Today is the 100th birthday of The Ritzy, and if you get down there quick they’re marking the occasion with a special screening celebrating the birth of cinema and the era of the silent film.
Originally known as the Electric Pavilion, it was built by E. C. Homer and Lucas for Israel Davis, one of a noted family of cinema developers.
The cinema was one of England’s earliest purpose built cinemas seating over 750 seats in the single auditorium, while before its renovation it was a great place to get drunk, smoke a spliff and watch some films!
Ritzy cinema ‘Then and Now’ photos.
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The genius design of the outdoor Brixton Ritzy ticket queue
Victoria Line turns 42 today. Happy Birthday!
No Frills Band at the Ritzy, experimental film music at the Albert, Brixton
Two ace films: Solaris and Far From Heaven
US Election night 2008
What a hangover! Drinking at the Ritzy
As long as you didn’t sit where the roof leaked or the springs had broken in the seats.
The Old Pavilion, I sneaked in a side door as a young boy to see the X film Blue Angel with Marlena Dietrich when it was first released also, the old theatre by Tate Library I saw Pantomimes as a young boy and shows were played there before they hit the West End theatres, the audiences in Brixton were old stage people retired at Gorgeous residences On Brixton Hill. all Long Gone, Including Me 🙂
Oh we also called the Pavilion “THE FLEA PIT” Also, The cinema further up the hill. 🙂
DON’T FORGET WOOLWORTHS NEXT DOOR TO THE TATE LIBRARY 🙂