RADCLIFFE Lancs

BRIDGE PICTURE HOUSE / PALACE Kenyon Street  Opened 1910 by Geo Testo Sante. By 1941 (BTP) – Props., New Empire (Burnley) Ltd. 540 seats. Booked at Rialto, Rochdale. Twice nightly. Mat., Tues. and Sat. Prices 4d. to 9d. Proscenium width 27ft. Phone 2154. Station, Radcliffe (New) L.M.S.

Circus Pitch T. Statter  (1907)

COLISEUM THEATRE Mellor Street (WE) – Props., New Empire (Burnley) Ltd. 846 seats. Twice nightly. Prices 3d. to 9d. Booked at Rialto, Rochdale. Stage38ft. deep. Twelve dressing-rooms., Phone Radcliffe 2154. Station, Radcliffe (New) L.M.S.

Co-operative Hall Mark Kenyon  (1907)

ODEON THEATRE  Foundry Street/Egerton Street (BTH) Opened 14^th August 1937. Architect: W. Calder Robinson (Harry Weedon). 1,139 seats. 1941 – Props., Odeon (Radcliffe) Ltd., Old County Cinema, Marlow, Bucks. Phone Marlow 695-9. Booked at Moor Hall, Cookham, Berks. Prices 9d. to 1s. 6d. Continuous. Stage. Phone Radcliffe 2080. Closed 27^th April 1957. Various retail uses. Empty in 2005.

OPERA HOUSE  G. T. Sante  (1907)

PICTUREDROME Water Street  (WE) – Prop., New Empire (Burnley) Ltd. 739 seats. Booked at Rialto, Rochdale. Two shows nightly. Mat., Thurs. and Sat. Prices 4d. to 9d. Phone Radcliffe 2086. Proscenium width 26ft. Station, Radcliffe (New).

Queen’s Hall  J. Boothman  (1907)

 

RADLETT Herts

CINEMA / Parish Hall  22 Watling Street (BTH)  Opened Thursday 5^th September 1929 – Legion of the Condemned. 1937: (B.T.H.) Prop., W. J. Wiggs & Co. 300 seats. Phone 6779. By 1941 – Prop., Radlett Cinema, Ltd. Watling Street, Radlett. Phone Radlett 6778. 306 seats. Continuous. Prices 9d. to 2s. Stage and three dressing rooms. Films by Road Transport. By 1945 London & Provincial circuit. Closed Saturday 27^th august 1960 – Bottoms Up and The Rawhide Trail. Now local council – Radlett Hall.

 

RADSTOCK Som

PALACE  1922 – Prop. & Res. Man., D. W. Catter­mole. One show nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s. 3d. Station, Radstock, G.W.R. 1941 – 417 seats. Props.,, Trueman Dicken Cinemas. Phone Radstock 3102. Carpet shop in 2006.

Victoria Hall f., R. Harvey (1907)

 

RAINHAM Kent

PICTURE PALACE  Corrugated iron and wood. 3d or 6d. Pianist Mrs Sayer. Closed c.1923. Later United Services Club on site.

ROYAL CINEMA / ROYAL PICTURE HOUSE London Road  Opened c.1924 – conversion of Salvation Army hall. Prop. and/or Mgr. William Furness Maxwell (ex-Kings, Strood). 395 seats. Prosc. width 22ft. AWH sound. 1937 as RPH: (B.T.P.) Prop., Mrs. C. S. Wills-Rust. 300 seats. By 1941: (BTP) – Prop., A. Thomson. 395 seats. Booked at Hall. Continuous from 2p.m., Suns, included. Prices 9d. to 1s. 6d. Proscenium width 25ft. Phone 81476, Station, Rainham, S.R. 1947 James Boyd – new heating and projection. 1952 badly damaged by fire. To Mrs D. Gass – Darland Cinema Co. New seats, redecorated, reopened – Silver River and Murder in the Air. CinemaScope May 1956 20’-wide screen. 347 seats. Double seats in back row. Closed 5^th March 1966 – Cat Ballou and You must be Joking. Food supermarket, later Lukehurst’s furniture showroom.

WARDONA ?scheme not realised.

 

RAINWORTH nr. Mansfield Notts

PALACE (BTP) – Prop., Rainworth Theatre, Ltd, 440 seats. Once nightly. Twice Sat, Prices 6d. to 1s. 2d. Phone Blidworth 358. Station Mansfield, L.M.S., Films by Road Transport. Closed 1959.

RAINWORTH PICTURE HOUSE  1922 – Prop., Rainworth Picture House Co., Ltd . Res. Man., T. W. Share. One show nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. Phone, Mansfield 358. Station, Rainworth, M.R.

 

RAMSBOTTOM Lancs

Co-operative Hall  (1907)

EMPIRE  Railway Street  1937: (WE) 744 seats. Phone 70. 1941: (WE) – Prop., Blakeborough, Ltd. 650 seats. Booked at Manchester, One show nightly, Two on Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices 8d. to 1s. 2d. Proscenium width 26ft. Stage 20ft. deep; 2 dressing-rooms. Phone 2170. Station, Ramsbottom, L.M.S.

THEATRE ROYAL / ROYAL Square Street  1937 as New Royal: (W.E.) Prop., Blakeborough Ltd. 677 seats. 1941: (WE) – Props., Blakeborough, Ltd., Smithy Street. 700 seats. Booked at Manchester. Once nightly. Twice Sat. Prices 8d. to 1s. 2d. Proscenium width 30ft. Phone 2170. Station, Ramsbottom. Open as ?amateur theatre in 2005.

 

RAMSEY  unts

ABBEY ROOMS KINEMA / Abbey Rooms  J. Hutton (1907) 1922 – Prop., Abbey Rooms Cinema Co. Res. Man,, Alfred H. Sugden. One show nightly. Two changes weekly. Station, Ramsey, G.N.R.

Cinema  Tesco development site [3 screens - 200, 120, 80 seats - for September 2006]

GRAND / New Kinema (BTH)  Opened 1935 – Prop., Murkett Bros., Phone Huntingdon 298. 800 seats. Twice nightly. Mat., Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices 6d. to 1s. 6d. Station, Ramsey, L.N.E.R. Sold. Closed 17^th June 2005. Projectors/sound equipment to Stockport Plaza. Sold for re-development.

 

RAMSEY  I. o. M.

CINEMA HOUSE  Albert Road  1922 – Prop., Strand Cinemas Theatres, Co. Douglas. 1937: Cap. 1,200. By 1941: (BTH) – Props., Ramsey Amusements, Ltd. 600 seats. Booked by R. E. Ratcliff, ‘Raheny,’ Roby, Lancs. Continuous Summer months. Once nightly including Sunday-Winter. Prices 6d. and 1s. Phone 87. Station, Ramsey.

PALACE  THEATRE W. H. Walker & Sons  (1907)

Pavilion R. Curphey  (1907)

PICTUREDROME  1922 – Prop., Tom Dyson. Res. Man.,, J. W. Beaumont. One show nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 4d. to 9d. Station, Ramsey, I.O.M.R. Co.

PLAZA Waterloo Road  (BTH) – Prop., Ramsey Amusements, Ltd., Cinema House, Ramsey. Phone 87. 950 seats. Booked by R. E. Ratcliff, ‘Raheny,’ Roby, Lancs. Continuous. Occasional Variety. Prices 6d. to 1s. Proscenium width 32ft. Stage 14ft. deep; 2 dressing-rooms, Phone 224. Café attached. Station, Ramsey.

 

RAMSGATE Kent

Amphitheatre  ‘Lord’ George Sanger  (1907)

CLASSIC / ODEON THEATRE High Street (BTH)  Opened 1936 – Where’s Sally? Prop., Odeon (Ramsgate) Ltd. Architect: Andrew Mather. 1,568 seats. By 1941 – Prop., Odeon Theatres, Ltd., Old County Cinema, Marlow, Bucks, Phone Marlow 695-9. Booked at Moor Hall, Cookham, Berks. Continuous. Prices 9d. to 2s. 4d. One dressing-room. Phone Ramsgate 1081. To Classic December 1967. Split, then twinned 1983.. Closed 17^th October 1985. Demolished.

Granville Hall  f., G. Hurst  (1907)  

GRANVILLE THEATRE Victoria Parade  2 screens. Windsor Cinemas.

KING’S THEATRE King’s Street  1922 – Prop., Ramsgate and Dis­trict Popular Amusements Co. Man. Dir., R. V. Crow. Two shows nightly. Three mats. weekly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 4d. to 1s. Phone 209. Leased to George Carey c.1928 – c.1935. 1937: (B.T.H.) Ramsgate & Dist. Amusem’ts Ltd. Phone 209.      By 1941: (BTH) – Prop., Balexcro Theatres, Ltd., Broadmead House, 21 Panton Street, S.W.1. Phone Whitehall 2529. 726 seats. Booked in London. Continuous nightly. Mats. daily. Phone Ramsgate 524. Station, Ramsgate & Kent Film Transport. Now religious use.

MARINA CINEMA / Marine Varieties Gus Levaine  (1907) 1922 - Continuous.  Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. ld. Station, Ramsgate Sands, S.E. & C.R.

PALACE THEATRE High Street  1922 – Prop., Mrs. A. Reeve Sanger. Station, Ramsgate Harbour, S.E. & C.R. To G. E. Casey – Casey’s Theatres Ltd., 13 Gerrard St. W1. By 1941: (WE) – Prop., Balexcro Theatres, Ltd., Broadmead House, Panton Street, Haymarket, London, S.W.1. Phone Whitehall 2529. 1,482 seats. Revue, Plays, Pictures, etc. Stage 22½ ft. deep. Station, Ramsgate S.R., & Kent Film Transport. SG46: Prop. : Balexcro Theatres, Ltd., King’s Theatre, Ramsgate. Tel.: Ramsgate 524. Once nightly 7,30. Repertory and summer shows. Matinées Thursday and Saturday. Stage : Prosc. 31ft. x 19ft., min. depth 22ft., height under flies 18ft. 6 in., width between fly galleries 41ft., grid to stage 43ft., 20 hemp lines. Elec. equip. : 240 v. D.C. Four footlights with four circuits. Two dips with dimmers. Two following limes. Dressing rooms : Ten. Sep. room for orchestra. No resident orchestra. Acc. for ten. Rep: Harry Hanson’s Court Players.

PAVILION (BTH) – Prop., Balexcro Theatres, Ltd., Broadmead House, 21, Panton Street, S.W.1. 1,200 seats. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Café attached. Station, Ramsgate, S.R. Films by Kent Films Motor Transport, Ltd.

PICTURE HOUSE High Street  Opened 25^th March 1920. To G-B. by 1929. To Balexcro c. 1935. (WE) – Props., Balexcro Theatres, l.td., Broadmead House, 21 Panton Street S.W.1. 600 seats. Booked at London. Closed 1940 by war­ evacuation. Re-opened 8^th August 1943. 600 seats. Closed 4^th October 1959. Supermarket.

QUEEN’S CINEMA Queen Street  1922 – Prop., Queen’s Cinema Co. Continuous. Two mata. weekly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. 3d. Station, Ramsgate Harbour, S.E. & C.R.

RAMSGATE PICTURE HOUSE High Street  1922 – Prop., Ramsgate Picture House, Ltd. Res. Man., Fred Wallis. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 9d. to 2s. Phone, Ramsgate 124. Station, Ramsgate Harbour, S.E. & C.R. 1937: (W.E.) H. E. Bawn Enterprises Ltd. 588 seats. Phone 124. By 1941: (WE) – Props., Balexcro Theatres, Ltd., 21, Panton Street, London, S.W.1. 580 seats. Continuous. Mat. daily. Film Transport.

Royal Assembly Rooms f., Frederick France  (1907)

ROYAL VICTORIA PAVILION / Victoria Pavilion Cor­poration  (1907) 1922 – Licensee, Harry Bawn. Two changes weekly. Phone, Rams­gate 395. Station, Ramsgate Hartour, S.E. & C.R. 1937 as RVP:(R.C.A.) Prop., H. E. Bawn Enterprises Ltd. 1,000 seats. Phone 395.             

STAR CINEMA George Street 1922 – Prop., H. W. Shanly. Res. Man., Louis Cottin. One show nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 4d. to 1s. 3d. Station, Ramsgate, S.E. & C.R.

VUE EuroKent Business Park, Westwood [10 screens; work starting May 2004 for 2005]

 

RAUNDS Northants

PALACE  1919: Prop. Palace Cinema Co. A. Dunham, mgr. 1922 – Prop., Raunds Kinema Co., Ltd. Res. Man., A. Dunham. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 3d. to 1s. By 1941: (Ultramonic) – Prop., A. Hayward, The Cottage, Chelveston Road, Raunds. 360 seats. Booked at Hall. Once nightly, twice Sat. Mat., Sat. Pictures and Variety. Stage15ft. deep; two dressing-rooms. Prices 6d. to 1s.3d. Phone Raunds 58. Station, Raunds. L.M.S.

CARLTON West Street  1937: (WE) Prop., J. W. Camozzi.

TIVOLI Demolished

 

RAVENSTHORPE  nr. Dewsbury  Yorks

Co-operative Hall  Secretary  (1907)

PALACE AWH sound.

PAVILION 1922 – Prop., Goodall’s Pictures, Ltd. Res Man W B Haley. One show nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 3d. to 1s. Phone, Dewsbury 792. Station, Ravensthorpe, L.N. W. R.

 

RAWDON nr Leeds Yorks

New EMPIRE CINEMA / VARIETY THEATRE / RAWDON EMPIRE Leeds Road  570 seats – 1^st floor-hall. Fly tower. Cinema from 24^th April 1924 — Fires of Fate. Films short-lived. Stage shows until 1932. As Variety Theatre: Licensee & mgr E. W. Sladen. The Classic Players. 7.45, Sat. 6.30 & 8.40. 1940 leased to Segelman circuit. By 1941: (Morrison) – Props., Empire Cinemas (Leeds) Ltd., J.O.G.S. Cinemas, 41, Albion Street, Leeds. Booked at Leeds. Phone 22011. 550 seats. Continuous. Prices 6d. to 1s.1d. Pros­cenium width 42ft. Phone Rawdon 210. Films by Transport.  Lease sold to Robert bassist. Closed through bankruptcy 11^th February 1956 – A Stranger on Horseback and Slaves of Babylon.

 

RAWMARSH and PARKGATE nr Rotherham Yorks

CENTRAL PICTUREDROME / ELECTRIC PAVILION Netherfield, Parkgate  Opened 7^th March 1912 – The Siege of Calais + others. Conversion of chapel. Mgr., George H. Morgan, assistant A. Bewley. Empire projector. By 21^st December 1912 – Cinderella and The Sheriff’s Daughter. Re-named, re-seated cap. 5-600. Mgr. George Nightingale. Closed c.June 1913. Public hall. Demolished 1950s.

ELECTRA / ELECTRA PALACE Aldwarke Road, Parkgate   Opened Whit Monday 27^th May 1912 – ex-chapel. Propr. Parkgate & Denaby Theatres Ltd., res. mgr George Burton. 714 seats. Prosc. width 18ft. Later. Prices, 4d to 9d. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Mgr. 1923 –31 Fred Shaw. By mid-1920s props. Heeley & Amalgamated Cinemas Ltd. Sheffield. F. Shaw, gen. mgr. Later Frank C. Clayton. WE sound 28^th April 1930 – Wonder of Women. Prices 6d to 9d. Closed 2^nd February 1935 – The Crime of Helen Stanley and Voice in the Night. To Heeley & Amalgamated Cinemas. Re-opened Boxing Day 1938 – Kid Galahad and The Singing Marine. 744 seats. 1950: continuous weekdays, separate houses Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices 6d to 1/3d. To Star circuit 1^st March 1955 & closed 5^th. Modernised/CinemaScope. Re-opened 14^th March  - Valley of the Kings. Closed 20^th June 1959 – The Captain’s Table and Girl in the Woods. Storage. Demolished 1990 for housing.

