Evening Standard from London, Greater London, England • 20

EVENING STANDARD' Monday September 3 6 1920 THE WONDER CINEMA OF HAMMERSMITH When large capacity cinemas were first introduced a few years ago they were termed Super-Cinemas to emphasise their greater capacity and dimensions Today many of them are nothing out of the ordinary and therefore the buildings now being designed on more palatial and commodious lines are in effect sinter Super-Cinemas One of the really outstanding examples of this new class is the Commodore designed by Sir Goorge Coles KRIBA and opened to-dav hi ins an actual seating capncity of about und provides ample standing room The balcony alone is furnished with 1000 comfortable seats and everything nbout the building is on equally imposing lines Certainly the theatre is one of the finest yet built and it is almost difficult to realise that work on the site was only started this year The Commodore is the landmark of King-street Hammersmith the rectangular form of the site allowing for a wide deep building with direct access on to the road along the western side The front of the carried out in Ivory llathernware is particularly arresting A main entrance comprising three pairs of double swing doors is surmounted by an ornamental canopy classically modelled to harmonise with tfie general decoration On the fascia there is an arrangement for interchangeable lettering which makes for artistic effect as well as utility A screen of light tracery steel and glass in the illuminated soffit of the canopy floods the entrance with pleasantly suffused light AIkjvo the canopy there are three largo Georgian windows and higher comes a commanding illuminated sign The vestibule is spacious and warmly decorated in marble and delicate plaster work d-ign On either side of the vestibule is a comfortably large area where patrons are accommodated whilst waiting to enter the auditorium and at the same time are entertained with music relayed from the theatre On the first floor is a sumptuous tea-room adequately equipped for the serving of teas and light refreshments and open to both patrons and the general public Tlio auditorium is probably the first in London to be designed specially for the satisfactory production of the talking film Every seat has an uninterrupted view of the screen and those in the auditorium waiting for seatb can see and hear the whole of the performance The decoration in the auditorium is an entirely new conception of tho atmospheric house combined with the architectural features which must of necessity he provided in a building of this character It is carried out in tlio form of arcaded treatment on either side of the hall giving vistas of Italian gardens enhanced by wonderful lighting effects The proscenium arcih is worked out in gold relief with blue and otilier colours Ibetliind Above t-ho 7rceoenium arch there is a wonderful gold-painted grill The slightly curved orchestra well has an or nament-aj open work balustrade and oon-tainK the organ console which is mounted on a rising platform The organ is the first of ite kind to be installed in a London theatre and introduces several new features The Cinema Grand Orchestra under the direction of Mr Joseph Museant consists of 120 per-fonmens and is undoubtedly the largest and most well-equipped body of musicians in the history of British cinemas In addition to the successful efforts of Mr George Coles tho architect credit is due to the consulting engineers Mr AMIMK AMIEK and Mr Cook AMICE MISE for their achievements on the electrical and constructions' sides respectively The decorative alcoves and fire-proof curtain designed by A PRINCE CAST STONE SILLS LANDINGS ETC GRANOLITHIC PAVING ASPHALT FOR ROOFS DAM PCOU RSES ETC TARPAVING A HOBMAN CO Ltd Stockholm Road South Bermondsey SE16 Telephone BEBMOXD-SEY 31612 The Building Front of the COMMODORE Cinema at King St Hammersmith is executed in IVORY HATHERNWARE TERRA COTTA Manufactured and Fixed by THE HATHERN STATION BRIK TERRA COTTA CO LTD LOUGHBOROUGH Manufacturers of Clazed Vitreous Glazed Unglazed Terra Cottas POLYCHROME WORK A SPECIALITY Rustique Facing Bricks Staffordshire Blue Bricks Stoneware Tanks Etc CIO PLETC VULCAN SYSTEM COUNTER WEIGHTING all- itNl otnstruetton specially dsgnd Steel Screens Lowering Towers for Movietone Lariorn Lights ever Stage and Automat Steel Shutters ter Projection Room FRANK BURKITT STEELWORK BY RUBERYOWEN Co Inspect our material at the above or any of the following Cinemas Bradford Road Portsmouth Drake Street Rochdale Green St Upton Park London Park Place Leyton London Tramway Av Stratford London SWITCH BOARDS MIILNS ELECTRICAL CO 17 Whitefriars Strat EC4 City 2338 0 AUTOMATIC TICKET MACHINES AUTOMATICKET LTD 197 Wardour Street SWl Gerraril 1020 Stratford Rd Hall Green Birmingham ESTIMATES and SAMPLES Fit EE ON APPLICATION Telephone: 611 LOUGHBOROUGH Telegra Telegrams: BRICKS HATHERN STATION HAND RAILING MORAY ENGINEERING CO (ENG) LTD lOO Hacklord Road Brixton SWl STEEL LOCKERS FITTINGS SAN KEY-SH ELDON 40 Cannon Street EC4 Central 8656 ARC REGULATING RESISTANCES MICKELWRIGHT LTD Alperton Wembley METAL WINDOWS and CEILING LIGHTS JAMES and CO LTD Willesden Junction NW Wiliesde-n 2701 (2 IMITATION MARBLE PROMARBLE LTD West Heath Work Mill Lane West Hampstead NW6 Wembley 0147 THOMAS EDGE Public Works Contractors BUILDERS OE THE COMMODORE THEATRE onlwich SE iUva a.