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Cannon Cinema Gallery

Sunderland

A few memories of the Sunderland Cannon from a former patron

The cinema in question is the much-missed former Cannon Cinema, Sunderland, designed by William R. Glen in the art deco style. The cinema had two screens, the first holding 534 and the second 212.

It was situated on the corner of Park Lane and Holmeside right in the heart of the city centre.

Judging by the films on show at the time I would speculate this picture dates from August 1995. Indeed, I went to see 'Casper' at this very cinema during the 1995 school summer holidays! Shortly after this photo was taken the cinema came under the ABC banner, the name under which it was also known prior to becoming a Cannon cinema.

The cinema was closed down, much to the disapproval of local residents, on 29 April 1999, partially due to loss of customers to the dreaded multiplex, a new out-of-town multi-screen cinema complex built at Boldon Colliery 6 miles away in 1997. This left Sunderland as the largest city in England without a cinema of any sort - a shocking indictment on a city which boasted 16 picture houses at its peak.

This unwanted record was held until 27 November 2004 when the multiplex chain Cineworld moved onto Sunderland's riverside. This 12-screen cinema was subsequently rebranded under the Empire

Cinemas banner in 2006.

-February 2008.

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