Andy Garth: From neon to free coffee
In the 1930s the cinema was one of the most popular forms of entertainment in Britain and lots of new buildings were purpose-built for the industry who wanted their cinema to attract and appeal to the viewing public.
The Curzon in Western Road Brighton was no exception with American style neon lights blazing all down the side and the front in 1937 showing the Deanna Durbin film 100 Men And A Girl.
I’m sure this building could have probably been seen from space as the approximate 10 metre drop from the roof to the ground floor had a total of eight full length tubes shining like a beacon to draw in the punters (don’t rate their EPC rating though!).
This building could have probably been seen from space
The next view of the same cinema from the late 1960s/early 1970s shows that cinemas didn’t need the same pizazz as it was now called the Classic and was showing movies that I had to Google, including Divorce American Style with Dick Van Dyke… yep I’ve never heard of it either!
And The Cactus Flower which I searched and discovered that it was Goldie Hawn’s first major big screen role for which she won an Oscar!
A present day photo would of course now show you good old free coffee giving Waitrose who have actually been on the same site for nearly 50 years and during that time grown and expanded to the store it is today.
Any questions or for more photos and stuff pop in the shop at 28 Western Road, Hove, BN3 1AF
