UPP
This is the page for Ultimate Picture Palace cinema, Jeune Street.
Contents
1995 - 2017
In 1995, the cinema re-opened as the Ultimate Picture Palace (UPP).
In 2011 Becky Hallsmith bought the UPP and "set[s] about restoring the cinema to its former glory"[1]. In the same year a film about the cinema, entitled "The Ultimate Survivor" premiered.
In 2014 the cinema held a (successful) Kickstarter campaign to raise money for new seats.
As of 2017, it continues to thrive and is a Grade II listed cinema [2].
1994
The cinema, which had been closed and unused for some time was squatted for a month, during which it was called the "Section 6 cinema", Section 6 being the part of the 1977 Criminal Law Act which makes it an offence for an owner to attempt to use or threaten violence to enter an occupied premises and hence protects squatters from illegal eviction.
1976 - 1990
The cinema was called the Penultimate Picture Palace(PPP). In 1976 Bill Heine, the owner of the PPP invited his friend sculptor John Buckley to design its fixtures. For the facade he chose a figure reminiscent of Al Jolson with outstretched hands. The door handles were like Mae West's lips, and there was a female and a male figure above the toilet entrances, named Pearl and Dean. In 1986 Buckley made the famous shark at Heine's Headington house.
? - 1976
At some point the building was used for storing furniture.
1917 - ?
After the manager was called up for war service, the cinema lay abandoned for many years.
1911 - 1917
Local entertainment magnate Frank Stuart, who also owned Oxford's first cinema, the Electric Theatre on Castle Street and the East Oxford Theatre (now known as the 106). In addition he was the licensee of the Elm Tree pub and the cinema was built in the stable yard of that pub to a design by architect John Wilkins. The cinema opened its doors on 24 February 1911 with a (invitation-only) showing of the 1910 film The Bad Man and the Preacher, starring Gilbert M. 'Broncho Billy' Anderson and John B. O'Brien [3].
Before then?
Cowleyroad.org is a DIY community history - help us write it!
Do you know more about this business, or remember what was at this address before? Do you have any old photographs or memories to share? Please add them to the site! Here is a how-to guide.
