Phoenix Cinema
From Freepedia
The Phoenix Cinema is an independent cinema in East Finchley, London, which was opened in 1910 as the 'East Finchley Picturedrome'. It is probably the oldest continuously-serving cinema in the UK, and shows mainly arthouse films.
It first showed films with sound in 1929 (then known as the 'Coliseum'), and in 1937 the building was redesigned and rebuilt in a more art deco style and reopened as the 'Rex' in 1938. It took its current name in 1975 and concentrated on showing independent, foreign and specialist films, as it does today. The cinema was then sold in 1985 but was saved by local residents (lead by Maureen Lipman) and is now part of a trust, relying on its own income and donations to survive.
It is distinctive on East Finchley's high road by its large neon sign on the side of the building. Its patrons are Maureen Lipman, Mike Leigh, Michael Palin, Bill Paterson, and Victoria Wood.
