©Photos
August 1998.
Carlton Cinema, O'Connell St, Dublin, by Robinson & Keefe Art Deco Ireland
Opened April 1938, it replaced an earlier cinema built in 1915. It is still extant, but remains closed for cinema use since circa 1995. The auditorium is closed. The cinema foyer is currently out of use having been a bag shop. There was an internet shop upstairs but this seems to be closed now.
Interior This was in a plain deco style, which relied on plain coloured paint and on lighting for effect, but which featured two very large panels, one on each side of screen, showing styilised musical instruments in gold in a tiled type pattern of 20 tiles, five panels across and four down, with some pattern repeats. It had 2,000 seats when built. In latter years it was well known for horror movies. The cinema had a cafe and some limited stage facilities, and it was used for concerts from time to time. Subdivided and closed.
©Photos
August 1998.
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"The Folleyer-upper" - Carlton recent history August 1999 - The Planning Appeal Board approved plans for major redevelopment in this area,- with some modifications to the submitted plans from the developers. A huge new Millennium Mall was to be developed, running from O'Connell Street back to Moore Street , including the Carlton. December 2000 - No change as to use, the Mall project is still awaited. A bamboo scaffold, erected as a somewhat bizarre art project in front of the facade "sets out out to be an aesthetic experience for the public". I would have preferred fixing the then broken upstairs windows myself.January 2001 - the bamboo is now gone. February 2001 - the Carlton was also considered last year as a possible site to replace the existing Abbey Theatre, but this was also rejected. December 2001 - No signs of development yet, there was talk of the Carlton site as a location for a UCI cinema multiplex, but no sign of action. The doubling in size of the nearby UGC multiplex (ex Virgin) in Parnell Street, was also been announced, so the viability of so many new cinema screens so close together must be in question. (From November 2003, the UGC has 17 screens.) December 2001 - there are reports that Dublin Corporation is now to use compulsary powers to acquire the cinema and the empty site next door. March 2002 - the Abbey Theatre is still considering renewal plans but the Carlton site is not now included. June 2002: For use in shooting a film, there have been some temporary additions to the facade. See the update page. Temporary facade view.. January 2003 - the Corporation has won the right to buy the cinema, following a public inquiry, but an appeal to the Courts is now likely! November 2003 : The bag shop remains in
the foyer, as does the internet facility upstairs. March 2004: A court case regarding the compulsary purchase is now complete, a verdict is awaited. The bag shop seems to have closed.
July 2005 A Court judgement in favour of the City is to be appealed. Premises remain out of use. The Abbey use of this site seems to be certainly dead, following suggestions the Abbey move to a new build docklands site. |