Kilburn: The former Gaumont State Cinema

Image: © Nigel Cox Taken: 19 Aug 2007

The Gaumont State Cinema opened in December 1937 and was the largest single auditorium cinema ever built in England with a seating capacity of 4,004. 2,648 of these were in the stalls and 1,356 on the balcony. Over the years changes in the demands of the public meant that gradually more and more space was taken over for bingo, until eventually in 1990 the building's use as a cinema ceased entirely, and it became a bingo hall only. However in recent years the bingo venture itself had been losing money and the owners of the building, the Rank Group plc, decided to cease operations. The building appeared in a run-down state when photographed on 19 August 2007, with the faulty neon sign symptomatic of its state. Unbeknownst to the photographer this was in fact its last day of operation, having just failed to reach its 70th birthday of entertaining the public. The cinema was designed by the architect George Coles and the 120 feet high tower was meant to resemble the Empire State Building in New York. The building was Grade II listed in 1980, but its future is uncertain. The road is the A5 Kilburn High Road, which is the former Roman road of Watling Street.

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