The former Futurist cinema on John Bright Street in Birmingham, once an ‘adult’ nightclub and shisha lounge, has been granted Grade II listed status following an application by the Victorian Society’s Birmingham & West Midlands Conservation Adviser and support from C20 Society.

Designed in 1914 by architect Arthur Stockwell, construction of the building was delayed by the First World War, with the grand opening finally taking place on 30 July 1919. The first film to be screened at the cinema was D.W. Griffith’s war drama, ‘The Great Love’.

The Futurist was damaged during an air raid in the Birmingham blitz in November 1940, which forced it to close, reopening in April 1943. Later, it was divided into two screens in the 1980s and was known as the Cannon Cinema, before it eventually closed in September 1991. In subsequent years, the building was converted into an ‘adult’ nightclub, seafood restaurant, a lap dancing club, and then lay empty for several years.

Talkies

The Futurist was the first in the city to show ‘talkies’ – films with recorded dialogue that played in synch with the images on screen, as opposed to the silent films which were largely recorded and played without sound.

‘The Singing Fool’ was first shown in March 1929, the year when talkies first appeared in English. The screening was immensely popular and marked a shift in cinema popularity, with The Futurist a pioneer in adapting to this new type of film.

Built in a classical style with brick, stone and terracotta dressings, the exterior survives remarkably well given its status as a very early cinema. It is described in the 2022 Pevsner guide as having a “Classical, rather civic design in pink-red brick and cream terracotta. Open Ionic arcade above entrance.” The façade on John Bright Street has two storeys of red brick with buff terracotta dressings. The design has classical elements and has high quality stone detailing.

Catherine Croft, Director of C20 Society, commented:

“Over 105 years of history, the Futurist has been a real survivor: From trailblazing early ‘talkies’ to blockbuster favourites, since closing as a cinema it’s been an ‘adult’ nightclub, shisha lounge, and a seafood restaurant.

 But no matter the times, the value and versatility of 20^th century heritage endures. It’s wonderful to see this handsome old gent of a building now recognised with national listing.

Historic England Regional Director (Midlands), Louise Brennan, added:

“Given its age, The Futurist still looks fantastic, it has an imposing presence befitting of its pioneering role. It survived attack from the Luftwaffe and the redevelopment of Birmingham and now benefits from the recognition and protection of listed status.”