'Aldi Stores Ltd
Public Art Commis'sion
"Replaying The Brookfield Hydro"
To mark the completion and opening of their Poynton store,
Aldi have commissioned this artwork to commemorate the
Brookfield Hydro Cinema which formerly stood on this site.
Built in 1938, the building was designed with an art deco frontage.
As well as housing a 920 seat cinema, it also served as a social centre
with a first floor café and a dance hall. The local amateur dramatic society,
The Poynton Players used the venue to host several of their productions
until they built their own theatre in 1949. The first film shown was
"Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" starring Shirley Temple.
During the war years after a short closure, the cinema continued
to operate and charity balls were held to raise funds for war charities.
In 1947 the building was sold to
The Poynton and Worth Co-operative Society but continued as a
cinema until 1957. In 1967 the building was sold to the adjoining
Brookfield Garage Motors and then served as a car showroom and garage.
The café floor became a reataurant and dance floor. Subsequently it
became a fitness club and latterly a nightclub before finally closing its
doors in 2004. After this time the building fell into disrepair.
This sculpture is fabricated from weathering and stainless steel
with a viteous glass mosaic inlay, as a reference to the art deco style of
the original frontage. the panel depicts the Brookfield Hydro Cinema in
its hay day [sic] with a shaft of projected light in polished stainless
steel to symbolise the silver screen. Highlighted in the beam are
Charlie Chaplin and Greta Garbo, film icons of the era.
Joanne Risley on behalf of Aldi Stores Ltd
Febrauary 2016
www.joannerisley.co.uk'
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