You don’t need an architecture degree to appreciate the many Art Deco buildings that pepper Sydney’s urban landscape. Granite, chrome, brick and glass detail with smooth curves and bandings throughout: it’s a stimulating look that appeals to a wide audience. The class and appeal of Art Deco has resulted in an association with the glitz and glamour of Hollywood and cinema, one that has stood the test of time.

Post-war Sydney was once rich with Art Deco cinemas and they were often a centrepiece of the local shopping strip. Inexpensive and suitable for all ages, films are an ideal shared experience and still draw local communities together today. Much like Art Deco, you don’t need film school to know a decent flick.

Today, the neighbourhood cinema is no longer a common fixture in Sydney. The urgency for more convenient entertainment like streaming video content and the seemingly unstoppable run of the shopping mall have been challenging local cinemas since colour television first entered homes. Over the years, some wonderful Art Deco cinemas have been torn down or reappropriated throughout the city. Hitchcock would not be pleased.

Luckily, there are still two (and a half) cinemas that continue to provide a traditional cinema experience within their original, purpose-built structures. These cinemas remain as much community amenities as they are cultural institutions.

The Ritz – 45 St Pauls Street, Randwick

The Ritz is the Art Deco centrepiece of the ‘The Spot’ of Randwick. Built in 1937, the heritage-listed building is the last known surviving cinema designed by Arron Bolot, who designed many Art Deco cinemas in Australia. It’s a popular multiplex of six theatres delivering both contemporary and revival cinema with pristine period features preserved.

As a part of the wider Randwick community, the Ritz provides for all residents with special Mums’n’Bubs screenings, filmmaker Q&As, both art house and current titles, as well as the Ritz Bar which hosts a weekly film trivia night.

The Ritz offers great value for money compared to the large chain cinemas with a small coke, popcorn and choc-top criminally under priced at $8. Bless.

The Hayden Orpheum – 380 Military Road, Cremorne

Originally opened in 1935, the Orpheum was a full-service theatre offering both cinema screenings and live cast performances to Sydney’s North Shore community. Following a purchase by developers, the building was briefly used as a shopping centre before Australian television personality Mike Walsh OBE purchased the picture house and restored it’s former glory. Now the Hayden Orpheum, the five-theatre complex offers regular contemporary and revival cinema screenings and is a regular fixture of the Sydney International Film Festival. They even have a wine list.

Aside from a rare collection of functioning celluloid and digital projectors, the interior of the Hayden Orpheum houses some pristine Art Deco highlights including a gold bas relief sculpture of Australian champion runner Matt Shirvington within one of the cinemas.

The Golden Age – 80 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills

The recently restored, heritage-listed Paramount Building was once the home of Paramount Pictures in Sydney. Hidden within this late Art Deco structure is the Golden Age cocktail bar and cinema. Once the original Paramount Pictures screening room, the Golden Age has been beautifully restored and it’s easy to imagine directors, producers and film execs of the time watching the daily cuts and final edits of new feature films in this space.

Let’s be honest: there aren’t many cinemas anywhere where you can watch a 35mm print while sipping on a decent Old Fashion. And at just 40 seats, it’s the closest most of us will get to a private cinema. In the mix of contemporary and revival cinema program is the popular Tuesday night ‘Golden Age Price’ film, where a ticket matches the price of admission of when the film was originally released, wonderfully redefining ‘Tight-arse Tuesday’.

Sydney is still a great city for both cinema and Art Deco architecture. A strong art house scene, multiple suburban cinema complexes and many annual film festivals keep cinema buffs happy year-round. That said, there’s still a certain magic that makes catching a film at the Ritz, Golden Age or the Hayden Orpheum a memorable experience every time.