Southend's long history of cinema

Did you know that between 1898 and 1935, the Southend area was home to 30 cinemas? Entertainment really boomed in this town - first the silent movies, then black and white flicks, the live acts and then colour film.
Many auditoriums were grand and lavish inside. The Astoria on Southend High Street - which opened four years before the start of World War 2 - seated an incredible 2,750 paying customers.