Oak Cinema

The Oak Cinema, was an Art Deco style cinema located at the junction of Chapel Lane and Bristol Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham from 1923 to 1984.

Oak Cinema
General information
TypeCinema
Architectural styleArt Deco
LocationBristol Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham
Coordinates52°26′26.85″N 1°56′20.12″W
Completed26 March 1923
DemolishedDecember 1984
Design and construction
ArchitectHarold Seymour Scott

History

It was designed by the architect Harold Seymour Scott in the Art Deco style, and opened on 26 March 1923 with a seating capacity of 1,111.

It was taken over by ABC Cinemas in March 1935 who refurbished the building and increased the seating to 1,506. [1] The improvements included an air conditioning and heating system which provided over one million cubic feet of air per hour, and maintained a pressure inside the building which prevented draughts entering when doors were opened.[2] The enlarged cinema was provided with a staff of 18, It re-opened on 16 December 1935.

In July 1951, the Oak Cinema was voted the second cleanest cinema in the country and the manager, Roy Fielder was presented with a Silver Medal by A.H. Sayer, chairman of the Birmingham Public Entertainments Committee.

In 1966 the chief projectionist was John Radcliff and the manager was Mr Harris.

ABC ownership lasted until April 1978 when the building was sold to an independent concern. This was short lived and the cinema closed on 3 November 1979. The final films were 'The Spaceman and King Arthur' and the Disney movie 'Dumbo'.[3]

The building stood derelict until demolished in December 1984. A Sainsburys supermarket, now closed, was built on its site.

References
  1. Maxam, Andrew: Selly Oak and Weoley Castle on old picture postcards (Reflections of a Bygone Age 2005) image 5
  2. "Birmingham Cinema Transformed". Birmingham Daily Gazette. England. 17 December 1935. Retrieved 25 October 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. Dowling, Geoff; Giles, Brain; and Hayfield, Colin: Selly Oak Past and Present: A Photographic Survey of a Birmingham Suburb (Department of Geography, University of Birmingham 1987) p7
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