Miners’ Institute  F. Hall  (1907)

PRINCESS PICTURE PALACE Rawmarsh  Opened 4^th March 1912 – chapel conversion. Prop., Princess Picture Palace (Rawmarsh & Barnsley) Ltd. Mgr. Basil Howe. Prices 2d, 4d, 6d. 1917 leased by, later bought Thomas Robinson. 1922 – Prop., Princes Pictures, Ltd. Res. Man., George Robinson. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 3d. to 8d. Station, Rawmarsh, G.C.R. WE sound 1930. By 1941 - Prop. Princess Pictures, Ltd. 600 seats. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly, Prices 3d. to 8d. Station, Rawmarsh, L.N.E.R. To Thomas Robinson jnr. 1955 CinemaScope. Closed 1^st December 1962. 1966 demolished for road widening.

REGAL Rawmarsh Hill  Opened Monday 5^th October 1931 – Just Imagine. Prop., Heeley & Amalgamated Cinemas, Ltd., Sheffield. Architect: Harold J. Shepherd, Sheffield. Mgr. Fred Shaw. 877/177 = 1,054 seats. Prices, 5d, 8d, 1s. Kalee 8s. Pros. 32ft. 1941: (WE) – Prop., Heeley & Amalgamated Cinemas, Ltd., 70 The Moor Sheffield. 1,050 seats. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Prices 5d. to 1s. Proscenium width 32ft. Phone Rawmarsh 54. Stations, Parkgate & Raw­marsh, L.M.S. January 1955 to Star circuit. Closed 23^rd February – modernised /CinemaScope. Re-opened 28^th February – Knights of the Round Table. Closed 9^th March 1963 – On the Beat. Regal Casino bingo Re-opened to part-time film 29^th March 1964 – Summer Holiday to 5^th April 1967 – Finder’s Keepers. Bingo. Snooker hall. By 1995 supermarket.

 

RAWTENSTALL Lancs

Co-operative Hall  f., J. C. Heyworth  (1907) Albert Williams showed picture c.1909 to 1911.

Liberal Club Assembly Rooms B. Smith  (1907)

PALACE CINEMA / PALACE THEATRE / GRAND THEATRE Queen’s Square  Opened July 1899 – Don Quixote. Architect: Darbyshire & Smith. Pros. 51ft, 37ft deep, 37ft wide. S. M. Willian Renshaw. Johnson & Potter (1907) C.1909 leased to William Mathews. Mgr. J. A. Whitehouse. To Manchester Electric Theatre Co re-opened as cinema Saturday 5^th February 1910. c.1918 live theatre & re-named. Closed. Re-opened as talkie house 1932 – rear projection.  Gramo-Radio, later Imperial sound. 1933 – Prop., Rossendale Pictures, Ltd. 600 seats. Once nightly. Booked at Manchester. Occasional Variety. Prices 4d. to 1s. Phone Rawtenstall, L.M.S. Closed January 1936. Re-opened for panto. Closed January 1937 – Mikado (amateur). 1937: (WE) Prop., Rawtenstall Cinemas Ltd. 600 seats. Phone 123. Demolished February 1938.

PAVILION CINEMA / ROYAL PAVILION PICTURE THEATRE Bury Road  Opened c.August 1911. Prop., Albert Williams. Cap. 740. Pros. 27ft. 1920s to Rossendal Pavilion Ltd. 1925 organ: Jardine 2/20 straight single chamber. Mgr. W. J. Holden, later H. Cookson (& booking mgr.). January 1936 to Rossendale cinemas. 1937: (WE) Prop., Rawtenstall Cinemas Ltd. 1,141 seats. Phone 36. 1941: (WE) – Prop., Rossendale Pictures, Ltd. 1,141 seats. Bkg. & Gen. Man., H. Cookson. One show nightly. Twice Sat. Three Mats. Prices 6d. to 1s. Phone Rossendale 36. Station, Rawtenstall, L.M.S. Late 40s to J.J. Cinemas. Organ broken down c.1955. CinemaScope. 975 seats. To Rossendale cinemas. December 1960 to Star circuit. Part-time, then full-time bingo. Carpet shop in 2005.

UNIT 4 / PICTURE HOUSE Bacup Road  Opened 29^th December 1920 – The River’s End and The Cruise of the Make Believes. Prop., Wilmore & Wisbey. 1,290 seats. Pros. 36ft. M.D. T. N. Howarth. Organ. 1937: (WE) Prop., Rawtenstall Cinemas Ltd. 1,309 seats. Phone 123. 1941: (WE) – Props., Rossendale Pictures, Ltd. 1,309 seats. Once nightly. Booked at Manchester. Prices 6d. to 1s. 3d. Phone Rossendale 123. Station, Rawtenstall, L.M.S. To JJ Pictures late 40s.  To Star circuit. Closed 1975. To Brian Tattersall. Re-opened as Unit 4: 121, 118, 165, 1118 seats. 1986 closed. To Dinoheath. Re-opened 1986 as single screen. 120 seats. To other owners/lessees. Closed by 1996. Other use. Boarded up & to let 2005.

 

RAYLEIGH Essex

COSY / RAYLEIGH CINEMA High Street  Opened c.1924. Prop., Ernest P. Clayton. 350 seats. Early 30s: Cosy (Rayleigh) Ltd. (AWH) 350 seats. Café. Phone 75. To Bostock circuit.  Closed and demolished for Regal 1937.

REGAL  Bellingham Lane (BTP)  Opened 1937. Prop. Bostock circuit. 756 OR 696 – single tier. By 1941 – Prop., Fred. W. Allwood Circuit, 113, Wardour Street, W.1. 843 seats. Prices 6d. to 1s. 6d. Continuous from 1.30 p.m. Booked at Hall. Proscenium width 39ft. Phone Rayleigh 75. Station, Rayleigh, L.N.E.R. By 1945 to Radion circuit (B. E. Fortesque). To Mrs. R. F. Webster who sold to Astoria Films (London) Ltd. 1955. CinemaScope. Closed September 1973. Demolished. Offices & retirement homes.

 

RAYNES PARK Surrey

RIALTO CINEMA / RAYNES PARK CINEMA Pepys Road  Opened 1921. Rebuilt, enlarged & sound installed 1929. (WE) – Prop., S. M. Super Cinemas, Ltd., 37-38, Golden Square, London W.1. Phone Gerrard 4556. 706 seats. Booked at H.O. Continu­ous. Three changes weekly. Prices 6d. to 2s. Phone Wimbledon 2828. Station, Raynes Park, S.R. closed. Demolished.

 

READING Berks

ABC / MGM / CANNON / ABC / ABC Friar Street / CENTRAL PICTURE PLAYHOUSE  25 Friar Street  Opened Monday 21^st March 1921 – The Call of the Road. Architect: George Gardiner + Gilbert T. Gardiner, Oxford. Prop., Central Picture Playhouse & Café (Reading) Ltd.  – man. dir. Fred. J. Wicks. Continuous. Prices, 9d to 2/4d. Organ. M.D. H. Herrington. 1,561 seats. By 1925 leased to Walter W. Thompson. Mgr. Robert Stevens. To T & S Cinemas. 1^st talkie in Reading 26^th August 1929. BTP sound – Weary River. To ABC c.1931. By 1941: (WE) – Prop., Associated British Cinemas, Ltd., 30-31 Golden Square, London W.1. Phone Gerrard 7887. 1,570 seats. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Phone Reading 3931. Station, Reading, G.W.R. 15^th November 1967 stalls given ‘luxury lounge’ treatment. 814 seats. Re-named ABC in 1971 & ex-café as 2^nd screen. Tripled 1977. To Cannon. To MGM. Closed 22^nd March 1999. Demolished.

ABC London Road / GRANBY London Road/Cemetery Junction (BTH)  Opened 2^nd September 1935. Architect: Edgar Simmons. By 1941 – Props., Granby Cinema (Read­ing) Ltd., London Road, Reading. Phone 61435. 1,200 OR 1,500 seats. Continuous. Prices 6d. to 2s. Café. Films by road transport. To Mayfair circuit 1941. To ABC 1943. Re-named c.1965. Modernised 1969. 1,158 seats. 70mm installed. Closed Saturday 27^th November 1982 – Creepshow. Empty. Demolished 1987.

EMPIRE Electric PICTURE THEATRE / Elm Park Hall  Elm Park Road  Opened 1911/2 – conversion of former Salvation Army hall. Mgr. Davis. By 1915 lessee O. G. Veall. 325 seats. By 1922 Prop., R. Rosbottom and W. Dearden. Res. man. R. Rosbottom. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. Station, Reading, G.W.R. To  C. W. Stanley. Sound-on-disc. Closed c.1931. Became Curzon club.

EVERYMAN THEATRE / chapel / THEATRE ROYAL / NEW HALL London Street  Opened pre-1853. 1853 pros erected, re-opened as TR New Hall. Closed. 1866 to Methodists as chapel. Disused. 1950 to council. Opened as Everyman Easter Monday 1952. Prop., Reading Borough Council. Lessee Everyman Theatre Co. Closed December 1957. Occasional amateur use. Closed April 1960. Sold to Reading Newspaper Co. Still stands as offices. Listed Grade II.

FILM THEATRE Whiteknights  Seats: 409 BFI supported. 16/35mm.

GAUMONT (1) / VAUDEVILLE (2) Broad Street  Opened September 1921. Architects: Emden & Egan. 1,800 seats. WE Wide Range sound. Pavilion (Reading) Ltd. To County circuit September 1929. 1,454 seats. Phone 3487. To Odeon with circuit 1939. By 1941: (WE) – Props., Pavilion (Reading) Ltd., Old County Cinema, Marlow, Bucks. Phone Marlow 695-9. Booked at Moor Hall, Cookham, Berks. Continuous. Café. Prices 1s. to 2s. 6d. Phone Reading 3487. Station, Reading, G.W.R. Re-named 23^rd February 1953. Closed 28^th OR 30^th November 1957 & mainly demolished. Chemist’s shop on site.

GAUMONT (2) / PAVILION  143-5 Oxford Road/Russell Street  Opened 21^st September 1929 – Showboat. Prop., Pavilion (Reading) Ltd. Architect: Harold S. Scott. Organ: Compton 2/6. 1,361 seats. Prices, 8d to 2/4d. To County 1930. (W.E.) 1,353 seats. To Odeon with circuit 1939. By 1941: (WE) – Prop., Pavilion (Reading) Ltd., Old County Cinema, Marlow, Bucks. Phone Marlow 695-9. Continuous. Prices 9d. to 2s. 6d. Booked by Odeon, Moor Hall, Cookham, Berks. Tea lounge. Phone 3960. Station, Reading G.W.R. CinemaScope. Refurbished & re-named January 1958. 1,215 seats. Closed 21^st April 1979. Bingo. Now Riley snooker hall in stalls. Circle closed off.

GRAND / PICTURE PALACE 100 Broad Street  Opened mid-1911. Prop., Messrs. Vincent Bros. 550 seats. Mgr., H. Turner, then James Grant. 1921 Prop., Vincent Bros. Res. Man., E. Parker-Hines. Continuous. Two mats. weekly. Two change weekly. Prices, 5d.. to 2s. Station, Reading G.W.R. Closed 1922 ?as Central opened. Shop.

HEXAGON THEATRE  Opened 1977. 1,650 seats. Cinema equipment.

HOWARD ELECTRIC THEATRE  Opened 1910.

ODEON THEATRE  Cheapside (BTH)  Opened 8^th March 1937 – Educated Evans and We Who Are About To Die. Prop., Odeon Theatre (Reading) Ltd. Architect: A. P. Starkey & Fred Adkin. Mgr., H. Kerr. 1,706 seats. Prices 9d to 2/6d. 1941: Prop., Odeon Theatre (Reading) Ltd., Old County Cinema, Marlow, Bucks. Phone Marlow 695-9. Booked at Moor Hall, Cookham, Berks. Con­tinuous. Prices 1s. to 2s. 6d. Stage 41ft. wide, 11ft. deep. Two dressing-rooms. Phone Reading 2707. ‘Zing’ treatment 1967. Twinned 1979. Tripled 1989. Car park sold to pay. Closed 25^th November 1999. Demolished for flats.

PALACE THEATRE of Varieties  Cheapside  Opened 30^th September 1907. Architect: W. G. R. Sprague. Bioscope machine from opening. Aud. altered summer 1932. Re-opened Monday 24^th October 1932 – Counsel’s Opinion. By SG46: Prop.: County Theatre (Reading) Ltd., 162, Friar Street, Reading. Tel.: 272511 stage door, 3449 box office, 4421 exec. office. Bookings: R. G. Blackie, 125, Shaftesbury Avenue, London W.C.1, and County Theatre (Reading) Ltd. Cap.: Stalls 430, P. stalls 81, D. circle 182, U. circle 66, gallery 400. Barring clause: 25 miles. Three months either side of booking date. Once nightly 7. Matinées Wednesday and Saturday. Twice nightly 6.10 and 8.10. Mat. Saturday. Variety and revue, with two seasons of once nightly plays, generally in May and November. Celebrity concerts held on Sundays and at intervals through­out the year. Four weeks’ pantomime season yearly. Stage: Pros. 29ft., height 22ft., min. depth from setting line 18ft., height under fly galleries 24ft., width between fly galleries 34ft., height of grid from stage 56ft. No counterweight gear. 36 hemp lines. Elec. equip.: 210 v. A.C., 50 cycles. Footlights, four circuits with ind. dimmers. Four battens, each with four circuits with ind. dimmers. Three dips with ind. dimmers. O.P. and P.S. dips switch controlled. Four floods on stands. Two curtain arcs. Dressing rooms: Six single, three chorus, acc. 60. Band room. Orchestra: Acc. 20. Resident 10 (M.D., bass, ‘cello, clarinet, flute, piano, trombone, trumpet, drums, two violins). Fitted ‘Ardente’ Stage Amplification. Closed 9^th January 1960 – Babes in the Wood. Demolished 1961. Office block.

PARAGON ELECTRIC THEATRE 29 King’s Road  Opened 1911. Props., Baker & Lowe. Closed during WWI.

READING PICTURE PALACE / Cross Street Hall Cross Street  Opened May 1909. Closed June 1909. Did not apply for licence.

REX  836 Oxford Road, Tilehurst  (BTH)  Opened Monday 20^th September 1937 – Don’t Get Me Wrong and She’s Dangerous. Prop., Simmons Theatres (Reading,) Ltd. Architect: E. Norman Bailey. Mgr. Albert E. Burridge. 1,100 seats. Continuous from 1.30. Prices 6d. to 2s. 1941: Prices, 6d. to 1s. 6d. Continuous. Booked in London. Proscenium width 42ft. Phone Tilehurst 67293. Stations, Reading & Tilehurst. Closed 8^th October 1958. Warehouse. (First Little Chef restaurant was in a hut in the Rex car park.) Derelict. Demolished.

ROYAL COUNTY THEATRE  Friar Street  Opened 1895. Architect: Frank Matcham. Milton Bode (No 2) (1907). 1937: (B.T.H.) Prop., R. J. Langley. Cap. 900. Phone 4561. Burned down 7^th January 1937 – Robinson Crusoe. Ruins demolished. Shops.

