Eleanor O’Connor, Green Cinema Dublin, Usher and Gentleman (1930s)

A cinema usher, clad in a dark red uniform, helps a well dressed gentleman into his jacket. In the background are the words ‘GREEN CINEMA’. The usher looks out knowingly from the canvas. The gentleman has unusually delicate, almost feminine features. Is there more going on than meets the eye? The edges of the painting are dark as if the whole scene were viewed through a lens... a clever bit of graphics that was intended to give the image a cinamatic feel.

The painting is signed Eleanor O'Connor. It has the air of other murals / large-scale artworks from the era such as works by Harry Kernoff and Cecil Ffrench Salkeld. If anyone knows anything about Eleanor O'Connor we would love to hear from them. There is a second painting to accompany this one, of a cinema receptionist: equally charming and stylistically similar.

This must have originally been a panel from the lobby of the Green Cinema, one of Dublins largest and few south-city cinemas. Located on Stephen’s Green, it opened in 1935 and closed in 1987, being demolished shortly after. Somehow or other, these two panels were rescued and were found by us recently at a house clearance auction. Although slightly damaged and marked, the colours are vibrant and clean and they still convey the aura of the thirties. 

64 x 90 cm. Oil / water-based paint on board. Signed bottom right. Damage includes scratches and scrapes as shown.

Artworks are on display in our Clare Street shop. National and international shipping can be arranged.