An album of photographs recording the construction of the Savoy Cinema, O'Connell Street, Dublin and its appearance on completion.

The M. Michael Corcoran’s Photograph Albums contain photographs taken by Mother Michael Corcoran IBVM (1846-1927), Superior General of the Loreto Sisters. M. Michael was a self-taught photographer who used her camera to capture religious sisters, ministries, pupils, employees and friends of Loreto communities in Ireland and across the world. In 1902, M. Michael became the first Superior General to undertake a visitation of the IBVM communities in India and Australia and her photographic collection consists mainly of images captured during this international visitation. The albums also include images of Loreto Abbey, Rathfarnham taken in 1905 and images of Loreto Convent, Balbriggan taken between 1906 and 1907. Her albums should be of interest to anyone interested in M. Michael Corcoran IBVM as an educator or as IBVM Superior General, researchers interested in early 20th century photography, local history, early 20th century convent or school life in Ireland, and in foreign provinces.

Showing the ground floor and balcony seating and wall decoration.

Showing the Fr Mathew statue in the centre foreground. On the street in front of the site is an ass-drawn advertising cart with notices for ‘Katie Sandwina (The Strongest Woman in the World) First Time in Ireland’.

Showing the site notice which reads ‘A Cinematograph Theatre/is being erected on this site/To seat 3,000 persons’. The builders are listed as Meagher & Hayes of Cork and Dublin, and the architect as ‘F.C. Mitchell L.R.I.B.A. London W.1’, with various contractors listed as follows: Steelwork: Messrs Blake & Co. Ltd, Sheffield. Heating & Ventilation: Messrs J. Jeffreys & Co. Ltd, London. Steel Casements: Messrs Critalls & Co. Ltd, London. Electrical Installation: Theatre Equipemnt LTd, Dublin. Lifts: Waygood Otis Ltd, London. Portland Stone: H. & J. Martin Ltd, Dublin. Stone Carving: William J. Greene, Dublin. Fibrous Plaster & Decoration: Alex Malcolm & Co. Ltd, Dublin. Seating & Furnishing: -, Dublin Plastering: -, Dublin Plumbing: -, Dublin. Sanitary Fittings: -, Dublin. Granite: Osborne & Brady, Ballyknocken, Wicklow.

Showing bare structure awaiting decoration.

Showing a crane and structural steel in place.

Savoy Cinema site works: external south side elevation

Showing site clearance and ground works in progress. Visible are buildings on west side of O’Connell Street and Fr Mathew Statue, rear of recent completed building 11-13 Upper O’Connell Street on east side of O’Connell Street, top of Nelson’s Pillar, front of building on south side of Cathedral Street and rear of Pro-Cathedral. Large qualities of bricks from demolished structures remain stacked on site awaiting removal.

Showing seating and Venetian themed decorative scheme including Bridge of Sighs proscenium arch, curtain with Doge's Palace and elaborate wall elements.

Showing the first elements of structural steel in place.

Showing advertisements for ‘One Romantic Night’ and ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz’.

Includes the steelwork for an internal dome.

Showing side of the Gresham Hotel, buildings on Thomas Lane, stacks of bricks and remains of basements of demolished structures and works ‘railway’ tracks.

Showing Portland stone finished to first-floor level, scaffold and steelworks. Features an unattended pram at the site entrance.

Showing Portland stone finished to first-floor level, scaffold and steelworks.

Savoy Cinema post completion: view of the auditorium from left side of balcony towards the screen

Savoy Cinema site works: façade stone work nearing completion

Showing the steel frame and external walls (using recycled brick and stone?).

Showing the steel frame and basements under construction.

View of the lobby including entrances to stalls, ticket offices, stairs to ‘Balcony & Restaurant’ and ushers.

Showing the steelworks nearing completion. Also shows a crowd of onlookers.

Showing almost fully enclosed auditorium space from balcony, with steps for seating, towards screen wall.

Shows the site notice in place.