SAVOY CINEMA  Basingstoke Road, Whitley (BTH)  Opened Friday 20^th March 1936 – Student’s Romance and The Crouching Beast. Architect: E. Norman Bailey. Mgr., D. Smith. Prices, 9d to 1/6. Café attached. To ABC 1937. 1,100 seats. Phone 81381. By 1941 – Prop., Asso­ciated British Cinemas, 30-31 Golden Square W1. Booked at H.O. 1,044 seats. Continuous. Proscenium width 35ft. Stage 7ft. deep. Two dressing-rooms. Phone 81381. Station, Reading, G.W.R. Closed 12^th August 1961. Demolished. Supermarket.

SHOWCASE Reading Road, Winnersh  Opened c.1997. 12 screens

South Hill Park Arts Centre Ringmead Seats: 60

STANDARD ELECTRIC/ BIO-PICTURE-LAND / King’s Hall 84 King’s Road  Opened as cinema July 1909. Re-named Standard c.1911. Mgr. Frank W. O. Smith. Closed 1914.

STUDIOS 1 & 2   75-7 London Road  Opened July 1972 in former Olympia ball-room. Prop., Star circuit. 100 seats each. Closed February 1978.

THEATRE ROYAL and ALBERT HALL Opened 1871. Architect: Brown. Rebuilt 1877. Destroyed by fire 1894.

TILEHURST CINEMA / Tilehurst Village Hall The Triangle  Opened 1921.

TOWN HALLS  f., Town Clerk  (1907)

VAUDEVILLE Electric THEATRE (1) 47 Broad Street/Union Street  Opened Saturday 21^st August 1909 – conversion of shop & garden. Prop., W. H. & M. White – then Vaudeville Theatre (Reading ) Ltd – J. White, Bishopgate. 450 seats. Prices, 3d & 6d. Enlarged 1912. 1,100 seats. Built over by Vaudeville 2. Closed & demolished September 1921.

VUE / WARNER VILLAGE Oracle Shopping Centre  Opened 1999. 10 screens

WEST’S PICTURE PALACE / New Foresters’ Hall 35/6 West Street  Opened as cinema 4^th November 1909. Lessee T. J. West. Mgr. Mattie Cheshire. Twic nightly. Prices, 3d, 6d, 1s. By 1910 to Mattie Cheshire. August 1910 to H. Battersby. Closed during WWI.

 

REDBOURNE  Herts

CINEMA  1937: (Ph’tone) Prop., E. H. Rockett. 212 seats. (Closed)                                                                                                          

 

REDCAR Yorks

CENTRAL PICTURE HOUSE / Central Hall  f., J. Cowl  (1907) 1922  - Prop., T. Thompson Res. Man., J. T. Edmonds. Two show nightly. Mat, Sat. Two changes weekly Station, Redcar, N.E.R. By 1941 – Prop., Thompson’s Enterprises, Ltd., 4, Palladium Bldgs., Middlesbrough.

MAJESTIC Dormanstown

PALACE THEATRE  Esplanade  1922 – Prop., Lumley & Ben­nett. Res. Man., L. H. Chout. Phone, Redcar 125. Station, Redcar, N.E.R. By 1941: (BTH) – Prop., Palace Theatre (Redcar) Ltd. 946 seats, Booked at Hall. Three shows daily. Prices. 6d. to 1s. 6d. Proscenium width 20ft. Café. Phone Redcar 125. Station, Redcar. L.N.E.R.

PAUL’S ELECTRIC PALACE  1913 mgr. Tom Fyall

PIER PAVILION  AWH sound.

REGENT High Street (WE) – Prop., Thompson’s Enterprises, Ltd., 4, Palladium Bldgs., Middlesbrough. Phone Linthorpe 88156. Booked at H.O. by Thos, Thompson. Two shows nightly. Mat, daily. Prices 6d. to 1s. 6d. Phone Redcar 28, Station, Redcar, L.N.E.R. Now seats 320. Exterior repainted 2006.

 

REDDISH nr Manchester Lancs

BIJOU Electric CINEMA 87 Gorton Road  1937: (Picturetone) Prop., F. Donaldson. 400 seats. 1939 prop., Reddish Bijou Electric Theatre Co. Ltd. 1941: Props., Jackson & Newport (Reddish) Ltd. 400 seats. Booked by Prop. at Manchester. Twice nightly. Prices 4d. to 1s. Station, Reddish Central,

COUNTY CINEMA  Gorton Road (WE)  1941: Prop., Jackson & Newport (Reddish) Ltd. 1,300 seats. Continuous nightly.

EMBASSY  1930s prop. Mr. Marshall(?) Lessees Jackson & Newport. Burned down – not rebuilt.

ROTA Gorton Road, Denton  Prop. Jackson & Newport. Architect: Henry Elder. Sold to Union to finance Longford. 1937: (B.A.) Union Cinemas Ltd. 1,500 seats. Phone Manchester 0640. 1941: (WE)  1941 - Controlled by Union Cinemas, Ltd., 15 Regent Street, London, SW1. Phone Whitehall 8484. 1,206 seats. Booked at H.O. Phone East 0640. Station, Denton, L.M.S.

 

REDDITCH Worcs

ABC / CANNON / CLASSIC / DANILO  Unicorn Hill  Opened 1936/7. Architect: Ernest S. Roberts. 1941: (RCA) – Prop., Danilo (Redditch) Ltd., 3 New Street, Birmingham. Phone Midland 0871. 1,400 seats. Booked at 3 New Street, Birmingham. Prices 6d. to 1s. 6d. Proscenium width 40ft. Phone Redditch 572. Station, Redditch, L.M.S. Fitted ‘Ardente’ Deaf Aids. Re-named Classic 1972. Tripled 1973. Closed to film – multiplex opening. Now Chicago Rock Café – façade restored, interior gutted.

APOLLO CINEMAS Kingfisher Centre 7 screens. Conversion of gym/leisure centre. 8 screens / 1,500 seats To open 22^nd March 2007. Mgr. Gary Stevens (ex Leamington Apollo).

BOSCO’S PICTURES – Prop., Bosco’s Pictures, Ltd. Res. Man., E. Mousli. Three shows daily. Two changes weekly. Prices, 61. to 1s. 3d. Station, Redditch, M.R.

Circus Pitch Surveyor  (1907)

CLASSIC / GAUMONT  / GAUMONT PALACE  Church Road (BA) Opened 23^rd November 1931 – rebuilt Public Hall. Architect: W. T. Benslyn, assisted by H. Pittaway. 813 seats. Re-named Gaumont c.1937. By 1941 – Prop., Gaumont British Picture Corpn., Ltd., 123 Regent Street, I.ondon, W.1. 1,400 seats. Booked at H.O. Matinées and continuous evenings. Prices 8d. to 1s. 6d. Phone Redditch 151. To Classic 16^th December 1967. Closed to film Sunday 14^th July 1968 – Saturday Night Out and Horror. Bingo.

PALACE THEATRE Alcester Street  Opened Monday 4^th August 1913 – In A Fix + support & turns. Architect: Bertie Crewe. Cine-variety. Pros 22’, depth 22’. 690 seats. Sound Monday 7^th April 1930 – The Awful Truth. WE sound in September 1930. By 1941: (WE) Prop., Select Kinema (Redditch) Ltd. Phone 285. 523 seats. Booked at Birmingham. Prices 8d. to 1s. 6d. Proscenium width 22ft. Stage 20ft. deep. Six dressing-rooms. Phone 48. Station, Redditch, L.M.S. Closed 1954. Floor flattened. From February 1955 – skating rink, dance hall from 1959, bingo. Re-opened with new frontage block as civic theatre 11^th September 1971 – Between The Bars (lighting Mervyn Gould). 1976 new dressing room block. 1979 new scene dock & workshop. Listed Grade II. Still open as theatre. 399 seats. Refurbished & frontage rebuilt 2006.

PUBLIC HALL / Public Hall  Church Road  f., William Thomas Treadgold  (1907) Cap. 800. Opened as full-time cinema Monday 18^th August 1913. Architect: Archibald Hurley Robinson. Prop. Irving Bosco (William M. Barton) – H.O. Empire, Dudley. Mgr. E. Moule. 3d & 6d. Twice nightly. 600 seats. To E. C. Shapeero, Nottingham (Record circuit) December 1920. To G-B with circuit March 1928. Talkies Monday 19^th March 1930 – Sunny Side Up. Closed Saturday 28^th March 1930 – On Approval. Gutted & rebuilt as Gaumont.

REGAL / SELECT KINEMA / PICTURE HOUSE / TREADGOLD’S Pictures & Variety Alcester Street  Opened 24^th November 1913. Prop. William Thomas Treadgold. Re-named Pic Hse 1917. 1922 – Prop., Mrs. R. Treadgold. Res. Man., J. T. Tread golds Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 9d. Station, Redditch, M.R. To H. F. Russell & brother 1928. (RCA) By 1941 – Prop., F. W. Russell, Wayside, Astwood Bank. Phone 48. 500 seats. Booked at Hall. Continuous. Twice  Sat., mat. daily. Two changes weekly. Occasional Variety. Prices 6d. to 1s. 3d. Proscenium width 20ft. Stage15½ft. deep. Two dressing-rooms. Phone 285. Closed Saturday 5^th December 1959 – The Duke Wore Jeans and Flying Scot.

 

REDHILL Surrey

CENTRAL HALL  Opened as cinema 1934.

HARLEQUIN THEATRE Quadrant Opened 1986. Now live theatre and 2 screens: 100 / 494.

Market Hall f., A. Smith  (1907) Opened 1871. Demolished 1982 for Harlequin.

ODEON THEATRE  Station Road (BTH)  Opened 23^rd May 1938 – The Squeaker. Architect: Andrew Mather assisted by Keith P Roberts. Cost £40,000. 1474 seats: 1000 stalls and 474 circle. Opening mngr B V Rogenhagen.  Prices 6d to 2/6d. By 1941 – Prop., Odeon (Redhill) Ltd., Old County Cinema, Marlow, Bucks. Phone Marlow 695-9. Booked at Moor Hall, Cookham, Berks. Continuous daily from 2 p.m. Prices 9d. to 2s. Stage. Phone Redhill 563. Closed 18^th October 1975 – That Lucky Touch and The Con Men. Now bar/nightclub.

PAVILION / PICTURE PAVILION High Street  1922 – Prop., E. C. & H. R. Grimes. Continuous. Raf. Wed, & Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to Is 3d. Phone, Redhill 104. Station, Redhill, S.E. & C.R. By 1941: (Mirrophonic) – Prop., H.J.M. Cinemas, Ltd., 236, Imperial House, London W.1. Phone Regent 1851. 750 seats. Continuous. Booked at Coliseum. Prices 6d. to 2s. Phone Redhill 830.

PICTURE HOUSE / CINEMA ROYAL Station Road  Opened 1909. Closed 1937.

 

RED ROW Northumb

RED ROW PICTURE HOUSE Opened 1900s – green tin hut. Cap. c.100  Mgr. John Young, followed by Billy Maven. Early pianist Rachel Beech. Doormen over the years included Les Johnson, Geordie Riley and Pat Raffle. When talking films arrived, the soundtrack had to be turned up when it rained, due to the tin roof. Closed c.1964. Bought by local garage – storage. Demolished late 1970s.

 

REDRUTH Cornwall

Circus Pitches Tom Moore & H. Downing  (1907)

GEM / PICTUREDROME / Druid’s Hall Penryn Steet   Opened 1859. Library, assembly hall and theatre. f., S. M. Abbott  (1907) C. 1908, pictures – Messrs Cocks & Baker. Opened as P’drome cinema 1910. Prop., W. H. Jenkins. 450 seats – 331 main floor & 119 balcony. Proscenium width 23’. 1922 as P’drome – Prop. & Res. Man., W. H. Jenkin. One show nightly. Three on Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. 3d. To Gwyther Eastlake Prance 4^th September 1935. Re-named Gem 15^th February 1936. By 1941: (BTH) Operated by Sound & Movement Cinemas, Ltd., 14 Portland Square, Plymouth. Phone 4981. 450 seats. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Three on Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices 9d. to 1s. 6d. Proscenium width 23 ft: Phone Redruth 406. Station, Redruth, G.W.R. To Albert Jackson Withers, Cardiff (The Cornwall Circuit). To bingo by late 1950s. Closed by fire 1974. Ruined walls now enclose a garden.

Masonic Hall H. Tog  (1907)

PALACE / ELECTRIC Picture Palace Foundry Row/Chapel Street  1^st purpose-build cinema. Prop., W. R. Hill. 550 seats. 1922 as Pal. – Prop. & Res. man., W. R. Hill. One show nightly. Three on Saturday. Two changes weekly, Prices, 5d. to 1s. 5d. Station, Redruth, G.W.R. Closed late 1920s. Demolished.

REGAL Fore Street (BTH)  Opened 2^nd December 1935. Architect: Smith (W. H. Watkins). Prop., Sound & Movement Cinemas, Ltd., (Gwyther Eastlake Prance & W. Mumford) 14 Portland Square, Plymouth. Phone Plymouth 4981. 982 semi-0stadium seats. Pros width 35’. Stage, orchestra pit. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices 9d. to 1s. 10d. Café attached. Booked at H.O. Phone Redruth 278. Station, Redruth, G.W.R. To Albert Jackson Withers, Cardiff (Cornwall Circuit) 7^th December 1942. 1960s CinemaScope/WE stereo sound. tripled in 1986 with seating for 600 front area and 172 & 121 rear area. To Geoff Greaves (Merlin Cinemas) 24^th July 1998. Now 4 screens. Screen 1 – 600 seats – stage facilities & digital sound.

Temperance Hall C. Bawden  (1907)

 

REIGATE Surrey

HIPPODROME / PALACE PICTUREDROME 27 Bell Street  Opened 1912. 1915 taken over, new stage & pros. 1916 to Harry & Rose Bancroft. Cine-variety. 1922 – Prop., Mr. & Mrs. Harry Ban­croft. Res. Man., Mrs. Bancroft. One show nightly, Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. 3d. Phone, Reigate 241. Station, Reigate, S.E. & C.R. By 1941: (RCA) – Prop., Reigate Theatres, Ltd., M84, Shell Mex House, Strand, W.C.2. Phone Temple Bar 5077. Booked by Shipman & King. Continuous. Phone Reigate 2943. Station, Reigate S.R. Closed 1966. Auditorium demolished, foyer newsagents / lighting shops.

MAJESTIC Bancroft Road  (WE Wide Range) Opened Monday 14^th October 1935 – Fighting Stock and Great God Gold. Architect: Ward & Woolnough, assisted by David J. Barry, Reigate. (Bancroft circuit involved, at least with site.) Organ: Christie 3c/7 with surround on lift – opened by Reginald New. Prices, 6d to 2/6. 1,960 seats. Kalee 12s, Peerless Magnarcs. By 1941 – Props., Reigate Theatres, Ltd., M 84, Shell Mex House, Strand, W.C.2. Phone Temple Bar 5077. Booked by Shipman & King. Continuous. Phone Reigate 2943. Café. Station, Reigate S.R. Fitted ‘Ardente’ Deaf Aids. Organ removed 1972. Closed 11^th December 1982. Demolished. Offices, the Screen, and car park.

Public Hall f., J. T. Peat  (1907) 1910 pictures & variety.

SCREEN Bancroft Road:  2 screens. On part of Majestic site.

