The Sundrive Cinema, later renamed the Apollo Cinema Sundrive, was a beloved landmark in Dublin’s Kimmage area. Its journey began on 19 September 1935, as far as records indicate, with the screening of West of the Pecos and Cockeyed Cavaliers. However, local anecdotes and contemporary articles suggest that the cinema might have opened earlier with the film Dames. The exact date remains a topic of debate among cinema enthusiasts.
Early Days as Sundrive Cinema
The cinema was built and managed by Sundrive Cinema Ltd., a company incorporated on 12 March 1935. The principal directors were Frederick Croskerry, William Callow (Chairman), and Matthew Heron (Managing Director), who had prior experience with the Grand Central Cinema on O’Connell Street. The construction was overseen by T.J. Kennedy of Phibsborough, who would later build two more cinemas for the company. In April 1935, The ironwork of a cinema which is being erected fell, just when the general steel work was nearing completion. One man who was working on a girder sustained cuts and minor injuries, and was treated at the Meath Hospital and subsequently discharged.
The Sundrive Cinema’s design was functional yet appealing. Patrons entered through a well-decorated vestibule, complete with terrazzo marble steps and steel-enclosed operator’s rooms. Inside, the auditorium featured tip-up seats upholstered in rich tapestry, offering a comfortable viewing experience. Equipped with a 30-foot proscenium and a Western Electric sound system, it also boasted a stage for live performances, including comedians, singers, magicians, and acrobats.
Transition to Apollo Cinema
In 1954, Sundrive Cinema was sold to the Kilmainham Cinema Company, headed by Leo Henry and George Frederick Kearns, alongside builder John J. Smith. Under their stewardship, the cinema underwent significant renovations. It reopened on 7 February 1959 as the Apollo Cinema, showcasing its modernised facilities with a screening of The Bridge on the River Kwai. The upgrades included a giant screen, plush new seating, and improved heating and air conditioning systems, reflecting the growing expectations of cinema-goers.
The Apollo Cinema was part of a trio of cinemas owned by the Kilmainham Cinema Company, which included the Apollo Walkinstown and Apollo Dundrum. Despite these efforts, the suburban cinema market faced increasing challenges in the 1960s due to declining attendance. The Apollo Sundrive was the first of the three to close, ceasing operations around 1972.
Post-Cinema Life and Demolition
After its closure, the building served as a bingo hall for many years, a common fate for cinemas of its era. In 2003, the building was demolished to make way for a new development, which included apartments and ground-floor shops.
Owner / Occupier Information: Thom’s Directory
1937-1949 Sundrive Cinema(no owner name)
We are currently working on researching newspapers, archives and other sources to add more details about this building, the people that occupiped it. If you would like to help with the research or have any details that would help, please email
crumlinwalkinstownhistory@gmail.com
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