Academy Cinema, former cinema in the Stokes Croft area of Bristol, England, later used as chapel, bar and live venue
Academy Cinema is a Grade II listed building constructed in 1914 in Bristol, featuring Edwardian Baroque architecture with symmetrical brick facades, decorative lunette and oculus windows, and a central recessed entrance approached by steps. The interior contained two seating areas called the stalls and the circle, designed to accommodate moviegoers and theatre audiences.
The cinema opened in 1914 as Cheltenham Cinema under owner Ralph Pringle, later becoming The Plaza and then Academy Cinema, operating as an independent theatre until closing in 1955. After closure, it served as a Christadelphian chapel, reopened in 1998 as The Magic Box pub under Wetherspoon ownership, and functioned from 2008 to 2012 as Jesters Comedy Club.
The building's name The Magic Box references William Friese-Greene, a Bristol-born inventor who helped develop early film technology. This name choice connects the venue's cinema past to its later use as a gathering place, reflecting the city's deep connection to motion picture history.
The building stands on Cheltenham Road in Stokes Croft, a central neighbourhood easily reached with shops and cafes nearby. Since the structure no longer operates for regular public events, visits are best suited for viewing the Grade II listed architecture from outside and exploring the surrounding area.
The building connects to 'The Magic Box,' a 1951 film based on the life of William Friese-Greene, the Bristol-born inventor after whom the later pub was named. This link between a local cinema pioneer and the very space where films once played creates an unusual loop of film history tied to one location.
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