 

RETFORD Notts – actually East Retford

Circus and Fair Grounds J. Boulby  (1907)

Crown Hotel Assembly Rooms

MAJESTIC THEATRE Coronation Street  Opened 17^th October 1927 – No No Nanette (amateur). Architect: Alfred J. Thraves. Prop. Cyril Getliffe. Variety theatre. Stage, 6 dressing rooms. Talkies 1930. By 1941: (BTP) – Prop., C. Getliffe. 1,200 seats. Continuous. Mat., Wed. and Sat. Prices 9d. to 1s. 6d. Station, Retford, L.N.E.R. To Midland Empire Cinemas 1943. To Eskay Ltd 1954. Stage Play licence to 6^th January 1956. New owner, part-time bingo 1968. To Axholme Cinema Services 1972. Cinema closed through debt 1983. Bingo closed 1985. Lease for sale. 1986 re-opened as two-screen cinema 1988 live stage shows. Closed mid-1992. Majestic Theatre Trust 1993. Closed 1994 – safety. Early 1996 –renovation. Re-opened February 1997  - Showmakersz. Open as theatre. Listed Grade II.

PALACE THEATRE / Rink Carol Gate  Opened c.1911 – conversion of 1909 skating rink. 1922 - Prop. &  Res. Man., C. Getliffe. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. 3d. Station, Retford, G.N.R. Closed c.1930.

PICTUREDROME / Corn Exchange Exchange Street  J. Boulby (1907) Opened as cinema 1910. Lessee H. B. Parkinson. 1922 KYB Closed c.1932.

RITZ / REGENT THEATRE (CINEMA) Carolgate Bridge  To Retford Cinema & Motors Ltd November 1922. Bankrupt in September 1929. To Cyril Getliffe c.1934 & re-named. By 1941: (BTP) – Prop., C. Getliffe. 665 seats. Continuous. Prices 9d. to 1s. 3d. To Herbert Elton of Eskay Ltd. 1954. Closed 1957.

ROXY / PICTURE HOUSE 50 Carolgate Opened 1917. 1922 – Prop. &  Res. Man., G. Getliffe, Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. 3d. Station, Retford, G.N.R. Re-named c.1938. By 1941: (WE) – Prop. & Man., C. Getliffe. 1,028 seats. Continuous, Two changes weekly. Prices 5d. to 1s. 3d. Station, Retford, L.N.E.R. To Herbert Elton of Eskay Ltd 1956. Cinema Scope. Mgr. C. Shaw. Closed late 1972. Demolished. Boot’s shop on site.

THEATRE Carolgate  Opened 1789. Sold to Robertson of Lincoln circuit. Closed 1841. £425. Converted to chapel. Later rebuilt as larger chapel.

TOWN HALL   J. Boulby  (1907) Opened as town’s 1^st cinema 14^th October 1909. 1922 KYB. By 1940: Occasional Pictures. Prices 6d. to 1s. 3d. Closed as cinema during WWII, poss. 1940.

 

RHYMNEY Mon

IMPERIAL PALACE  1922 – Prop., Rowland Williams. Res. Man., E. Thompson. One show nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 7d. to 1s. 3d. Station, Rhymney, G.W.R.

SCALA

VICTORIA HALL / Victoria Public Hall  f., D. O. Morris (1907) 1922 – Lessee, Will Stone. Res. Man., E. Thompson. One show nightly, two Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices, 7d. to 1s. 3d. 1937: (B.T.H.) Prop., Will Stone. 600 seats. 1941: (BTH) – Lessee, Will Stone New Hippodrome, Tonypandy. 600 seats. Booked at H.O. One show nightly. Two Sat. Two changes weekly. Proscenium width 22ft. Prices 7d. to 1s. 4d. Phone Tonypandy 54. Station, Rhymney, G.W.R.

Workmen’s Hall Victoria Road

 

RICHMOND-on-THAMES Surrey

ABC / RITZ (WE)  Opened 1938. Architect Sam Beverley (Verity & Beverley) – Props., Union Cinemas, Ltd., 15 Regent Street, S.W.1. Phone Whitehall8484. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Station, Richmond, S.R. Closed 1973. Demolished.

CASTLE ELECTRIC THEATRE / Castle Assembly Rooms T. Ridley (1907)

EMPIRE

FILMHOUSE 3 Water Lane Seats: 150. Closed Demolished. Part of Odeon Studio site.

GAUMONT / ROYALTY CINEMA / NEW ROYALTY KINEMA  5 Hill Street  Opened Christmas Eve 1914. Prop. H. J. Mears. Architect: Sidney Davis. 18^th c. house & garden. 1,020 seats. Re-named Royalty 10^th June 1929. By 1940: (WE) – Prop. Joseph Mears Theatres, Ltd. Phone 2244. 1,141 seats. Prices 9d. to 1s. 10d. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Café attached. Pros. width, 28ft. Phone 1760. Station, Richmond, S.R. Closed 26^th October 1940 by war conditions. Re-opened 25^th May 1942. To Odeon 3^rd January 1944. Re-named Gaumont 26^th November 1949. Closed 25^th October 1980. Foyer offices. Auditorium demolished – Filmhouse on part of site.

LOUNGE PICTURE THEATRE Sheen Road

Masonic Hall Miss Godley  (1907)

New GAIETY Fort Richmond Buildings. Phone, Richmond 887. Prop.. Duhousky.

ODEON / PREMIER / RICHMOND KINEMA  Hill Street (WE) – Prop., Joseph Mears Theatres, Ltd. 1,533 seats. Booked by Frederick Clive at 5, Hill Street, Richmond. Continuous. Prices 9d. to 1s. 10d. Phone Richmond 1700. Station, Richmond, S.R. Fitted ‘Ardente’ Deaf Aids. 3 screens.

ODEON Studio 6 Red Lion Street:  4 screens

PALAIS CINEMA The Old Baths, The Square

PRINCE OF WALES’S G. Dance  (1907)

QUEEN’S CINEMA Sheen Road

RICHMOND THEATRE / THEATRE-on-the-GREEN / RICHMOND HIPPODROME & THEATRE

Star and Garter Hotel Rooms  f., Manager (1907)

TALBOT PICTURE THEATRE Hill Street  1922 – Prop., J. Mears. Res. Man., J, Morris. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. 10d. Phone, Richmond 1392. Station, Richmond, L.S.W.R.

 

RICHMOND Yorks

Assembly Rooms Manageress  (1907)

CAMP CINEMA Hipswell  1941: (WE) – Man. Dir., F. L. Hastwell, c/o J. E. Latimer, Priestgate, Darlington. 701 seats. Prices 6d. to 1s. 3d.

CINEMA  Queen’s Road  1922 as New Cine – Prop., Richmond (Yorks) Cinema Co., Ltd. Res. Man., R. M. Major. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. 3d. Station, Richmond, N.E.R. By 1941: (WE) – Prop., Frank L., Hastwell, The Terrace, Richmond. 572 seats. Twice nightly. Prices 6d. to 1s. 6d. Phone Richmond , 456. Station, Richmond (Yorks) L.N.E.R. Bingo.

STATION CINEMA Station Yard  Opened 9^th November 2007 in 1846 railway station buildings. 2 screens.

Town Hall f., J. Proctor  (1907)  1922 KYB

ZETLAND KINEMA Victoria Road  By 1941: (BTP) – Props., Swaledale Entertainments, Ltd., Victoria Road, Richmond. 850 seats. Prices 8d. to 1s. 8d. Continuous. Booked at Hall. Pro­scenium width 25ft. Stage21ft. Two dressing-rooms. Phone Richmond 261. Sta­tion, Richmond, Yorks, L.N.E.R. Closed. Religious use.

 

RICKMANSWORTH Herts

ELECTRIC PALACE / ELECTRIC PICTURE PLAYHOUSE / Town Hall  105 High Street  Bacon (1907)  Opened as cinema c.May 1912. Cap. 300. Early prop. R. Barnett, later re-named under A. Smith. Closed 1927 when Pic Hse opened.

GADE THEATRE Watersmeet Centre opened 1^st May 1975. Prop., local council. 390 seats. Equipped for film. 

ODEON THEATRE 93-5 High Street (BTH)  Opened Wednesday 29^th January 1936 – On Wings Of Song. Architect: Andrew Mather. 920 stadium seats. By 1941 – Prop., Odeon (Rickmansworth) Ltd., Old County Cinema, Marlow, Bucks. Phone Marlow 695-9. Booked at Moor Hall, Cookham, Berks. Continuous. Prices 8d. to 2s. 6d. Stage. Phone 2122. Closed Saturday 5^th January 1957 – The Mountain and The Big Tip-Off. Empty. For sale. Bought by council. Demolished 1985. Car park.

RICKMANSWORTH PICTURE HOUSE 1 High Street  Opened Saturday 12^th March 1927 – Nell Gwynne. Architects: Morlands Ltd. Prices 6d to 2/4d. Ballroom and tea lounge attached. 1930 WE. 1933 to SM Super Cinemas. 1937: (W.E.) Prop., Members Cinemas Ltd. 671 seats. Phone 360.By 1941: (WE) – Prop., Rixinema, Ltd. 697 seats. Booked at 119/122, Imperial House, 80/86 Regent Street W1. Continuous. Prices 6d. to 2s. Dance Hall attached. Proscenium width 32ft. Phone 360. Film by Transport. To Essoldo with circuit 26^th August 1954. Closed 22^nd June 1963 – What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? Empty. Gutted for factory use. Now business and office use.

 

RIDDINGS Derbys

EMPIRE PALACE  1920s Lessee & mgr. ‘Gus’ Levaine.

REGENT High Street  Converted from chapel. 1941: (BTP) – Prop., John Wilson. 450 seats. Once nightly. Two shows Sat. Prices 8d. to 1s. 2d. Booked at Hall. Station, Codnor Park, L.M.S.

 

RINGWOOD Hants.

CINEMA

MANOR HOUSE THEATRE / Lecture Hall  Corrugated iron building in Manor Hse grounds. G. P. Brown  (1906) R. & R. Morant  (1907)

REGAL Market Place (WE)  Opened 1936/7. Prop., A. A. Pilkington. Architect: Ernest S. Roberts. 700 seats. By 1941: (WE) – Prop., A. Austin Pilkington’s Theatres, 20, London Road, Salisbury. Booked at H.O., Salisbury. Continuous. Prices 6d. to 1s. 6d. Stage 20ft. deep. Phone Ringwood 183. Station, Ringwood, S.R. Films by Southern Counties Transport Co. Closed ?later 70s. Converted to shopping arcade.

VICTORIA / PICTURE HOUSE / Corn Exchange  Market Place  f., R. Tuck  (1907) 1931: Barrington Lynham, propr. Re-built as Regal.

 

RIPLEY Derbys

ELECTRA THEATRE  Opened 1909. Pictures & variety.

EMPIRE Nottingham Road  1937: (WE) 654 seats. 1941 – Prop., Midland Empire Theatres, Ltd., Commerce Chambers, Elite Bldgs., Nottingham.  Phone Nottingham 2273/4. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Occasional Variety. Phone Ripley 224. Station, Rip­ley, L.M.S. Closed & demolished 1956.

STUDIO 1 / HIPPODROME  41 High Street 1922 – Prop., J. Marshall & Sons. Res. Man., R. Marshall. One show nightly, three on Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices 5d. to 1s. Phone, Ripley 17. Station, Ripley, M.R., 136 miles. 1937: (B.T.H.) Props., Marshall & Sons. 1,000 seats. 1941: (BTH) – Prop., Marshall Bros. Booked at Hall. Continuous. Two shows Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices 8d. to 1s. 2d. Proscenium width 30ft. Dance Hall attached. Phone Ripley 301. Films by Transport. To Harry Greatorex. Lease sold £1,000. Sam Lavington 1983-91: new screen, foyer re-decorated, new projection equipment, Dolby stereo, seating reduced from 500 to 350. To co-owner Lorraine Godkin. Closed December 1991.

Public Hall  f., A. R. Lee  (1907)

Town Hall  G. M. Capon  (1907)

VICTORY THEATRE  1922 – Prop., Victory Halls, Ltd. Head Office, Victory Theatre, Ripley, Res. Man., J. Reid. One show nightly, two on Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices 9d.                to 3s.       Phone, Ripley 47. Station, Ripley, M.R.

 

RIPON Yorks

Mechanics’ Institute  T. A. Handsley  (1907)

New SPA CINEMA (2) Park Street  Opened post-WWI. 1922 – Prop., New Spa Cinema Co. Res. Man., C. De Vere. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 2s. Station, Ripon, G.N.R.

OPERA HOUSE  Low Skellgate  (WE) – Prop., A. R. Wood, Greta, Mallorie Park, Ripon. Phone 346. 850 seats. Booked at Leeds. Continuous. Mat., Thurs. and Sat. Prices 7d. to 1s. 4d. Phone 306. Station, Ripon, L.N.E.R.

PALLADIUM PICTURE HOUSE Kirkgate  1922 – Prop., Palladium Picture House & Café, Ltd. Res. Man., E. Wood. Continuous. Mat. Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 2s. Station, Ripon, N.E.R. By 1941: (Mirrophonic) – Prop., A. R. Wood, ‘Greta,’ Mallorie Park Drive, Ripon. Phone 266. 910 seats. Booked at Leeds. Continuous. Twice nightly Sat. and Holidays, Mat, Thurs. and Sat. Prices 7d. to 1s. 6d. Proscenium width 30ft. Occasional Variety. Stage 30ft. deep. Three dressing-rooms. Station, Ripon, L.N.E.R.

SPA CINEMA (1) Park Street/Church Lane  Closed post-WWI & demolished. Tennis courts on site.

Temperance Hall  W. Shepherd  (1907)

VICTORIA HALL / Victoria Hall  f., F. Lowley  (1907) 1922 – Prop., Ripon Public Rooms Co., Ltd. Res. Man., E. R. Wood. Continuous. Mat., Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices, 4d. to 2s. Station, Ripon, N.E.R.

 

RISCA Mon

PALACE / RISCA PALACE  Tredegar Street  Opened 1912. 1922 – Prop., Welsh Palaces, Ltd. Res. Man., H. Litho. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prop., (B.A.) Prop., Welsh Palaces Ltd. 800 seats. Phone 7432. 1941: (BA) – Prop., Risca Cinemas, Ltd. 800 seats. Booked by S. Attwood. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices 7d. to 1s. Proscenium width 30ft. Phone Risca 7432. Station, Risca, G.W.R., & L.M.S.

Public Hall  f., T. Davies  (1907)

 

RISHTON Lancs

EMPIRE PICTURE PALACE  1937: (Gr.-Radio) Prop., Ainsworth & Hudson. 600 seats. Phone Gt. Harwood 27.

KING’S HALL - Prop., Ainsworth & Hudson

REGAL (Imperial Symphonic) – Prop., Regal Cinemas (Blackburn) Ltd., Walmesley Street, Rishton. 500 seats. Booked at Blackburn. Once nightly, twice Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices 4d. to 1s. Proscenium width 17ft. Phone Gt. Harwood 27. Station, Rishton L.M.S.

 

ROBERTSBRIDGE  E Sussex

- Thurs. – Travelling show G. Hughes.

 

ROBIN HOOD’S BAY  Yorks

WAVE CONCERT HALL  Opened March 2006. Conversion of Methodist chapel. 160 seats. 1^st film 8^th April – Chronicles of Narnia.

 

ROCHDALE Lancs

CANNON / ABC / REGAL The Butts (RCA)  Opened 16 May 1938 –Stella Dallas. Props., Associated British Cinemas, Ltd., 30/31 Golden Square, London W.1. Architect W. R. Glen & Leslie C. Norton. 1,901 seats (1208 stalls and 693 balcony) 1941: Continuous daily. Booked at H.O. Phone Rochdale 3454. Station, Rochdale, L.M.S. Fitted ‘Ardente’ Deaf Aids. 1955: Metroscope. 1,719 seats. Renamed ABC 1962. Closed as single screen January 1978. Tripled – re-opened in March with screen 1 (former balcony) seating 538 and two rear stalls cinemas seating 281 & 199. Projectors: Phillips from Bolton ABC. 1986 re-named Cannon. Closed October 1992. De-tripled for bingo. Closed 1996. 1997 – Decoration stripped – now Wetherspoon’s Regal Moon.

