Classic Cinema, Fitzalan Square, City Centre

Opened in February 1911 as the Electra Palace, had it's first sound movie in 1930 then it became the news theatre in September 1945, when it showed end to end newsreels of the progress of the second world war, as these were the days before television, and only recently in the televised gulf wars can younger people understand why people would have been keen to experience a theatre like this.
In 1962 the façade of the theatre was altered into a more modern appearence, by cutting off the high tower and cladding the frontage in a metal rail system which allowed the hanging of letters to advertise the forthcoming attractions, and current movies. It shut it's doors as a cinema in 1982, and reverted to use as a sale room until it burned down in 1984.
If you view some historical pictures of this motley parade of buildings, you will notice the Bell hotel building is the only one still standing, as the original corner building was swallowed up in a road widening scheme in the 50s, to replaced by a smaller building, only to be swallowed up completely in the early 1990s in the supertram scheme, which required even more roadway. ( you can see a supertram emerging in the picture). Across the road, the Yorkshire bank building is still standing, and is historically interesting, as it's upper floors and adjacent building was the venue of the sheffield stock exchange. The Nobles Amusements sign is where the Classic was, and around the width of the original building.

You can see some historical pictures of the cinema by following this link to sheffield library services
Press F and search for Fitzalan Square, And Try C and Cinemas

Summary - Classic Cinema ( Electra Palace)