Savoy Cinema
| Savoy Cinema | |
|---|---|
 The Savoy Cinema, Dublin during the 2006 Jameson Dublin International Film Festival | |
| Address: | 16-19 Upper O'Connell Street, Dublin 1 |
| Screens: | Originally one, later subdivided into six |
| Opened: | 29 November 1929 |
| Architect: | C.F. Mitchell and W.E. Greenwood |
| Builders: | Meagher & Hayes |
| Seats: | 1,984 |
The Savoy Cinema is the oldest operational cinema in Dublin, and it is the preferred cinema in Ireland for film premières.
History
The cinema was built in 1929 on the site of the old Granville Hotel. The luxurious auditorium, housing 2,789 seats, opened to the public with the film On With The Show. It was altered in 1954 to incorporate a large CinemaScope screen, and showed Ireland's first widescreen feature, The Robe, at the time owned by Odeon Ireland Ltd.
It was reported in February 2012 that the cinema was in danger of closing. In the previous decade, audience numbers fell from 740,000 to 250,000 per annum.[1]
Screens
The Savoy holds the dubious honour of being the most altered cinema in Dublin's history, and in 1969 the cinema was converted into a twin cinema. In 1975, the Savoy's restaurant was converted into a third screen, holding 200 seats, followed in 1979 by further sub-divisions, creating five screens in all. In 1988, the cinema was given its sixth screen. In the process, the Savoy had lost a third of its capacity.
In 2004, renovation work was carried out, moving the box office from the two booths located on either side of the entrance to what was formerly an adjoining shop. The confectionery counter has also moved many times, but is presently at its original location, between the doors of Screen 1.
Premières
The cinema has hosted the Irish premières of many films, most of them having an Irish connection. Films shown here have included Alexander, Once and The Man in the Iron Mask. The cinema is also used during the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival, and is primarily used for big-event screenings such as opening and closing night shows. It also hosts the surprise film, which in 2006 was the first Irish screening of the film, 300.
References
- ↑ Savoy Cinema may face the final curtain Sunday Independent, 2012-02-19.
External links
Coordinates: 53°21′04″N 6°15′38″W / 53.35111°N 6.26056°W
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