CEYLON CINEMA de LUXE / CEYLON PICTURE HALL Littlewood Street/Back Bradshaw Street, Wardleworth  Opened late 1914 OR 1915 – ?conversion of mill. Prop., Ceylon Pic Pal Co. Post–WWI to Jackson’s Amusements. Refurbished & re-named in 20s. By 1931 RCA Sound. 700 seats. Prices 4d to 9d. 1941: (RCA) – Prop., Jackson’s Amusements, Ltd. Phone Rochdale 3212. 700 seats. Booked at Rialto, Rochdale. Two shows nightly. Mat., Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices 4d. to 9d. Phone Rochdale 2505. Station, Rochdale (Wardleworth) L.M.S. Closed 9^th June 1956. 586 seats. Demolished – petrol station on site.

Circus Pitches  Borough Treasurer   (1907)

COLISEUM PICTURE THEATRE Oldham Road  Opened 1911 – 1^st purpose-built cinema. Props., Messrs. J. F. Moore & Monty Beaudyne. Twice nightly,. Prices, 1d, 2d & 3d. c.1914 to Jackson’s Amusements. 1937: 1,600 seats. 1941: (RCA) – Prop., Jackson’s Amusements, Ltd. Phone Rochdale 3212. 1,000 seats. Twice nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices 3d. to 9d. Pro­scenium width 22ft. Phone Rochdale 2334. Station, Rochdale, L.M.S. Closed early 50s. Taken over by adjoining garage.

Conservative Stores Assembly Rooms  Manager  (1907)

Co-operative Hall  (1907)

EMPIRE de LUXE / EMPIRE PICTURE and VARIETY THEATRE / PRINGLE’S PICTURE PALACE / EMPIRE HALL Town Hall Square, Packer Street  Opened 1904. Architect: unknown. T. Hargreaves  (1907) Cap. c.1,150. post 08 – Pringle’s Pictures. October 1910 to J. Jackson snr. Pictures & variety. 1930 – balcony altered, new 40ft. pros set back, WE sound installed. 941 seats. By 1941: (WE) – Prop., Jackson’s Amusements, Ltd. Phone Roch­dale 3212. Newgate Chambers, Rochdale. Booked at Rialto, Rochdale. Three shows daily except Friday, when two shows. Prices 4d. to 1s. 4d. Proscenium width 40ft. Phone 4000. Station, Rochdale, L.M.S. To Snape circuit late 50s. Closed September 1963. Bingo. Closed. Empty for sale. 1995 – converted to café-bar.

HIPPODROME (1)  / CIRCUS  Newgate  Opened October 1882. Prop., Ohmy. Wooden circus.  1900 – to Messrs. Smith, Lee & Hargeaves. Pictures 1903. Smith & Co. (1907) 1907 Films by Pringle. Closed 1908. Demolished for road works. Hipp. 2 built on rest of site.

HIPPODROME (2) Newgate  Opened 16^th November 1908 on part site of Hipp (1). Prop., Messrs. J. Jackson & Son. Architect: Mr Hardman. Cap., 1,400. Pringle’s Pictures & variety. Cinema from August 1930. By 1941: (RCA) – Prop., Jackson’s Amusements, Ltd. Phone Rochdale 3212. 2,000 seats. Twice nightly. Mat. daily except Friday. Phone 2161. Station, Rochdale, L.M.S. Closed as cinema 1957. Bought by corporation. Amateurs & bingo. Closed finally 28^th February 1970. Demolished for Crown offices (DHSS).

KING’S CINEMA King’s Road (later Kingsway)/Oldham Road  Opened 1922. Pros. 32ft. wide. 835 seats. Licence refused June 1938. Sold. Re-built & re-opened as New King’s February 1939. 1941: (WE) – Prop., James Brennan Theatres, 107 Duke Street, Barrow-in-Furness. 744 seats. Continuous Mon. to Fri. Twice nightly Sat., Mats. Mon., Tues., Thurs, and Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices 4d. to 1s. Booked by Prop. Phone Rochdale 4581. Station, Rochdale, L.M.S. 1956 CinemaScope. Closed to film 1966 OR 69. Asian centre. Closed. Re-opened 1972 – bingo. 1987 re-vamped and new entrance. Still bingo in 2003.

La SCALA / PUBLIC HALL PICTURE HOUSE / Public Hall Acker Street/Baillie Street  Early film seasons. Cap., 1.000. 1909: A. & O. Andrews pictures. By 1915 Pub H PH, lessee F. P. Beauchamp. Cap. 900. 1923 leased to Jackson’s Amusements Ltd. Re-named La S. Organ. 1937: (RCA) Prop., Jackson’s Amusements Ltd. 1,000 seats. (Closed) Demolished in 1970/80s area redevelopment.

ODEON / RIALTO SUPER CINEMA Drake Street/Milnrow Road  Opened 25^th August 1928. Official opening (Gracie Fields) Monday 27^th - Dawn. Prop. Assoc. British Properties (Chairman David Rosenfield). Architects: J. M. Calder (Butterworth & Duncan). 1,874 seats. Leased to Jackson’s. By 1941: (WE) – Lessees, Jackson’s Amusements, Ltd., Newgate Chambers, Rochdale. Phone Rochdale 3212. 1,848 seats. Continuous. Twice on Sat. Prices 6d. to 1s. 4d. Pro­scenium width 32ft. Café. Booked at Hall. Phone 3146. Station, Rochdale, L.M.S. 1955: CinemaScope. 1,724 seats. To Gaumont 25^th July 1957. Re-named 17^th August 1959. Closed 1^st November 1975 by firework igniting drapes & screen – The Apple Dumpling Gang. (Planned close 15^th.) Demolished mid-80s. MFI store on site.

ODEON / ABC Sandbrook Park  Opened 10^th April 1998. 9 screens / 2,250 seats.

PALACE TUDOR SUPER CINEMA / PALACE THEATRE  Great George Street  Opened 4^th December 1911. Prop., T. Hargreaves. Architect: Pictures & variety. To Standard Enterprises. By 1915 to Northern Theatres Ltd. Opened as cinema August 1917. c.1930 WE and re-vamp. Tudor added to name. 1941: (WE) – Prop., Northern Theatres Co., Ltd., 5, Rawson Street, Halifax. 827 seats. Phone Rochdale 2740. Station, Rochdale. September 1957 to Essoldo with circuit. CinemaScope. 774 seats. Closed to English film 1965. August 1968 Asian films. Closed by fire on stage November 1975. Later re-opened as nightclub – Xanadu. Demolished 2002. Car park.

PAVILION PICTURE PALACE St. Mary’s Gate  Opened 6^th December 1912. Prop., Pavilion Picture Palace (Rochdale) Ltd. Pros. Width 22ft. Cap. 1,000. Later organ. 1920 ownership change – to HDM circuit?  Monday 8^th July 1929 1^st talkies in town – BTP sound-on-disc – Lucky Boy. 1941: (BTP) – Prop., Pavilion (Rochdale) Ltd., Imperial Buildings, 7 Oxford Road, Manchester. 866 seats. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Phone Roch­dale 2818. Closed 1959. Demolished – flats on site.

Public Hall R. Williams  (1907)

QUEEN’S CINEMA

PRINCE of WALES Manchester Road  Opened 1867. Burned down 1894. Theatre Royal built on site.

STAR THEATRE Sudden  fl.1912-18. 1914: Props., Messrs. Robinson & Wilson. 540 seats. 1915: Props., Taylor & Smith. 1916: Prop., Taylor Bros. 

THEATRE Toad Lane  Demolished 1865. Co-operative shops.

THEATRE ROYAL / PRINCE of WALES’ THEATRE Manchester Road  Opened 1867. Otto E. Culling  (No 3) (1907) Re-named 1883. 1894 fire – restored. By 1941: Props., Northern Theatres Co., Ltd., 5, Rawson Street, Halifax. Variety, Revue, and Repertory. Cap.  1,000. Phone 2404. SG46: Bookings : Jas. Wilkin­son (Gen. Manager, N.T. Co., Ltd.) 5, Rawson Street, Halifax. Cap. : Stalls 192, P. stalls 293, D. circle 104, boxes 10, G. circle 180, U. circle 160, gallery 218. Barring clause : Oldham bars Rochdale. Twice nightly 6.15 and 8.1.5. Saturday matinée occasionally. Variety, repertory, musicals, plays. Stage : Pros. 27ft., height 25ft., min. depth from setting line 34ft., height under fly galleries 22ft., width between fly galleries 19ft., height of grid from stage 45ft. No counterweight gear. 40-50 hemp lines. Elec. equip. : 230 v. A.C., 50 cycles. Footlights, four circuits with ind. dimmers. Four battens, each with four circuits with ind. dimmers. Spot bar with six spots, each with ind. dimmers. 12 floods on stands. Two f-o-h following limes. New switchboard. Four new magnesium type battens. No. 1 batten, spot and flood. Two perch spot lanterns. Six circle spot lanterns. New footlights. Dressing rooms : Six single, three chorus. Band room. Orchestra : Acc : 12-14. Resident nine (M.D., leader, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, piano, bass, ’cello, drums). Amplifying equip. : Microphone. Last manager John Hindle. Burned down 24^th November 1954. Car park on site (rear of police station).

Town Hall Borough Trea­surer  (1907)

VICTORY SUPER CINEMA Milkstone Road  Opened c.1925. Architect: John Knight. Cap. Pros. width 32ft. Cap. c.1,000. Talkies 29^th July 1929 – The Singing Fool. 1941: (BTP) – Props., Pavilion (Rochdale) Ltd., Imperial Buildings, Oxford Road, Manchester. Phone Ardwick 2226. (HDM circuit.) 1083 seats. Booked at H.O. Continuous, Mon. to Sat. Phone Rochdale 3602. Station, Rochdale, L.M.S. 1954: £6,000 refit (BA) CinemaScope. Closed July 1959. 1965 Massey’s brewery retail off-licence depot and shop. Cash & carry warehouse.

Victory Super Cinema (3602)                            H. D. Moorhouse Circuit                                                                  B.T.P.

Also closing down in July 1959 was the Victory cinema, despite a only five years before. Teddy boys were named as one of the reasons for its closure, accused of causing lots of damage, including slashing seats. In 1965 the building was taken over by.

 

 

ROCHESTER Kent

CINEWORLD / UGC  Chariot Way:  9 screens. Re-named mid-2005.

CORN EXCHANGE CINEMA / OLD CORN EXCHANGE PICTURE PALACE  Opened October 1910 with tip-up seats. Film seasons until 1921. 1921 – Prop., A. Batleit. Res. Man., F. Reeves. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1S. 3d. Station, Rochester, S.E. & C.R. Re-built internally 1961. Now civic multi-purpose venue.

ODEON / GAUMONT / MAJESTIC  High Street  Star Hill (WE)  Opened 15^th April 1935 – The Iron Duke and Million Dollar Ransom.  Prop., Majestic (Rochester) Ltd. Architect: Harry Weston & Arthur W. Kenyon. (Originally to be Astoria under Southern Proprietary Holdings.) 2,030 OR 2,181 seats. Organ: Compton 3/10 (11) Rainbow-style etched-glass surround, console on lift. Pipe chambers audience left. Originally with Solo ’Cello rank, replaced by Tibia Minor c.1936.. Mgr. Percy White (ex-National Electric Theatre, Chatham). Graham Butcher from 12^th March 1939. By 1941: Prop., Majestic (Rochester) Ltd. 2,012 seats. Booked by Gaumont-British Corporation, New Gallery House Regent Street W1. Continuous. Prices 9d. to 2s. 6d. Proscenium width 72ft.(sic) Café attached. Phone Chatham 3271. Station, Rochester Goods S.R. Fitted ‘Ardente’ Deaf Aids. War-time mgr D. W. H. Read. Alan Williams 1946 (returned after RAF). 1947 George ‘Tim’ Frewin died heart attack 1963 at 54. Gaumont-British bought freehold, renamed Gaumont 3^rd April 1950. Café closed October 1957 – later dance studio. Organ removed 1960/1 – church. Re-named Odeon 21^st October 1962. Mgr: Harry Minnican 1963-68. 70mm/six-track stereo 1967. Tripled March 1974. Closed 31^st October 1981. Demolished December 1986 – retirement homes.

 

ROCK FERRY Cheshire

ESSOLDO / REGAL  Bebington Road (WE) – Props., S.M. Super Cinemas, 37-38, Golden Square, London W.1. Phone Gerrard 4556. 1,300 seats. Prices 9d. to 1s. 10d. Continuous evenings. Mats. daily. Booked at H.O. Phone Rock Ferry 2346. Station, Rock Ferry.

PALACE CINEMA / ROCK FERRY ELECTRIC PALACE / PICTUREDROME New Chester Road  1910 built as billiard hall. Opened as cinema by Weisker Bros. Closed c.1915. Re-opened by other post-WWI. 1922 as R F Elec Pal – Prop., Rock Ferry Electric Palace Co. Res. Man., J. Nelson Bramble. Two shows nightly Sat., continuous rest of week. Mat., Mon., Thurs. & Sat. Two changes weekly. Phone, Rock Ferry 289. Station, Rock Ferry, L.N.W.R. By 1941: (BTH) – Prop., Rock Ferry Electric Palace Co. 766 seats. Two shows nightly Sat., continuous rest of week. Mats., Mon., Thurs. and Sat. Two changes weekly. Phone Rock Ferry 289.

 

RODLEY nr Leeds Yorks

RIALTO / PICTURE HOUSE Town Street /Calverley Lane  Opened 24^th October 1927 – The Triumph of the Rat. Prop. Mark Morris. 650 seats. By 1941: (BTH) – Props., Wellington Film Service, Ltd., 10 Mill Hill, Leeds, Phone 23524. 650 seats. Prices 4d. to 1s. Twice daily, Mat., Sat. Three changes weekly. Booked at Mill Hill. Proscenium width 20ft. Phone 71816. Station, Calverley & Rodley. Closed 7^th July 1956 – One Desire. Factory – Rialto Works. Workshop/showroom. Demolished Summer 2007.

 

ROMFORD Essex

Plaza Super, Western Rd. (1000)                                       Eastern Cinemas (G.C.F.) Ltd.           2,207       W.E.

CANNON / ABC 1, 2, 3 / ABC / RITZ South Street (RCA) Opened Monday 7^th November 1938 – Vivacious Lady. Architect: W. R. Glen. Prop., Associated British Cinemas Ltd. 2,019 seats (1,269 + 750). Mgr: F. J. Nash-Sex. Continuous from 1.30pm. Prices, 6d to 2s. Booked at H.O. Proscenium width 44ft. Phone 3848. Station, Romford, L.N.E.R. Fitted ‘Ardente’ Deaf Aids. Fire 9^th February 1959. Re-opened 27^th March. Re-named ABC 1962. Closed 14^th November 1970. Tripled. Re-opened 15^th July 1971. To Cannon 1986. Demolished 2000. Souvenir opening prog in Gould Theatre Collection.

