Gaumont State Cinema, Kilburn, London

Architect	George Coles FRIBA
Date Built	1936- 7
Location	Kilburn High Road, NW6
Description
This Grade II Listed former cinema is described by Historic England as. ".... One of the largest and most impressive movie palaces ever constructed in Britain, the Gaumont State, Kilburn had the greatest audience capacity of any English cinema (4,004 seats). Both externally and internally, George Coles brilliantly orchestrated the decoration and space -the latter demonstrated by the subtle planning of the route between the main entrance and the auditorium achieved by placing a rotunda midway along the axis. .... .... The High Road facade is a building of monumental proportions, crowned by a soaring tower. The facade lies back from the street to align with the buildings to either side and is in the Moderne style, symmetrical and clad in cream-coloured faience." "The Willesden Lane frontage is also faience-clad with vertical windows over doors originally serving both as a separate entrance to the cinema restaurant and as emergency exits. " The Cinema Treasures website adds that it was, "... Initially a project of the Hyam’s brothers, the Gaumont State Theatre was opened by Gaumont Super Cinemas on 20th December 1937 with an ‘All Star Variety Show’ on stage, with stars appearing including Gracie Fields, Larry Adler, George Formby and Henry Hall & his Band and the opening was broadcast live on the BBC radio. The variety show had a five days run, then the Gaumont State Theatre showed its first film programme; Shirley Temple in “Wee Willie Winkie” and Jed Prouty in “Big Business” plus a stage show from 27th December 1937. The Gaumont State Theatre was the largest movie palace ever built in England and the third largest in the United Kingdom. The theatre’s 4,004 seating capacity was split between a massive 1,356 seat balcony and an orchestra level which seated 2,648."