Northwest Region

Mike Taylor is Regional co-ordinator for the North West since 1984. Mike has been a member of PPT for 26 years

ABC FUTURIST LIVERPOOL & REX BERKHAMSTED

Opened on 16th September 1912, the Lime Street Picture House seated 1,029 seats in the stalls and circle. Dummy boxes with a riotous pediment were either side of the screen opening and looked down into the orchestra pit. The lower walls were panelled in a dark oak wood. An unusual feature for such an early cinema was the provision of a lift for the circle patrons. There was a cafe-lounge located on the first floor. It was re-named City Picture House from 14th August 1916.

In 1920 the City Picture House was renamed the Futurist Cinema, a name the closed and derelict building still bears.

The Futurist Cinema managed to retain its hold even with competition from the large Paramount (Odeon) and Forum (ABC) which sometimes forced the Futurist into taking off-circuit films. 

In May 1954 Twentieth Century Fox took over the cinema as their Cinemascope venue in the city and it was equipped with a large screen, re-opening on 20th May 1954 with Tyrone Power in "King of the Khyber Rifles".

In 1960, the Futurist was acquired by ABC and was equipped with 70mm/Todd-AO re-opening on 10th July 1960 with Gordon Macrea in "Oklahoma" which ran for 20 weeks. It became ABC's roadhouse cinema in Liverpool.

The Futurist Cinema was closed on 17th July 1982 with Mel Brook's "History of the World-Part 1" and "Blazing Saddles". The condition inside this once proud theatre is now very poor and dangerous. The two Philip's DP 70 projectors which were originally at the Futurist are still showing movies today some 50 years after the original installation. The projectors are now installed at the Rex Berkhamsted. Pictures by Mike Taylor. Editorial Fred J Fullerton

DP 70's in the Rex Berkhamsted

DP 70's in the Rex Berkhamsted

DP 70's in the Rex Berkhamsted

Original Installation in the ABC Futurist Liverpool

Experiences of a 1940 projectionist

Curzon Collection