Corn Exchange f., Kemsley  (1907)

GAUMONT / PLAZA Super CINEMA South Street (WE) Opened 20^th January 1930 Architect: W. Evans (Harrington & Evans). 2,207 seats. Organ: Compton 2/6 fixed console. To Eastern Cinemas April 1937. 1,620 seats. By 1941 – 1,527 seats. Props., Eastern Cinemas (G.C.F.) Ltd., Film House, 142, Wardour Street, W.1. Prices 9d. to 2s.6d. Four dressing-rooms. Phone 1000. Station, Romford, L.N.E.R. Fitted ‘Ardente’ Deaf Aids. To Odeon 1943. Re-named Gaumont 1950. Organ broken down 1960. Closed 8^th OR 15^th September 1962. Demolished for Liberty Shopping Centre.

ODEON (1) / HAVANA CINEMA 108 South Street (WE)  Opened 29^th January 1936. Architects: Leslie Kemp & Tasker. Props. Victory Super Cinemas Ltd. Organ: Compton 3/6+melotone with surround on lift. To Eastern Cinemas 1937. By 1941: (WE) – Prop., Eastern Cinemas (G.C.F.) Ltd., Film House, 142 Wardour Street, W.1. 2,500 seats. Prices 9d. to 2s. 6d. Continuous. Café. Phone 300. Station, Romford. To Odeon 1941. Re-named 1949. Organ removed 1967. Tripled 1974. Closed 8^th July 1990 as Odeon multiplex opened. Now ‘Time & Envy’.

ODEON (2) Mercury Gardens Liberty Two Shopping Centre  Opened 13^th July 1993. 8 screens.

Public Baths Hall H. C. Green (1907)

REX CINEMA Collier Row Lane  Opened 10^th April (Easter Monday) 1939. Architect: E. Norman Bailey. Prop., Rex Cinema (Collier Row) Ltd. – H. & B. Sado. 1,124 semi-stadium seats. (Closed.) Re-opened. 4^th January 1948 – stage facilities. Prop. Romford Entertainments Ltd. (Nigel Marsh circuit). Closed Saturday 27^th June 1959 – Blood of the Vampire and Love Is My Profession. Retail. Now Tesco.

STER CENTURY The Brewery:  16 screens

VICTORY PALACE / PICTURE PAVILION  South Street  Opened c.1913. 1918: re-named. 1922: Prop., Little and Banks. Res. Man., W. J. Richards, Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. 3d. Phone, Romford 59. Station, Romford, G.E.R. Closed 1930 as Plaza opened. Demolished. Quadrant Arcade over site.

VOGUE  / LAURIE CINEMA / Laurie Hall / Town Hall Market Place  Opened c.1786. Monday 1^st September 1913 – Lady Audley’s Secret. Prop., Col. Reginald Bromhead. Mgr. J. Bertram Walker. 1922: Prop., Sinclair Cinema Co., Man.., H. Davies., Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s.3d. Phone, Romford 113. 1926: Romford Cinema Ltd. 1937: (RCA) 416 seats. By 1939: (RCA) – Prop., Romford Cinema, Ltd. 424 seats. Booked at H.O. by Arthur B. de Solla. Continuous. Prices 6d. to 1s. 6d. Phone 113. Station, Romford, L.N.E.R., & Film Transport. Closed 1939. Re-opened by J. E. Taylor as Vogue early 1944. Closed 13^th March 1954. Public Hall. Demolished 1970s.

 

ROMILEY Cheshire

SAVOY Sandy Lane (WE)  Opened 1934. Architect: Albert Winstanley. 1941 – Props., Savoy Cinema (Romiley) Ltd. Phone Woodley 2131. 970 seats. Continuous. Twice Sat. Mats., Mon., Thurs., and Sat. Occasional Variety. Booked at Hall. Prices 8d. to 1s. 9d. Pro­scenium width 38ft. Stage 19ft. deep; three dressing-rooms. Café attached. Station, Romiley, L.M.S. – L.N.E. joint.

 

ROMSEY Hants

Cornmarket

ELITE ELECTRIC PALACE Middlebridge Street 1931: D. Smith & Mrs. C. England, proprs.

PLAZA Winchester Road (WE)  Opened c.March 1932. Architect: R. A. Thomas. 1941 – Props Humby’s Cinemas, Ltd. 494 seats. Booked at Hall. Continuous. Prices 6d. to 1s. 6d. Proscenium width 25ft. Phone 237. Station, Romsey, S.R. Closed. Sold to local amateurs, converted to theatre, 1984. Circle removed – one tier.

Temperance Hall  f., Bliss  (1907)

Town Hall  f., G. Summers  (1907)

 

ROOKHOPE  Co Durham

PICTURE HALL  1922 – Prop., Victory Picture Co. One show twice weekly. One change weekly. Prices, 4d. to 9d. Station, Eastgate, N.E.R.

 

ROSS-on-WYE Hereford

KYRLE PALACE THEATRE  Gloucester Road  Opened 1913. 1922 - Prop. & Res. Man., Edward Dekins. One show nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. 3d. 1937: (Edibell) Prop., Edwin Dekins. 400 seats. By 1941: (Edibell) – Prop., Kyrle Palace Theatre Co., Ltd. 400 seats. Booked by W. Reeves at Grantham House, Ross-on-Wye. Continuous. Mat. Sat. Prices 6d. to 1s. 4d. Proscenium width 18ft. Station, Ross-on-Wye, G.W.R. Closed 1950, demolished 1970s.

NEW THEATRE  Corn Ex­change High Street  f., Collins (1907) Opened as New Theatre 1922. 1937: (B.A.) Prop., H. G. Prickett. 400 seats. Phone 198. By 1939: (BA) – 400 seats. Booked at Hall. Continuous. Prices 6d. to 1s. 4d. Stage18ft. deep ; two dressing-rooms. Proscenium width 22ft. Phone 198. Station, Ross-on-Wye, G.W.R. (Closed.) Destroyed by fire 1939.

ROXY (BA) Broad Street – Props., South Western Cinemas, Ltd. 611 seats. Prices 6d. to 1s. 6d. Continuous from 5 p.m. Booked at Birmingham. Proscenium width 30ft. Café. Phone 198. Station, Ross, G.W.R. Closed 1982. Replaced by ‘Maltings’ arcade.

 

ROTHBURY Northumb

JUBILEE HALL  Film from 1930s to 1960 – The Ten Commandments. Opened March 2006. Community Project raised funds for projection equipment; not full-time film.

 

ROTHERHAM  Yorks

ALEXANDRA THEATRE ROYAL AND MUSIC HALL / ALEXANDRA MUSIC HALL & THEATRE OF VARIETIES Howard Street  Opened 1870. Re-named Alexandra 1871. Closed 1873. Converted into chapel. Replaced on another site by TR1.

ARTS CENTRE

CANNON / CLASSIC / ESSOLDO / EMPIRE CINEMA THEATRE  High Street/Westgate  Opened Monday 15^th December 1913 – The Girl who took the Wrong Turning + variety (top: Arthur Roberts). Architect: Chadwick, Watson & Co. Props., Messrs Joseph Steeples & William Hafferty. Res. mgr.  James Lloyd. M.D. S. Burgan. c.1,500 seats. Pictures & variety. Proscenium width 32ft. Stage, dressing rooms, safety curtain & fly tower. 1914 mgr. Fred. Shaw. 1921 – installed Gaumont machines & new screen. Cinema from Monday 2^nd May 1921. Lessee: Rotherham District Cinemas Ltd. Res. mgr. G. Woodman. 1,225 seats. Prices of 6d to 1/9d. 1926: mgr. F. Shaw. Prices 6d to 1/3d. 1929 to Mr Walker-Thompson. British Acoustic (BA) sound Saturday 23^rd November 1929 – Broadway Melody. Prices, 6d to 1/3d. Leased to Associated British Cinemas (ABC) for 10 years. 1939 returned to Rotherham District Cinemas Ltd. By 1941: (BA) – Props., Rotherham District Cinemas Ltd. 1,198 seats. Booked at Hall. Pictures and Variety. Continuous daily from 2 p.m. Prices 6d. to 1s. 3d. Proscenium width 32ft. Phone 402. Stations, L.M.S. & L.N.E.R. Restaurant / retail on ground floor. To Essoldo 1954. CinemaScope Monday 22^nd March 1954 – How to Marry a Millionaire. Re-named Essoldo 1955. Auditorium fire in gallery & roof 14^th January 1958. Repaired. To Classic & re-named 2^nd April 1972. 1973 Barbara Allen, mgr. Auditorium re-vamped & new screen in front of pros. Re-opened Thursday 28^th March 1974 – Enter the Dragon and Cleopatra Jones. Stalls only 510 seats. Twinned 26^th August 1978. To Cannon & re-named Sunday 1^st May 1988. Stage partitioned and sublet. Closed Thursday 22^nd February 1990 – Shirley Valentine and Sea of Love. Mgr. Catherine Austin. Snooker and shops left open. Nightclub and warehouse. Still stands 2006.

CINEMA HOUSE  Doncaster Gate  Opened Saturday 7^th March 1914 – The Tower of Terror, Jewels of Sacrifice, A Multi-Millionaire Caprice, Jack and the Conscript & shorts. Architect – W. G. Beck, Sheffield; decorator P. Ghiloni, Leeds. Prop., Rotherham (Cinema House) Ltd. Façade – glazed Hathernware faience. 900 seats. Two Gaumont machines installed. Gen. mgr., Victor Haydn. M.D. Mrs. Haydn & all-ladies’ orchestra. Grand café/tea room attached. 1920 prop. Cinema (Rotherham) and Electra Ltd. 1921 – Prop., Cinema (Rotherham) & Electra, Ltd. Res. Man., John Stevenson. Continuous. Five mats. weekly. Two changes weekly. Phone 130. Station, Rotherham, N.E.R. Later mgr. Alfred Black, prop., Cinema (Rotherham) and Electra Ltd. Closed Friday 26^th June 1931 – British Thompson-Houston sound. New pros & tabs, house re-decorated, re-opened Sunday 30^th August 1931. Gen. mgr. Horace W. Routledge. September 1938 Western Electric Mirrophonic sound. Leased to Star circuit January 1939. New equipment, auditorium refurbished. Re-opened Monday 6^th February 1939 – Scandal Street. Res. mgr. S. F. Ives. By 1941: (WE) – Props., Star Cinemas (London) Ltd., New Star Cinema, Aire Street, Castleford. Phone 2531. 900 seats. Prices 6d. to 1s. 2d. Continuous. Mats., Mon., Thurs. and Sat. Two changes weekly. Phone Rotherham 130. Station, Rotherham. Mgress Barbara Simpson. Closed Saturday 20^th October 1951 for refurbishment. Re-opened Sunday 20^th January 1952 Sands of Iwo Jima and Frontier Marshall. Res. mgr. W. L. Ecclestone. Closed to film Sunday 31^st May 1964 - Just My Luck and War Arrow. Frontage cladded & domes removed. Star Bingo, later Coral. Closed. Damaged by fire – derelict. Still there June 2006 ?to be demolished for flats.

CIVIC THEATRE

Clifton Hall / Drill Hall Wharncliffe Street  Opened 1873. Balls & concerts. Early films seasons from 1900. Baylis & Baylis (1907). Post WWII bought by council & re-named. Demolished 1991 for car park.

ELECTRA PICTURE PALACE / ELECTRIC PAVILION Effingham Street/Henry Street  Built 1860 as Zion chapel. Opened as Elec Pav Saturday 15^th July 1911. Lessee: Rotherham Theatre Ltd. Mgr. Arthur Melbourne. Cap. c.600. Prices, 3d to 1s. By 1916 lessee Electric Theatre Company Ltd. Gen. mgr. James Clavell. 1920 John Stevenson, mgr (ex Cinema House). 1922 as Electra – Prop., Cinema (Rotherham) & Electra, Ltd. Res. Man., John Stephenson. Continuous. Three Mats. weekly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s. Station, Rotherham, M.R. Gen. mgr. John Stevenson 1924 Alfred Blank gen. mgr. Continuous daily, three matinées. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d to 1s. Closed 26^th April 1930 – Free Lips. Demolished.

ELECTRA PALACE Aldwarke Road, Parkgate  714 seats – one floor. Pros. width 18ft. 1922 – Prop., Parkgate & Denaby Theatres, Ltd. Res. Man., G. Burton. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 4d. to 9d. Station, Rotherham, M.R.  Mid-1920s to Heeley & Amalgamated Cinemas Ltd, Sheffield (Elisha C. Clayton). Frank Shaw gen. mgr.  Later Frank C. Clayton. 1950 – Prices, 6d to 1/3d. Continuous weekdays, separate shows Saturdays. Two changes weekly. To Star circuit 1955.

HIPPODROME THEATRE Henry Street/Howard Street  Opened Monday 3^rd August 1908. Variety theatre. Architects: Chadwick & Watson, Leeds. Cap. 2,500. Prop. Rotherham Hippodrome Ltd. George E. Smith man. dir. Lessee, Thomas Edgar Fox, res. mgr. Claude Shyler. 1911 mgr. Arthur Roberts Holland. Closed as theatre Saturday 2^nd July 1932. New box, Kalee/BT-H. Re-decorated with fan screen tabs – decorator Kenneth Friese-Green. Opened Monday 17^th October 1932 – Playboy of Paris and No Limit. Continuous daily, mats. Wed. and Sat. Prices 3d to 1s. By 1941: (BTH) – Prop., Rotherham Hippodrome, Ltd. 1,800 seats. Booked by W. C. Harte at Premier Picture Palace, Rotherham. Continuous. Prices 7d. to 1s. 2d. Proscenium width 31ft. Phone 399. Stations, Rotherham, L.M.S. & L.N.E.R. CinemaScope autumn 1955 – Valley of Fury. Sold to council. Closed Saturday 19^th December 1959 – When the Devil Came and Runaway Daughters. Demolished 1960. Car park, then market/market hall on site.

PICTURE HOUSE High Street  1922 – Res. Man., G. Woodman. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s. 9d. Phone, Rother­ham 340. Station, Rotherham, G.C.R.

PREMIER PICTURE PALACE  Kimberworth Road  Opened Monday 9^th December 1912. Architect: H. Allen, Manchester. Proscenium opening 30 feet wide. 1,100 seats on raked floor & circle. Props., George W. Smith & George E. Smith (son). Gen. mgr. Claude Shyler (& Hippodrome). Res. mgr. Harry Layton. Prices, 2d, 4d and 6d. 1922 – Prop., G. W. & G. E. Smith. Res. Man,, W. C. Harte. Two shows nightly. Mat., Wed. & Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices, 3d. to 9d. Phone, Rotherham 263. Station, Masboro’, M.R. BTH sound Wednesday 8^th July 1931 – Whoopee. Prices, 3d to 1s. By 1941: (BTH) – Prop., G. E. Smith. 700 seats. Booked at Hall. Continuous. Mat. Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices 3d. to 1s. Proscenium width 30ft. Phone Rotherham 263. Station, Masboro’ L.M.S. To Star circuit. Closed Saturday 14^th January 1956. Refurbished for CinemaScope from Monday 30^th January 1956 - 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. By mid 1960 part-time bingo Closed to film c.October 1961. Bingo. Closed 1964, later billiard hall. Still stands.

