Thread by @artdecomumbai

#72YearsOfLibertyCinema Inaugurated on 21 March, 1949. The Liberty Cinema, now a Grade-II Heritage Site and also known as “the showplace of the nation” was designed to be both “local and global, modern and traditional’’. M A Ridley-Abbott was appointed the architect (1/7)

Unfortunately, soon after the completion of the first floor, he died in a plane crash while travelling to England on holiday. J B Fernandes completed the construction work.
(2/7)

W. M. Namjoshi, an interior and furniture designer, created the distinctive décor of the theatre’s exterior and interior with the help of Habib Hoosein. One striking details of the cinema's exterior is the theatre’s name spelled out in neon and a streamlined piano keyboard (3/7)

Designed as a multipurpose building, along with its 1200-seat theatre, Liberty Cinema houses shops and offices, the family penthouse, and a preview theatre. The cinema was built sourcing materials from across the globe (4/7)

Image 2 is the grand flight stairs with panelling in Burma teak and white cedar from Canada leading to an enormous ornamental mirror with a clock face. Namjoshi designed a striking modern depiction of a water fountain motif with indirect lighting, on either side of the stage(5/7)

“Incandescent bulbs inside the main and preview theatres create, a stunning multicoloured light show before films are screened. The theatre is a very early example of performative architecture, made possible by an inventive yet simple use of electric light.”-Prof. Mary Woods(6/7)

#ArtDeco #ArtDecoMumbai #LibertyCinema #artdecobuildings #mumbaitheatre #artdecocinema #mumbaihistory #cinema #film #bollywood #IndianIndependence #MaryNWoods #NazirHoosein #HabibHoosein #MARidleyAbbott #WMNamjoshi #JBFernandes #frozenfountain (7/7)