The Astorian

Souvenir programme issued to commemorate the opening of The Astoria cinema, in Stockwell Road, Brixton. The cover, printed in green and sepia brown includes a drawing of the entrance and facade of the cinema that opened on August 19th 1929. The central pages of the 16 page programme include 6 images showing the interior of the cinema including the fountain hall & tea terrace etc. The programme describes how, in the search for a carpet, 'The emporiums of the greatest carpet manufacturers in this country and on the continent were searched for an ideal design, but the search proved fruitless'. Finally, the design was copied from the architect's garden paving in Chislehurst. The cinema opened with a showing of the film 'The Singing Fool' with Al Jolson.
The donor of the programme, a young visitor at the time, found the grand arch of the Italian Gardens and the goldfish in the pond in the Fountain Hall 'a great delight to see'. The venue, renamed the Brixton Academy, is still used today as a concert hall.