REGENT THEATRE / REGENT (Varieties) / REGENT THEATRE of Varieties / ROYAL PICTURE HOUSE / THEATRE ROYAL PICTURE HOUSE / THEATRE ROYAL  (2) Nottingham Street/Howard Street  Opened 1^st January 1894 – Manhood. On site of T.R. (1) Architect: Joseph Platts, Rotherham. Lessee E. Darby, W. Manning, gen. mgr. Prosc. 29ft wide x 24ft high. Later leased to North of England Theatre Corporation Ltd., John Dunbar, mgr. Frank Macnaghten – Macnaghten Vaudeville Circuit (1907). Closed Saturday 17^th July 1915. Re-opened Monday 6^th September 1915 re-named Royal Pic Hse. Pictures & variety. Rear projection. Sold by MacNaghten for full-time cinema. 1922 - Prop., North of England Theatres, Ltd. Res. Man., E. B. Ibbotson. Continuous. Mat., Mon. & Thurs. Two changes weekly. Prices, 3d. to 1s. Phone, Rotherham 390. Station, Rotherham, G.C.R. Closed Saturday 6^th December 1930. New rear circle box, machines & WE sound. Reopened as Regent Monday 15^th December 1930 – The Grand Parade. Props. Cinema (Rotherham) & Electra Ltd. Continuous evenings, mats. Thurs. & Sat. Prices, 3d to 1/2d. September 1935 – Regent Theatre of Varieties. By 1941: Props., Cinema (Rotherham) & Electra, Ltd. Booked at Hall. 1,000 seats. Phone 291. Station, Rotherham. SG46: Closed. Closed Saturday 15^th June 1957 – Goodbye to Striptease. Demolished October 1957 for central area redevelopment. Boots approx. on site.

SCALA / ODEON / REGAL  Corporation Street  Opened Saturday 22^nd December 1934 – Girls Please! Architect: Blackmore & Sykes & Co., Hull. Prop. Thos. Wade’s Cinema Ltd. – Regal Super Cinema (Rotherham) Ltd. Organ: Conacher 3/9 with Holophane surround on lift + phantom grand piano on stage. 1,850 seats (1,100 stalls + 750 circle). Rear stalls box, Kalee projectors / WE Wide Range sound. Café with dance floor attached. From opening leased to Lou Morris Theatres. Gen. mgr. Wally Brailsford To London & Southern circuit Monday 1^st April 1935. 1,825 seats. To Odeon with circuit 1937. By 1941: (WE) – Props., Rotherham Regal Super Cinemas, Ltd., Old County Cinema, Marlow, Bucks. Phone Marlow 695-9. Prices 9d. to 2s. 6d. Con­tinuous daily from 2 p.m. Booked at Moor Hall, Cookham, Berks. Stage. Three dress­ing-rooms. Café. Phone Rotherham 316. WWII mgr. A. V. Morris – to early 1970s. Re-named Odeon October 1946. 1^st CinemaScope in town Monday 8^th March 1954 - The Robe. Prices, 1/3 to 3/6d. Organ console boarded over. 1,815 seats. Café now full restaurant. 1962 café to Victor Sylvester dance school. October 1967 organ refurbished. Café to dance school. Closed Saturday 29^th November 1975. Re-opened as Scala  Monday 1^st December 1975 – Twainville Ltd./DOF Leisure Ltd., man. dir., Owen Firth. Mgr., Richard Issacs. Stalls closed – 728 seats. 1977 mgr Barbara Allen (ex-Classic). November 1981 leased to Axholme Cinema Services. Back to Twainville July 1983. Closed Friday 23^rd September 1983 – Porky’s. Re-opened as Ritz bingo Monday 25^th May 1987. June 2001 Mecca. Organ now removed. Still stands 2004.

St. George’s Hall W. Heppenstall (1907)

THEATRE ROYAL (1) Effingham Street  Opened 1873. Replaced Alexandra. Closed December 1892. replaced by TR.

THEATRE ROYAL (2) Howard Street/Effingham Street   see Regent

Town Hall Assembly Rooms / Mechanics’ Institute films 1902 – 1911.Town Clerk (1907) 1908: Elisha C. Clayton’s Bioscope.

Victoria Tem­perance Hall W. Reading (1907)

WHITEHALL (1) / NEW PICTURE PALACE / Masonic Hall High Street  Winter & Foers (1907)  Opened as New PP Saturday 11^th February 1911. Lessee: Cllr. H. Powell Clough, F. Wiltshear gen. mgr. Closed Saturday 25^th September 1920. Refurbished. Reopened as Whitehall Thursday 2^nd December 1920. c.900 seats. Café attached. Burned down early a.m. Friday 25^th February 1921. Later rebuilt as W’hall (2).

WHITEHALL (2)  High Street  Opened Monday 7^th January 1924. Architect: James Totty.  800 seats, stalls and circle. Mgr. George W. Knapton, M.D. Cyril Wilkinson. Later mgr. Cyril J. Wilson. To Cinema (Rotherham) & Electra Ltd. Monday 29^th August 1927. Vitaphone sound-on-disc Friday 19^th April 1929 – The Jazz Singer. 1930 Western Electric sound. By 1941: (WE) – Props., Union Cinemas Ltd., 15 Regent Street, London, S.W.1. Phone Whitehall 8484. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Phone Rotherham 122. Stations, Rotherham, Mas­boro’ & Westgate, L.M.S., & Rotherham, L.N.E.R. 1950 771 seats. CinemaScope Monday 9^th May 1955 Drum Beat. Closed Saturday 25^th June 1960 – The Angry Silence and Jackpot. Immediately sold & demolished. Now Primark shop on site.

Extra info.: Rotherham Unofficial & Colin Sutton web-sites

 

ROTHWELL Northants

CINEMA (also PICTURE HOUSE) / ODDFELLOWS’ CINEMA / Oddfellows’ Hall Secretary (1907)  Opened as cinema c.1915. Lessees Kilburn & Bailey. One show nightly. 1922 as OH – Prop. & Man., Kilburn & Bailey. Two changes weekly. Station, Desborough, M.R. 1937 as OC: (Morrison) Prop., T. L. Bailey.   1941: (Morrison) – Prop. & Man., Kilburn & Bailey. Two changes weekly. Station, Desborough, L.M.S. Post-WWII Kalee machines/sound. 280 seats. Pros. width 20ft. Closed to film 1951. Projection kit to Mkt H’boro’ Oriental.

 

ROTHWELL Yorks

EMPIRE – Prop., Rothwell Empire, Ltd. Res. Man., J. Harrison. One show nightly, two on Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices, 3d. to 9d. Station, Leeds, N.E.R.

MECHANICS’ HALL  1922 KYB

PICTURE PALACE  Ingram Parade  1922 – Prop., Rothwell Public Service, Ltd. Res. Man., A. Denton. One show nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 3d. to 1s. Station, Leeds, N.E.R. By 1941: (BTH) – Props., Rothwell Public Service, Ltd. 900 seats. Booked at Leeds. One show nightly. Two on Sat. and holidays. Prices 8d. to 1s.1d. Phone Rothwell 2168. Station, Leeds, L.N.E.R. (c/o Parcels Office.) Closed 14^th June 1958.

 

ROWLANDS GILL Co. Durham

PICTURE HOUSE Station Bridge Road  Opened c.December 1919. Architects & builders: Bowers & Woodman. 415 seats. Lease to Sol Sheckman (North Eastern Theatres, Ltd.) 1924-1926. 1931: Rowlands Gill Picture House Co. Ltd 1937: (B.T.H) Prop., J. M. Rae. 550 seats. By 1941: (BTH) – Props., North West Durham Cinemas Ltd. 450 seats. Booked at H.O. Prices 7d. and 10d. Station, Row-lands Gill, L.N.E.R. Closed 30^th November 1962. Converted to supermarket.

 

ROYSTON Herts

British Legion Hall  Mill Road 1933 – used as temporary cinema after fire while Priory was being built.

CINEMA 1 Priory Lane  Opened Tuesday 1^st July 1913. Architect: Prop., Hatrick. 400 seats – one raked floor. Rear projection. 1922 – Prop., Hunt & Co. Res. Man., A. Reeve. One show nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 4d. to 1s. 505. Station, Royston, G.N.R, To John R. Cox. Destroyed by fire Tuesday 13^th June 1933.

PRIORY CINEMA  Priory Lane (Imperial)  Opened Monday 27^th November 1933 – Cavalcade. Replacement for burned-out Cinema. Architect: E. B. Parkinson. 1937: (Morrison) Prop., J. R. Cox. 580 seats. Phone 133. 1941: Prop., Cox Cinema Co., Ltd., Regal House, Biggleswade. 600 seats. Booked at Regal House. Continu­ous. Prices 8d. to 2s. 4d. Proscenium width 20ft. Phone Royston 3133. Café and Bathing Pool. Station, Royston, L.N.E.R. Films by Road Transport. Part-time bingo from April 1977. To Brian Horsley. To Miss Thompson. 1983 leased to Des & Margaret Shepherd & Bob Lee. Re-furbished by Welwyn Embassy fittings. 305 seats. Closed 2000. Demolished 2002.

Town Hall  f., H. F. Banham (1907)

 

ROYSTON nr. Barnsley Yorks

EMPIRE  1922 – Prop., Royston Theatres, Ltd. Man. Dir., J. Ball. One show nightly, two on Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices, 3d. to 9d. Phone, Royston 12. Station, Royston, M.R.

PALACE  1922 – Prop., Royston Theatres, Ltd. Man. Dir., J. Ball. One show nightly, two on Sat. Mat. Tues. Two changes weekly. Prices, 3d. to 9d. Phone, Royston 12. Station, Roy­ston, M.R. By 1941: (BTH) – Prop., Royston Theatres, Ltd. 711 seats. Booked at Leeds. Once nightly. Twice Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices 4d. to 9d. Phone Royston 12. Station, Royston, L.M.S.

 

ROYTON Lancs

Conservative Club Hall  S. Wild (1907)

ELECTRA / ELECTRIC PALACE  Open by 1912. Closed 1935 – still silent.

EMPIRE Whittaker Street fl.c.1913-1915. Converted housing.

IMPERIAL PICTURE PALACE

Liberal Hall E. Fairbrother (1907)

ROYAL PAVILION  Opened September 1919. 1922 - Prop., Palatine Cinema Co., Ltd. Res. Man., James S. Cheetham. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 3d. to 1s. Phone 1498. Station, Royton, L. & Y.R. By 1941: (BTP) – Prop., Palatine Cinema Co., Ltd. 600 seats. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices 3d. to 9d. Phone 2609. Closed 1960s. Demolished.

 

RUGBY Warks

CENTURY / REGENT  / The PICTURE HOUSE  Bank Street  Opened 22^nd May 1920. Architect: T. W. Willard. 1,200 seats. Altered, sound installed, re-named 30^th November 1929. Granada as share-holder 12^th December 1932. Altered 1938. By 1941: (BTH) – Props., Plaza Theatre (Rugby) Ltd., Crown House, Rugby. Phone Rugby 2244. Controlled by The Granada Theatres, Ltd., 36 Golden Square W1. Phone Gerrard 5554. Continuous. Prices 6d. to 1s. 6d. Phone Rugby 2324. Station, Rugby, L.M.S. To Granada September 1944. re-furbished 20^th August 1953. Modernised & re-named 1955. Closed 1^st July 1961. Bingo.Closed 1976. Converted to supermarket. Closed 1990. 1997 – café-bar.

CINEWORLD  Leicester Road  Opened 2001:  9 screens / 1,600 seats

Co-operative Hall f., Manager (1907)

GRANADA / PLAZA  North Street (BTH) Opened 30^th January 1933. Architect: J. H. & R. B. Lyddington, consultants Leathart & Granger. Props., Plaza Theatre (Rugby) Ltd., Crown House, Rugby. Phone Rugby 2244. Controlled by The Granada Theatres, Ltd., 36, Golden Square W1. Phone Gerrard 3554. 1,700 seats. Holophane lighting – stage & housse. Continuous. Café attached. Car park. Phone Rugby 2255. Station, Rugby, L.M.S. To Granada September 1944. Re-named 1946. Closed to film 28^th February 1976 – The Towering Inferno. Granada, now Gala bingo.

HIPPODROME 1922 – Prop., Hippodrome Rugby, Ltd. Res. Man., F. T. Studd. Two shows nightly. Prices, 8d. to 2s. 4d. Phone, Rugby 184. Station, Rugby, L.N.W.R.

HIPPODROME Woodford Halse

PALACE CINEMA High Street 1922 – Prop., Rugby Palace, Ltd. Res. Man., Jay Simms. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s. 7d. Phone, Rughy 253. Station, Rugby, L.N.W.R.

REGAL  / PRINCE of WALES Railway Terrace  Opened as theatre. Re-built, enlarge, converted to cinema & re-named 23^rd September 1931. Architect: W. T. Loveday. Granada share-holding 1933. 720 seats. By 1941: (WE) – Props., Plaza Theatre (Rugby) Ltd., Crown House, Rugby. Phone Rugby 2244. Controlled by The Granada Theatres, Ltd., 36 Golden Square W1. Phone Gerrard 3854. Phone Rugby 2425. Station, Rugby, L.M.S. Closed 5^th January 1953. Pickford’s storage depôt. Rite Price Furniture in foyer block, auditorium & stage areas converted to flats 2006.

REPERTORY THEATRE / Temple Speech Room  Director Yvonne le Dain. Bryan Forbes – Notes for a Life: SG46 – A Rugby Repertory Trust was set up in 1944 and they have given several seasons. Because of certain difficulties they have not produced any plays for some months, but they hope to do so shortly.

RUGBY THEATRE / SCALA  / EMPIRE Theatre of Varieties  Henry Street  Opened September 1913. Architect: Eames & Jackson. 1922 – Prop. & Res. Man., B. Morris. Two shows nightly, mat. Mon. & Sat. Phone, Rugby 248. Station, Rugby. To Harold Pascoe (Northampton) & re-named 9^th March 1923. 600 seats. By 1941: (BTH) – Prop., Harold D. Pascoe, Cinema de Luxe, Northampton. Phone 150. 550 seats. Continuous, evenings. Mats., Mon., Wed, and Sat. Prices 8d. to 1s. 6d. Booked at Northampton. Mgr H. Binding. Phone Rugby 3248. Station, Rugby, L.M.S. Closed by fire 1946. Sold. Sold to local amateurs. Re-opened as amateur theatre 5^th December 1949. Still equipped for 35mm.

THEATRE ROYAL  A. F. Cross (1907)

Town Hall f., R. Over (1907)

VINT’S PALACE High Street  Opened 1913.

 

RUGELEY Staffs

Circus Pitch Wm. Evans (1907)

PALACE  1922 – Prop., Allen & Edwards. Res. Man., F. Allen. One show nightly. Three changes weekly. Prices, 4d. to 1s. 2d. Station, Rugeley, L.N.W.R. To Deeming circuit. closed when Pic Hse opened.

PLAZA CINEMA / PICTURE HOUSE  Horsefair (WE) Opened Architect: A. Hurley Robinson. Prop., Rugeley Picture House, Ltd. 600 seats. Booked by Chas. Deeming at Grand, Coalville. Continuous. Prices 8d. to 1s. 3d. Proscenium width 40ft. Stage24ft. deep; four dressing-rooms. Phone Rugeley 99. Station, Rugeley Town or Trent Valley, L.M.S. Closed to film. Now Wetherspoon’s.

Town Hall  f., J Wallbank (1907)

 

RUISLIP Middlesex

EMBASSY / ASTORIA  High Street  (WE) Opened Monday 24^th September 1934 – Catherine the Great. Architect: J. Stanley Beard. Prop. Charles Cheshir. c.900 seats. Prices 9d, 1s. 1/6, 1/10, 2/6. To S&K by 1936. 1937: (W.E.) Prop., Ruislip Theatres Ltd. 917 seats. Phone 2960. By 1941: Props., Ruislip Theatres, Ltd., M84, Shellmex House, Strand, W.C.2. Phone Temple Bar 5077. 800 seats. Projectors Kalee 11s. Continu­ous. Booked by Shipman & King. Proscenium width 38ft. Phone 2960. Station, Ruislip, G.W. & G. C. Rlys. Projectors replaced by GK21s/Peerless Magnarcs. To ABC & re-named Embassy 30^th April 1967. Re-furbished, cladded façade, 800 seats. To EMI. Closed 28^th November 1981 – 10 and Private Benjamin. Empty for 3 years. Demolished for shops and offices.

