Central Cinema, Hobson Street

Central Cinema / Cambridge Automobile and Engineering Co, 21 Hobson Street

History of Cambridge Automobile and Engineering Co

1861 21 Hobson Street

Charles Cowles, 34, groom, b Cambridge
Betsey, 35, b Shelford
William, 14, French polisher, b Ireland
Selina, 11, b Cambridge
Charles, 8, b Cambridge

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1871 ?

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1881 21 Hobson Street

Joseph Gelby, 43, groom, b West Wratting
Emma, 43, b West Wratting
Mary E, 16, b West Wratting

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1891 21 Hobson St

Jesse Butler, 27, groom, b Swaffham Bulbeck
Amelia, 27, b Swaffham Bulbeck
William E, 3 mos, b Cambridge

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1901 21 Hobson Street

William Blackwell, 32, coachman, b Cambridge
Emma, 27, b Hunts
Louisa E, 3, b Cambridge
William A Blackwell, 7 mos,

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1907 09 24

Cambridge Automobile Company applied for a licence to store 1,000 gallons of petroleum and 200 lbs of carbide of calcium on their premises in Hobson Street. The petrol would be stored in an underground chamber, brick-built and lined with concrete. The Inspector of Explosives is satisfied so the council will recommend approval. 07 09 24a
Credit: Mike Petty, Cambridge Hobson Street Scrapbook.

According to artists Santa Claus no longer drives his Russian sleigh; he is now more generally depicted in a magnificent motor car such as those from the Cambridge Automobile Company. Their works and garage in Hobson Street are open day and night, Sundays included, and all repairs effected by a staff of skilled mechanics. – 07 12 20
Credit: Mike Petty, Cambridge Hobson Street Scrapbook.

1910 04 08

The first real flying machine ever delivered in Cambridge arrived at the Hobson Street garage of Cambridge Automobile and Engineering Company. It is an exact counterpart of the monoplane with which M. Bleriot flew across the channel. On Friday the engine, tractor and ignition were tested. It worked splendidly and developed great power, the screw creating a tremendous draught and exerting such a force that, although the machine had not its wings and tail fitted, it took half-a-dozen men to hold it down. 10 04 08a
Credit: Mike Petty, Cambridge Hobson Street Scrapbook.

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1911 The Cambridge Automobile & Engineering Co Ltd

Harry Smith, 26, garage man (in charge), b Trumpington

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1913

Cambridge Automobile and Engineering Co Ltd

R de la Rue & Cuthbert Foster, managing directors
H Oswin Mills, secretary

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1916

1916 03 15

Cambridge Automobile and Engineering Company new works on corner Hobson St & Sidney Street – profile – 16 03 15h, advert 26 03 08g
Credit: Mike Petty, Cambridge Hobson Street Scrapbook.

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1921

Central Cinema opened and was rebuilt in 1930.

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1923 10 12

The long-waited for reopening of the Central Cinema, Hobson Street, Cambridge, took place in the presence of a good attendance. This popular house of amusement had so established itself with the lovers of the silent drama that its temporary withdrawal from the ranks of amusement caterers has caused no little concern. Not a few patrons felt that if a particular film did not altogether appeal to them, there was always a good orchestra to listen to, and this is doubtless one of the secrets of the Central’s success. Under the renewed direction of Miss Norma Thomson the orchestra is better than ever, and some distinctly appropriate music was played with skill and efficiency.
Credit: Mike Petty, Cambridge Hobson Street Scrapbook.

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1927 09 24

Damage estimated at £2,000 was caused by a fire which broke out at the Cambridge Motor Service Co. Hobson Street. The night watchman found that motor cycle department, which also stored several cars, was alight and among the vehicles which were badly burned were a Bugatti racing car, an Austin Seven, a Trojan van and a number of motor cycles and bicycles. Some people returning from the New Theatre were attracted down Hobson Street and watched the Fire Brigade at work.
Credit: Mike Petty, Cambridge Hobson Street Scrapbook.

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1928

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1930 01 15

An application was made for the winding up of the Cambridge Service Motor Company of Hobson Street. It had been incorporated as a private company in 1923, taking over the Service Motor Company engineering business. Their account was considerably overdrawn for much of its existence and it now had an overdraft of £6,744. The assets consisted of a number of used motor-cars of no great value. It was unable to pay its debts and should be wound up. 30 01 15 & 15a
Credit: Mike Petty, Cambridge Hobson Street Scrapbook.

1930 01 21

There was a return of undergraduate hooliganism when hundreds of ‘Varsity men rushed one of the entrances of the Central Cinema in Hobson Street in an attempt to see the extraordinary British talkie ‘High Treason’. The trouble arose with those who had booked their seats. The orderliness of the queue became disorganised through latecomers surging round the entrance and when the door was thrown open a dense and disorderly crowd surged forward like an avalanche. The attendants attempted to stem the tide but were bruised in their struggle to stop in inevitable onrush. “Such a thing has never occurred before; the undergraduates were undoubtedly the cause, they think they can do as they like. We never had all this fuss in the vacation and we had full houses then”, the manager said. 30 01 21
Credit: Mike Petty, Cambridge Hobson Street Scrapbook.

