Cannon Birmingham
A bold gesture in Birmingham’s early film landscape, the Futurist opened in 1919 after a long gestation period with delays in construction caused by the war.
Its proprietor Sol Levy – who also owned the Scala – was passionate about good design and music, and both were important selling points for the cinema during the 1920s.
In March 1929 it was the first Birmingham picture-house to show ‘talkies’, leading to queues around the block and the loss of the Futurist’s in-house orchestra.
Split into two screens during the early 80s and later became a Cannon, finally closing with Robin Hood Prince of Thieves in 1991.
81-91 John Bright St, Birmingham B1 1BL
Get your own mini Futurist cinema, created by Spaceplay. Visit the shop.
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“Little more than a decade ago few people regarded the moving picture as a possible permanency in our sphere of entertainment.
But ‘the few’ who did were right, and to-day the scepticism which then existed is no more.”
Saw Morons from outer space here. Cinema after closure was a gentlemans club for a short while. Building is still standing currently disused.
Fond memories of seeing a lot of great movies here. Saw a preview of LETHAL WEAPON in September 1987. Also the likes of POLICE ACADEMY 1 and 2, RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD PART II, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK on its’ UK reissue in 1982, ET THE EXTRA TERRESTRIAL, which was ruined by a large group of over-enthusiastic teenage secondary school girls. CROCODILE DUNDEE II. My folks saw CAPRICORN ONE here in 1978.
Snuck in to watch TIGHTROPE (1984) and FRIDAY THE 13TH PART V.
Attended the Midland premiere of BACK TO THE FUTURE the same night the Royal Film happened, when Rustie Lee was the guest of honour and a replica of the DeLorean was parked outside. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize they were going to play the whole programme including trailers and adverts beforehand which didn’t please my parents who were waiting outside cos I thought the film was going to start at 8pm and end at 10pm – ended around 11pm in the end.