Page 155 - Once a copper 10 03 2020

Villa Cross Picture House

Opened in May 1913 as the New Picture
House, it was located at the main
intersection of Heathfield Road, Villa
Road and Lozells Road.

The building was a wonderful example
of an early picture. The facade was
dominated by a huge round ‘Rose’
stained glass window over the main
entrance doors. Figure 71 Villa Cross Picture Palace Vintage photograph, 1943

Inside the auditorium, there were sculptured decorative panels on the side
walls proclaiming ‘The World Before Your Eyes’ that were guarded by statuary
of angels and cherubs. All very charming! Seating was provided in stalls and
circle.

The cinema was re-named Villa Cross Picture Palace. It was taken over by the
Denman/Gaumont circuit from March 1928 and they continued to operate
through the rest of its cinematic life, eventually becoming part of the Rank
Organisation. It closed on 20th April 1970, with Rock Hudson starring in “Ice
Station Zebra” as part of the Rank Organisation. It went over to screening
Asian films of the Bollywood type for a while and then was converted into a
Bingo Hall which closed in September 1984.

Sadly, the Villa Cross Picture House found itself right in the middle of the
Handsworth riots of 9th September 1985 and it was badly damaged in an
arson attack by the rioters. What remained of the building was finally
demolished in 1989. A sad demise of a cinema building that today would be
worthy of Listed status.

Villa Cross Inn

The Villa Cross Tavern stood at the junction
between Lozells Road and Heathfield Road.

It was certainly there in 1879 by that name
and may date from the first half of the 19th
century. The pub was closed after the
Handsworth Riots of 1985.

The 1985 Handsworth riots began after the
earlier menmtioned to occur in Handsworth

Figure 72 The Villa Cross Inn was situated on the started as a result of a minor traffic incident
corner of Lozells Road and Heathfield Road. This on Monday 9 September at 5.00pm when a
th
pub closed in 1985 after the Handsworth Riots of Page155
that year. It is now in use as a community centre. traffic officer put a fixed penalty ticket on
the windscreen of a car parked near to the