1930 03 27

Cambridge Motor Service Company had taken over a firm of motor engineers and garage proprietors in Hobson Street and hoped to acquire the business of Hunnybun and Son, coachbuilders and painters. Then in 1927 they spent £2,000 to purchase a large stock of electric lamps which were being retailed at a considerable profit. But the British Thompson-Houston Company issued a writ and the present stock of lamps was now valueless. In addition the depression in the motor trade for used cars and dealings in sports cars for which there was at one time a good demand among undergraduates had contributed to their failure. 30 03 27a & b
Credit: Mike Petty, Cambridge Hobson Street Scrapbook.

1930 10 11

For the past few months workmen have been engaged in constructing Cambridge’s new Central Cinema in Hobson Street. The interior is decorated in a style reminiscent of the Regal Super Cinema at Marble Arch. The prevailing colours are mauve, orange and blue and the whole is surmounted by a dome in the form of a large star surrounded by sky effects. On each of the walls there are large panels with ornamental plastering surmounted by a design in the form of sunrise and illuminated by hidden lights. 30 10 11
Credit: Mike Petty, Cambridge Hobson Street Scrapbook.

1930 10 13

Crowds thronged Hobson Street endeavouring to gain admission to the opening of the new Central Cinema. Many were unsuccessful. The Mayor gave a civic blessing to the picture house: it was appropriate because the assessment value of the property would go up and Hobson Street was going to pay a large contribution to the rates. The film was Harold Lloyd’s first talkie ‘Welcome Danger’. 30 10 13
Credit: Mike Petty, Cambridge Hobson Street Scrapbook.

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1930

Central Cinema built

Cambridge Historic Core Appraisal report notes the tiled glazed facade and its Egyptienne style.

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1931 09 04

Inquiries by the News confirm that the Central Cinema in Hobson Street is perfectly sound, despite rumours to the contrary. As part of the building is over the old King’s Ditch, special attention was paid to the concrete foundations and reinforced with steel. The balcony, designed to carry 500 people, will take 2,000. The whole building is as sound today as it was when completed nearly 12 months ago. The only possible work is the renewal of some of the decorations as these were applied to wet plaster. 31 09 04e
Credit: Mike Petty, Cambridge Hobson Street Scrapbook.

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1939

Fire at Central Cinema spread to Cambridge Motor Service Company causing £2,000 damage.

1939 04 25

The Central Cinema, Hobson Street, was burnt to a shell in the early hours of the morning. Only the fire-proof operating box, the foyer, crush hall and some of the back stalls remain intact. Firemen hauled hoses up to the roof of the Dorothy Café and from the high ladder of the Merryweather turntable in Hobson Street P.C. Kelly poured another stream of water on to the flames. But after an hour-and-a-half the roof fell in amid a shower of sparks. There was concern about Christ’s College chapel where the roof had been removed because of damage done by the death watch beetle and only a tarpaulin covered the wooden ceiling. But a shower of rain helped to prevent it catching alight 39 04 25a, b
Credit: Mike Petty, Cambridge Hobson Street Scrapbook.

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1949 08 26

There was an atmosphere of spontaneous gaiety at the birthday celebrations of the Central Cinema, Hobson St, Cambridge. The highlight of the evening was the personal appearance on the stage of Mrs Morrow-Tait, immediately after the newsreel showing her arrival in this country following her round-the-world air journey.
Credit: Mike Petty, Cambridge Hobson Street Scrapbook.

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1962

Central Cinema

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1972 03 24

It was “eyes down” for the first time last night in Cambridge’s new £10,000 bingo hall which will offer enthusiasts an almost non-stop programme throughout afternoons and evenings six days a week. The bingo hall which can accommodate nearly 1,000 players at a single sitting, is in the converted former Central Cinema in Hobson Street
Credit: Mike Petty, Cambridge Hobson Street Scrapbook.

1977 01 15

The Central EMI Bingo and Social Club, a converted cinema in Hobson Street, Cambridge, could quite comfortably have found a place in the zaniest of science fiction movies – with its brash psychedelic mish-mash of colours and huge electrically operated board that rises high behind the caller. The four-year-old club has 10,000 members and is an addict’s paradise – open every afternoon and evening except Sunday and with hundreds of pounds at stake at each session. On Saturday the club linked up by phone to the EMI club in Oxford for a game which boasted a £400 jackpot. In the few seconds between games people dashed for the fruit machine which spills out its £30 jackpot in 50p pieces
Credit: Mike Petty, Cambridge Hobson Street Scrapbook.

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2021

Building of Local Interest. Planning proposals for the site were published in 2021. A commentary on these can be found here:

Save Cambridge’s Art Deco cinema!

2024

The owner of the Central Cinema site has published plans to redevelop it which involve the demolition of the building including its fascia. This has prompted complaints from organisations such as the Cinema Theatre Association and has led to some interesting documents coming to light which are examined in the following article.

The Cinema Theatre Association’s history of the Hobson Street Cinema