GRANDEUR OF THE GRANADA
by Bernie Dennison

It was reported recently in the Daily Express that the Granada Tooting was the first cinema to receive Grade 1 listing in this country. The Granada now operates as a Bingo Hall. The announcement evoked very happy memories as I was born less than a hundred yards from the Granada built in 1931. With the coming of sound at the start of the 30’s cinemas were being built with remarkable speed all over the country. Tooting alone could boast of having seven cinemas including the Granada. Fyodor Fyodorovich Kommisarzhevsky the Russian director and set designer (It's thought that his parents were dyslexic Scrabble enthusiasts) was commissioned by the exiled white Russian Sidney Bernstein to bring exotic glamour to this area of South London.
From the outside it is true the building is relatively unassuming. The foyer is impressive enough. An assembly of gothic arch mirrors, faked leaded windows and pilasters with gilded ornamentation, sweeping marble staircases leading to the grand circle. But it is when you pass through the swing doors into the auditorium that you experience the full blast of the designer’s ambition. Under a Renaissance ceiling Komissarzhesky has assembled a bizarre collection of architectural decoration. Cathedral porches, medieval murals, rood screens, heraldic symbols, hanging glass chandeliers. Everything in the main auditorium was a copy of the inside of the Alhambra Palace in Granada.Komissarzhesky was the son of a famous opera singer, he immigrated to England in 1919 and was briefly married to the British actress Peggy Ashcroft. The stage at the Granada was big enough to stage large productions rivalling any West End Theatre. It was also the only suburban cinema to have its own permanent 20 piece orchestra. The Granada was built just as we were coming out of a depression at the start of the 30’s and with war looming at the end of the decade this tended to heighten the wonder and awe that the Granada held with everyone. The Granada was always way ahead of all its rivals, mainly because of its attention to detail and the highly organised way it was managed. The staff uniforms for example. The Usherettes wore gold silk blouses with blue slacks; pill box hats; blue cloaks over one shoulder and white gloves. The Commissioners at the front of house wore an all blue uniform with brass buttons; braided peaked caps; gold epaulets on the shoulders and white gloves. The Senior Doorman was widely known in the area as “Tiny” who was a very imposing figure standing at 6’ 4” and weighing 18 stone. As I only lived yards away from the Granada whenever I passed by before opening time you could see all the staff lined up for inspection by the manager. Always ahead with new innovations there were 2 cash desks with 2 girls in each, one working the ticket dispensing machine and the other issuing fast change down chutes as in the underground stations. The queues simply melted away. Service provided included tea or coffee served at your seat in the interval for a small fee. Also you could change your seat during a performance for a small transfer fee. Disabled clients would be brought in and out by staff at rear exits to avoid steps at the entrance.

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