|
Site: The Royal Enfield (former Chicago Rock & Danilo Cinema) Unicorn Hill, Town Centre |
Grid Reference: SP 0395 6765 |
|
|
|
|
Description: |
|
|
Cinema, now restaurant. 1937 by Ernest S. Roberts for Mortimer Dent with late 20th century alterations. Brown brick with herringbone relief pattern, part stuccoed, with stone dressings and flat roof behind parapet. Roughly rectangular plan. 2 storeys. Art Deco style. Simple exterior treatment with decoration largely confined to main faade which has rusticated and rendered plinth, large square stuccoed recess with canted sides and part rusticated and part moulded detail to outer edge. Ground floor has run of modern glazed doors with fanlights above. Original shaped canopy above. Three long narrow windows above canopy have stepped heads set within recessed panels and retain original stained glass. Canted sides both have four small rectangular openings, also with original stained glass. Other elevations of building have decorative inset brick courses at plinth level and raised brick courses at eaves level beneath parapet. Also stone banding at plinth level. Side elevation to Unicorn Hill has narrow projection with similar detail and also three decorative rectangular panels of brickwork and three inserted windows. Interior has been much altered but some original fixtures and fittings remain on the upper floor near the front of the building. One of a series of new supercinemas built for Dent in the region. It was opened by Lady Throckmorton on 4 February 1937. It has recently (2010) be re- |
|
|
Significance: |
|
|
This fine Art Deco building has survived with relatively little alteration externally and its simple and striking faade incorporates some original stained glass. Although little remains of its original interior, externally the building maintains its architectural identity and its distinctive profile frames the views west from this part of the town centre |
|
|
History: |
|
|
The Danilo Cinema was opened on 4th February 1937 with Jean Marsh in �Children of Divorce�. It was the second cinema to be built as a part of the Danilo Cinemas chain. The Danilo Cinema had seating provided in stalls and circle levels. It had a 40 feet wide proscenium and a small stage. Later operated by Southan Morris from 1945, it was taken over by the Essoldo chain on 26th August 1954, and re- Subsequent operators were the Cannon Group from 1984, ABC and latterly Odeon Theatres. The Odeon was closed on 18th March 1999. In 2002, it was converted into a Chicago Rock Cafe, and on 28th May 2010, it re- |
|
