The Coliseum

The 1920s saw the cinema change its name to The Coliseum and become the first cinema in the area to screen a sound film.
The cinema’s name was changed to The Coliseum in 1924. At this time, the typical programme was silent movies accompanied by live music, plus variety acts such as singers, magicians and comedians. But in 1928, British cinema went through a huge transformation when the first sound film, The Jazz Singer, featuring the voice of the film’s star Al Jolson, premiered in London’s West End. Cinemas across London started the transition to sound and on 22 July 1929 this cinema was the first in the area to show a sound film, screening Al Jolson’s latest The Singing Fool. Maisie Williams remembers coming to see The Singing Fool here in 1929.