Last Flight Of The Phoenix Cinema

A chance discussion lead to this visit to the former Phoenix Cinema, Kirkwall in 2001. Built in 1954/55 it was replaced in 1998 and has since been demolished. For many Orcadians it is a place of treasured memories as cinema's tend to be in most folks hearts.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Phoenix
• Cinema
• Kirkwall
• Orkney
• Movies
• Film

[PictureHouseCinema]

You should have seen our response to Historic Scotland's view on not listing our local cinema. They did however list a phone box in town!

[NN2Blue]

Was demolition the only course of action? Or was it simply a matter of local finances?

Mike

[PictureHouseCinema]

The local council that owned it, replaced it with an all new cinema, the contents were sold off buy public auction although some things were kept. I think one of the projectors may be for sale on ebay. Orkney council isn't too badly off, they've got oil money. Unfortunately the cinema wasn't a listed building. The council used the site to build a womens' refuge.

[robmasterman]

Excellent record of a much missed part of our past..some piano music as a background might have been nice..5*..Bob

[PictureHouseCinema]

Thank's Bob. Our films normally do have sound and music but it's not always included on youtube simply for copyright reasons but otherwise it would be there.

[GKSIMPLEX]

Amazing !

[TimothyBreeding]

Luckily they saved a Tucson Arizona theater from being demolished and was refurbished through donations,it was built in 1929, it is really sad that we cannot keep our historical sights and let future generations see the past.