Penultimate Picture Palace

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 15 December 2025 to amend the name and address and reformat the text to current standards

SP5205 612- /19/10033

OXFORD JEUNE STREET (east side) Ultimate Picture Palace

(Formerly listed as Penultimate Picture Palace (former))

GV II Cinema. 1910-11 by John R Wilkins. A warehouse from the early 1920s until 1976, it was restored and updated as the Penultimate Picture Palace. Rendered brick facade, plain tile roof. Simple rectangular plan of single-tier auditorium facing a screen originally painted on to the rear wall. Projection box over entrance.

The facade demonstrates the simple layout adopted in early English cinemas of a central external paybox flanked by an entrance and exit door. This example with Roman Doric columns supporting frieze and segmental top fascia board. The interior with simple panelling once typical of early cinemas; these once common buildings were so primitive as to now be rare.

The Picture Palace or Electra cinema was built for Frank Stuart, owner of the listed Elm Tree public house next door, which is similar in style and with which it forms a strong group.

Source: Paul J Marriott, Early Oxford Picture Palaces, 1978

Listing NGR: SP5261305838