Paris Pullman Cinema

London, England, UK

Demolished 1983

The Disappointed Tourist: Paris Pullman, Ellen Harvey, 2021. Oil and acrylic on Gessoboard, 18 x 24″ (46 x 61 cm). Photograph: Etienne Frossard.

What always comes to mind is The Paris Pullman cinema! I’m still sad to drive past and see a boring block of flats! And I think nobody knows what was here before… a lovely building with bright posters. And think of how many 100’s of times I went to this lovely local cinema. As a teen I went late night every weekend and it was packed. London was dead and it was a place to go at night and see horror films or the Rocky Horror Picture show. Sophie M.

The Paris Pullman was an arthouse cinema, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It was closed and the building sold for redevelopment in 1983. It was originally converted from a gymnasium and called the Radium Picture Playhouse. It is now the site of the Pullman Court apartments. The painting is based on an uncredited photograph in Cinematreasures.org.