John Knight's Cinemas
During his architectural career, John Knight designed an impressive nineteen* cinemas. He also worked as a consultant for cinema circuit owners, offering valuable advice on the viability of their acquisitions as they expanded their chains. In many cases, he suggested practical adaptations and enhancements, such as increasing seating capacity by adding a balcony to single-floor cinemas.
*Two cinema designs, one for the proposed Regal Cinema on St. Petersgate in Stockport, and another for the proposed Roxy on Old Street Ashton-Under-Lyne unfortunately didn’t go further than the planning stage.
Source: Manchester Victorian Architects Organisation
Eccles Picture Theatre
Church Street, Eccles - opened 28th June 1912 - Seats: 403
This was John Knight's first cinema design
The Salford Electric Empire Theatre
Trafford Road, Ordsall - Opened Nov 1912 - Seats: 1,000
Queen’s Picture Theatre
Stockport Road Longsight, Manchester - 1913 - Seats: 850
Premier Cinema
Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester - 1913 Seats: 550
Shaftesbury Cinema Theatre
Stockport Road Longsight, Manchester – 1913 - Seats: 1,050
New Popular Cinema
Chapman Street, Hulme, Manchester - 1913 - Seats: 700
Claremont Super Cinema
Claremont Road, Whalley Range, Manchester
Opened 1st February 1923 - Capacity: 1,699
Premier Super Cinema
Cheetham Hill Road, Cheetham Hill, Manchester
Opened 3rd August 1925 - Capacity; 1,887
Ambassador Super Cinema
Langworthy Road, Pendleton, Salford
Opened Christmas Eve 1928 - Capacity: 1,820
Kingsway Super Cinema
Moseley Road & Kingsway, Levenshulme, Manchester
Opened 14th March 1929 - Capacity: 1,810
Corona Super Cinema
Moss Road, Stretford
Opened 16th November 1929 - Capacity: 936
West End Super Cinema
Whalley Range, Manchester - opened on 8th December 1930, his last known cinema design to be completed.
Capacity: 2,032
© 2023 - 2024 The Ambassador Super Cinema Salford - All rights reserved.