing at over 100 years!

 

[Donbogen]

Loved going to the Futurist with a date
after the movie pop into the Grapes a no trills pub
i knew how to spoil em LOL

 

[handlebar]

Only went to the Futurist once to see a Cinemascope film. Can't remember the name but it was my one and only encounter with 'Perspecta' directional stereophonic sound. Thought it most impressive and better than any of the later stereo systems.

 

[Dionysius//88]

I saw my first horror film here and I was underage shhhhhhhhh yes folks underage can yo believe it the film was It Conquered The World ? Featuring Peter Graves and just to think a year earlier or so I was watching him in Fury on the tv stories about a horse .

 

[John L]

I took my now wife there to see "Chariots of Fire". It was very sad to see the uses the old cinema was put to, after it had stopped showing films.

 

[A Sparks]

I took my now wife there to see "Chariots of Fire". It was very sad to see the uses the old cinema was put to, after it had stopped showing films.

I know what you mean but at least the building has survived.
I've never been inside but am very familiar with the place as I used to work part-time at the old Ikon Gallery when they were in John Bright Street.

 

[Astoness]

white building is the palace cinema alum rock road...could someone please check what no it was at please

lyn

 

[John L]

white building is the palace cinema alum rock road...could someone please check what no it was at please

lyn

View attachment 205069

20 Lyn.

 

[John L]

It began as The Saltley Picture Palace in 1911:

 

[Astoness]

20 Lyn.

thanks john

 

[Jonob]

white building is the palace cinema alum rock road...could someone please check what no it was at please

lyn

View attachment 205069

Looks like it was number 20, I remember it as a private club in the 1950's, regards, John.

 

[Chris B]

Looks like it was number 20, I remember it as a private club in the 1950's, regards, John.View attachment 205155

In the directory it is listed as number 20 Alum Rock Road.

 

[Alf Rogers]

I took the wife to see A Summer Story, around 1988 - I'm sure it was at The Futurist. A lovely, romantic film, but I don't recall ever seeing it being shown on the television, since then.
I also saw a horror film the same year, called The Unholy, starring the excellent American actor Ned Beatty. The wife wouldn't accompany me on that occasion, however!
One thing I always remember about the Futurist cinema, was that the seats were old and not very comfortable. When you got up to go to the loo, you could feel your coat and trousers sticking to the seat! Also, the acoustics weren't great; very echoey, as I recall.
Still, it's great news that the building has survived and is being as a restaurant. I just hope they're not using the same seats!

 

[lmr3103]

The Futurist always seemed a really large cinema to me. I used to dread it if I needed to go to the loo in the middle of the film, in case I couldn't find my way back to my seat! Being very short sighted, (and too vain to wear glasses) didn't help!