The Picture Palaces of Hillfields

Hillfields does not have any cinemas today. But during its history Hillfields was an important cinema-going area of Coventry. It had four cinemas, three of which still exist today - but in other uses. 

The first cinema in Hillfields was the Coronet in Payne's Lane. It opened in 1910 on the site of the former Coronet Works but closed only three years later in 1913.

The Palladium Picture Palace was opened in King William Street in 1915. It stayed open until 1962 when it closed and was subsequently purchased by the Midland Film Society and was re-opened to show Asian films. There was a fire in 1971and the cinema closed again in 1983. It became a furniture warehouse for a time but was then became Annabel's Casino. 

 
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 The Globe Picture Theatre was opened in Primrose Hill Street in September 1914. 

In 1925 it came under the ownership of Victory Motion Pictures Ltd. and in 1935 it came under the control of the Five Star circuit and then to the Odeon Circuit which refurbished it in the 1940.   

In 1928 it had a  huge orchestral organ fitted and in November 1929 it was refitted with a BTH sound projector. It closed in 1956 and was converted into the Majestic Ballroom which opened in 1957. 

It later became the Orchid Bingo Hall, and then Mecca Bingo and Social Club, then Walkers Bingo Club but it closed again in 1989. In 1990 it re-opened as the Tic Toc Theatre but this closed in 1992. 

 It became Antics in 1993 and is now The Coliseum.

 Memories of Alan Brown, Projectionist
The Alexandra Picture House was created following the conversion of the Alexandra Coffee Tavern in 1917. The first full length talking picture "The Jazz Singer" with Al Jolson was put on there in April 1929..

A fire did extensive damage to the interior of  the premises in 1944. In 1953 the first 3-D film was shown in Coventry at the Alexandra.

In 1969 the cinema closed for alterations and re-opened in 1970 as Theatre One. This was converted to a two screen cinema in 1971 and a three screen cinema in 1974. In 1980 it was purchased by its manager Brian Saunders.

The building is now Generation Night Club.

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