Academy Picture Palace/Cinema (1911-1931)
Tatler (1931-1932)
Academy Theatre (1932-1973)

59 West Street, Brighton  10
Operated 1911-1973

Academy in 1939 before re-modelling

1911 June 6 Opened by Alderman Edward Geere, deputy mayor of Brighton, and owned by E E Lyons. Constructed in the building that previously housed the Brighton Hammam Turkish baths (opened 1868 by the Brighton Turkish Bath Company) and the Victoria Billiard Hall, over 400 seats. At the opening show G A Smith talks about and shows Kinemacolour films, for screening of which the cinema is equipped, including Birth of Flowers. Prices 3d, 6d and 1s. Free afternoon tea and evening coffee in the grand circle.
1913 September 27 Biocolor Picture Theatres, the circuit formed by Lyons, replaces the original with a new cinema, 800 (or 1,000) seats; performances regularly include G A Smith Kinemacolor productions.
1926 November 18 One of the 15 properties in the Biocolor circuit sold by E E Lyons and Thomas Underwood to the Gaumont Company. Price for the Academy: £45,210 1s 5d. This was the fourth highest price after cinemas in North London, Glasgow and Bristol.
1927 March Part of the circuit of the newly formed Gaumont-British Picture Corporation.
1929 October 14 Installation of British Acoustic Films (BA) sound equipment completed. Proscenium 30ft.
1931 Briefly re-named the Tatler before reverting to its original name on 18 January 1932.

Academy dressed up in 1935 for the Silver Jubilee of King George V

1939 Remodelled throughout in Art Deco style to designs by W E Trent, the Gaumont British architect, and carried out by the Brighton firm of A E Potter. The cinema did not close while the work was carried out late at night and in the mornings.
1941 1,012 seats, prices 9d-1s 6d, continuous performances
1948 932 seats, prices 1s-2s 9d, continuous performances
1953 Prices 1s 6d-3s 1d
1957 Prices 1s 10d-3s 6d
1961 Prices 2s 3d-4s
1973 January 24 Closed prior to opening of Odeon Kingswest and demolished the following year. The last picture shown is Peter Bogdanovich's The Last Picture Show.

Academy House office block now occupies the site on the east side of the street, below Duke Street

Programmes for screenings at the Academy of Hamlet (week commencing 17 November 1913), Anthony and Cleopatra (week of 26 January 1914) and Brigadier Gerard ('three days only', 7-9 February 1916) may be seen online in the Bill Douglas Collection.

Photos courtesy of Brighton & Hove Libraries' Brighton History Centre