The Notting Hill Electric Theatre opened on 27 February 1911, with its premiere presentation being Henry VIII (1911). The theatre was sold to Harry Hyamson in 1919, who changed the venue’s name to the Imperial Playhouse. Regardless of its new name, the theatre continued as a motion picture venue well into the 1960s.

Neighborhood decline as well as a diminishing reputation as a venue took its toll on the Imperial Playhouse. Sometime in the late 1960s to early 1970s, a group of film enthusiasts including Peter Howden began hosting Electric Cinema Club screenings of rare films on Friday and Saturday nights. The successful film series of presentations were so successful, the theatre owner asked the Electric Cinema Club group to take over operation of the venue.

The theatre is now known as the Electric Cinema Theatre.

References: Electric Cinema Theatre website.