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- The Astor’s Neon Sign is one of the oldest neons still in operation. Manufactured by Claude Neon, and recently re-lamped by Claude. It is now overdue for a full refurbishment
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- The Astor’ main entry foyer. Sloped floor is intended to provide a sense of anticipation leading up to the main stairway
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- The Oval foyer cutting – or more technically Ovoid shape.
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- Rising to the oval foyer we have on display one of the original 35mm film projectors, C&W model, with the original Westrex amplifer system, one of the first amplifier systems designed for a public theatre. It had 15 watts of output – compared to our 15,000 watt system today.
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- Lower walkway and Cloaks (Toilets)
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- Oval foyer features some rare movie posters and historical displays
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- The main stairway makes a simple but bold statement
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- Astor proprietor George surveying the first of our new screen installations, this shot taken from one of the installation cranes.
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- Ceiling light fixure from the upstairs foyer
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- The Astor’s original projector – there were two. These had vitaphone disk players that could play large sound disks – the first way sound was reproduced
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- The actual machine used by architect R. M Taylor to calibrate The Astor’s brilliant acoustics. Mr Taylor was also an acoustic engineer. The acoustic design of the building had to ensure audible sound taking into account 15watts of sound power, and with mostly full houses. The sound system of today has met with the acoustic technologoy of the mid 1930s to produce what you hear today at the Astor.