RIVOLI  Ickenham Road (WE) Opened 30^th September 1929 – Champagne. Architect: F. C. Mitchell. 757 seats. Stage. Tea-lounge. To Charles F. Cheshir 1934. To S&K by 1936. 1937: (W.E.) Prop., Ruislip Theatres Ltd. 817 seats. Phone 2960. 1941: Props., Ruislip Theatres, Ltd., M84, Shellmex House, Strand, W.C.2. Phone Temple Bar 5077. Continu­ous. Booked by Shipman & King. Pro­scenium width 36ft. Phone Ruislip 2960. Station, Ruislip, Met. R. Closed 4^th June 1966 – Moment to Moment and The Ghost and Mr Chicken. Demolished. Sainsbury supermarket. Demolished for flats.

 

RUNCORN Cheshire

CINEWORLD Trident Park, Halton Lea shopping centre:  9 screens / 1,600 seats

EMPRESS KINEMA  / EMPRESS HALL Lowlands Road  1922 as Emp Th – Prop., R. Hamilton. Res. Man., G. V. Miller. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 3d. to 1s. 3d. Phone, Runcorn 199. Station, Runcorn, L.N.W.R., & Widnes, G. C. R.

1937: (W.E.) Prop. Cheshire County Cinemas Ltd. (H.O.) 972 seats. Phone 199. By 1941: (WE) – Prop., Cheshire County Cinemas, Ltd. R. H. Godfrey, man. dir. 1,088 seats. Booked at H.O. Continuous from 5.30 p.m. Twice nightly Sats. Three Mats. Prices 7d. to 1s. 6d. Phone Runcorn 2291.

KING’S THEATRE Public Hall Street  1922 – Prop., R. Hamilton. Res. Man., R. H. Godfrey. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. 3d. Phone, Runcorn 157. Station, Runcorn, L.N.W.R. 1937: (W.E.) Prop. Cheshire County Cinemas Ltd . 653 seats. Phone 375.

Public Hall f., E. S. Lea (1907)

SCALA PICTURE HOUSE / PALACE  79 High Street Opened Easter 1913. Architect: Leonard Clegg. Prop. Alfonzo Smith & co. 964 seats – one one floor. Pictures & variety. Twice nightly. c.1927 to Cheshire County Cs. 1922 as Scala PH – Res. Man., D. Stratton. Station, Runcorn, L.N.W.R. Frontage block added on forecourt  in 30s. 1937: 722 seats. By 1941: (WE) – Prop., Cheshire County Cinemas, Empress Theatre. Runcorn. Booked at H.O. Continuous Mon. to Fri. Twice nightly Sat. Prices 7d. to 1s. 2d. Café attached. Phone 2140. Station, Runcorn. Closed to film 1957. La Scala Ballroom. Bingo c.1987. 2006 plan announced for flats keeping original façade. Plan abandoned.

THEATRE ROYAL  H. W. Caddick (1907)

 

RUSHDEN Northants

Palace, High St. (261)                                          .               W.E.

Ritz                                                                                         Phone     W.E.

Royal Theatre (135)                                                                                             B.T.H.

PALACE   Opened 1910. 1919: W. F. J. Hewitt, Mgr., F. Carrington, Acting Mgr. 1922 – Prop., Palace Co. Res. Man., F. Carrington. 1937: (WE) Prop., Palace Th. Co. (Wellingboro) Ltd. 543 seats. Phone                261. 1941: (WE) – Prop., Palace Co. 722 seats. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly Prices 4d. to 1s. 3d. Station, Rushden, L.M.S. Now residential.

Public Hall  f., G. E. Martin (1907)

RITZ (WE)  Opened 21^st November 1936. Prop., Palace Th. Co. (Wellingboro) Ltd. Architects: Talbot, Brown & Fisher. 1,500 seats. Stage 71ft wide by 35 ft deep. 1937:            1,500 seats. Sold to Orange Management late 1960s. Ex-London Hippodrome tabs fitted 1984. Closed to film. Still stands – bingo. Jonathan Walker.

ROYAL THEATRE / ROYAL VARIETY THEATRE 1919: Prop., Rushden Cinema Co; Miss G. E. Clayton, mgress. 1922 as RT – Prop., Rushden Cinema Co., Ltd. Res. Man., Miss G. E. Clayton. Con­tinuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 4d. to 1s. 3d. Phone 135. 1941: (BTH) – Prop., Rushden Cinema Co., Ltd. 861 seats. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices 6d. to 1s. 4d. Phone 135. Station, Rushden.

 

RYDE   I o W

COMMODORE THEATRE Star Street  1937: (W.E.) Ryde Cinemas Ltd. 1,547 seats. 1941: (WE) – Prop., Ryde Cinema Ltd., Kern House, 36 Kingsway, WC2. Phone Holborn 3218. 1,505 seats. Continuous from 2 p.m. Prices 6d. to 2s. 6d. Pictures and variety. Booked at Medina, Newport. Café and Ballroom. Phone Ryde 2616. Station, Ryde Esplanade, S.R. Now 3 screens. To Reeltime Cinemas.

ESPLANADE PAVILION  1941: Prop.: Borough of Ryde, Town Hall, Ryde.  Cap.: Stalls 498. Once nightly 8. Concert parties. Stage: Width 34ft., depth 19ft. 8 in. Elec. equip. : 240 v. D.C. Footlights with ind. dimmers. Dressing rooms : Six single. SG46 note – Repertory temporarily suspended.

Foresters’ Hall  J. T. Tanson (1907)

Oddfellows’ Hall  Ben Jolliffe (1907)

ODEON (BTH) – Props., Odeon (Ryde) Ltd., Old County Cinema, Marlow, Bucks. Phone Marlow 695-9. (In course of construction.)

Pier Pavilion  Leonard Taylor (1907)

RYDE CINEMA – Prop., H. W. Mead. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. Station, Msplanade, Ryde, I.W.R.

SCALA THEATRE High Street  1931: Arthur Hill, proprie­tor By 1941: (BA) – Prop., Isle of Wight Theatres, Ltd., Theatre Royal, Ryde. Phone 2387. 548 seats. Booked at Theatre Royal, Ryde. Continuous from 2.30 p.m. daily. Pros.width, 26ft. Prices 8d. to 2s. 4d. Phone Ryde, 2162. Station, Ryde Esplanade, S.R.

THEATRE ROYAL Wind Street, St. Thomas Square  J. Bannister Howard (No 3) (1907) 1922 – Prop., & Res. Man., H. Terry Wood. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Station, Esplanade, Ryde, I.W.R. 1931: Arthur Hill, propr.; Harold Reading, mngr. By 1941: (BA) – Prop., Isle of Wight Theatres, Ltd. 615 seats. Booked at Hall. Continuous nightly. Mat., Wed, and Sat. Prices 8d. to 2s. 4d. Phone 2387. Station, Esplanade, Ryde, S.R.

Town Hall  C. G. Vincent (1907)

 

RYE Sussex

Cinque Ports Hotel Rooms A. Viden, Jnr. (1907)

PAVILION THEATRE ?Closed by 1931. Plans for 700 seater to replace it. Architect: H.Coussens. (CTGC)

REGENT Cinque Ports Street (WE) – Props., Shipman & King, M84, Shelmex House, Strand, W.C.2. Booked at H.O. Continuous, nightly. Mats., Mon., Wed., Sat. Phone 273. Station, Rye, S.R. Closed 1973. Demolished.

RYE ELECTRIC PALACE fl. 1931

 

RYHILL Yorks

EMPIRE Chapel Street  1922 – Prop., E. Silverwood. Res. Man., J. C. Rose. One show nightly, two on Sat. Station, Ryhill, G.C.R. By 1941: (Electrocord) – Prop., E. Silverwood. 553 seats. Booked at Hall by Prop. One show nightly. Two on Sat., and Mat. Prices 3d. to 1s. Phone Royston 31. Station, Ryhill, L.N.E.R. Closed 1959. Demolished.

IMPERIAL PICTUREDROME  Charles Street  Opened 1913 or c.June 1914. Prop., George Barraclough. 1922 – Prop., G. Barraclough. Res. Man., E. Barra­clough. One show nightly, three on Sat, Two changes weekly. Prices, 3d. to 1s. Station, Ryhill, G C.R. Closed 31^st July 1923.

 

RYHOPE Co. Durham

GLOBE PICTURE HOUSE High Street  1929: Charles Lewis, managing director

GRAND THEATRE / GRAND PICTURE PALACE  1922 – Prop., Ryhope Palace Ltd. Gen. Man., Mrs. J. T. Womphrey. Ten shows weekly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s. Phone 17. Station, Ryhope, N.E.R. 1937: (W.E.) Prop., Ryhope Palace Ltd. 850 seats. Phone 224. By 1941: (WE) – Prop., Ryhope Palace, Ltd. Gen. Man., G. F. Chaytor. 950 seats. Booked at Hall. Twice nightly, Mon. and Sat. Once nightly rest of week. Prices 5d. to 10d. Phone 224. Closed.

 

RYTON-on-TYNE  Co Durham

PICTURE PALACE  1922 – Prop., W. Charlton & Sons. Res. Man., F. Charlton. One show nightly. Mat. Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s. Station, Ryton, N.E.R.

QUEENBOROUGH Kent

ACE / QUEEN’S CINEMA / ROYAL PICTUREDOME High Street Opened 1912 – front, conversion of Georgian House. Fire 29^th May 1918. Rebuilt – architect: Marshall Harvey. Reopened 15^th November 1920 as Queen’s. 723 seats. Closed April 1936. Bought/re-opened October H. W. Grose. 1937 prop., A. Barnard. By 1941: (AWH) – Prop., Queenboro’ Cinema Co. 510 seats. Booked at Hall. Once nightly. Sat. continuous. Prices 4d. to 1s. Proscenium width 20ft, Phone Sheerness 255. Station, Queenborough, S.R. (Closed.) Bought during WWII by Charles Crathorn re-opened, re-named Ace. Closed c.1954. Demolished for house.

 

QUEENSBURY Middx

ESSOLDO / PLAZA Beverley Drive – Prop., Plaza (Queensbury). Ltd., 8 Clarges Street, London W.1. Phone Mayfair 8961.

 

QUEENSBURY Yorks

HALL OF FREEDOM / Hall of Freedom  S. Binns (1907) 1922 – Prop., Hall of Freedom Picture Co., Ltd. Res. Man., A. Gardner. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 3d. to 9d. Phone, Thornton 138. Station, Queensbury, G.N.R.

VICTORIA HALL / Victoria Hall  f., F. P. Rushworth (1907) 1922 KYB. By 1941: (BA) – Lessee, Greengates Cinema Co., Ltd. Phone Idle 288. 470 seats. Booked at Leeds. Once nightly. Mat, and two shows Sat. Prices 5d. to 1s. Proscenium width 26ft. Phone Queens­bury 2124. Films by Carrier from Leeds.

 

QUINTON West Mids

REEL / ODEON / ABC / CANNON / CLASSIC / ESSOLDO / DANILO  Hagley Road West (RCA)  Opened Bank Holiday Monday, 7^th August 1939 - Charlie Chan in Honolulu and Always in Trouble. Prop., Danilo circuit (Mortimer Dent). Architect: Ernest Roberts (orig plan by Andrew Mather). Prices 6d, 1/-, and 1/6. Café attached. To SM Super Cinemas 1946. To Essoldo with circuit 29^th October 1954, re-named 1957. To Classic with circuit 31^st March 1972 & re-named April. Tripled July 26^th 1973 – screen 1 Cabaret; screen 2 The Ten Commandments; and screen 3 The Sound of Music. Boxing Day 1978 fourth auditorium added – Watership Down. Café closed 1979. Mgr. 1984 Michael Jackson. May 1986 to Cannon, structurally altered, refurbished & re-named. To ABC & re-named. To Odeon & re-named. To Ward Anderson late 2005 as part of OFT requirement following Odeon/UCI merger. March 2006 to Reel Cinemas, Loughborough. Closed & demolished 2008. 

PADIHAM Lancs

Church School  (1907)

GLOBE  1941 - Prop., New Empire (Burnley) Ltd., Empire Theatre, Burnlcy. Phone Burnley 2453.

GRAND THEATRE  Station Road  Opened 1911. 1937: (W.E.) Prop., New Empire (Burnley) Ltd. 1,232 seats. Phone 69. 1941: (WE) – Prop., New Empire (Burnley) Ltd. 1,232 seats. One show nightly, two on Sat. Mat., Tues., Thurs. and Sat. Prices 5d. to 1s. Booked at Rialto, Rochdale. Stage30ft. deep. Two dressing-rooms. Café attached. Phone 69. Station, Padiham, L.M.S. Closed. Nightclub.

Oddfellows’ Hall T. Barnes  (1907)

Temperance Hall J. Blezard  (1907)

 

PADDOCK WOOD  Kent

CINEMA HALL  1922 – Prop., L. J. Prickett. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. 3d. Station, Paddock Wood, S.E. & C.R.

 

PADSTOW Cornwall

CINEDROME / CAPITOL / CINEDROME / REGAL / CINEDROME Landwell Street  Opened 1919 as music hall. Cinema 1924. ?350 seats .By 1941: (Morrison) – Prop., E. J. & W. E. Pope. Cinedrome, Liskeard. Phone., Liskeard 32. 280 seats. Once nightly. Mat. Sat. Café attached. Prices 8d. to 2s. 3d. Proscenium width 18ft. Phone 44. Station, Padstow, S.R. During WWII to Cornwall Cinemas (Newquay) Ltd. – renamed Regal. 1947 to R. T. Williams – WTW Cinemas – re-named Cinedrome. 3-D. CinemaScope, WE sound. Late 60s re-named Capitol, part-time bingo. 1997 re-named Cinedrome. Dolby sound. 153 seats.

LOCAL CINEMA / Public Hall Church Street  1922 – Res. Man., H. J. Chidgicy. Tues. & Sat. only. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s. 3d. Station, Padstow, L.S.W.R. ? closed as Cinedrome opened.

 

PAIGNTON Devon

APOLLO CINEMAS / FESTIVAL THEATRE The Green  Opened June 1967. Prop., Council. Closed 3^rd January 1999 – Cinderella on Ice. Re-opened as Apollo cinema summer 1999. 9 screens / 1,650 seats. Seating capacities: 1: 360, 2: 184, 3: 184, 4: 219, 5: 360, 6: 77, 7: 86, 8: 33, 9: 97.

ELECTRIC PALACE / TRIANGLE CINEDROME / ELECTRIC PALACE Totnes Road  Opened 15th April 1911. Prop., Paignton Electric Palace Ltd. 1922 as C’drome – Prop. W. J. Lindsell. Res. man. H. Taylor. Continuous. Mat., Wed, and Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices, 4d. to 1s. 6d. Re-named by 1923. Prop. Major A. O. Ellis. By 1941: (Picturetone) – Prop., Major A. O. Ellis. Booked at H.O. Sutherland Towers, Higher Warberry, Tor­quay. Phone Torquray 2895. 280 seats. Continuous. Prices 7d. to 1s. 2d. Proscenium width 16ft. Phone Paignton 5353. Station, Paignton, G.W.R. Sold 1939. Mgress. Miss M. Howard. Later prop., Paignton Pic Hse Co. Closed by 1939. Demolished by 1953.

ODEON / PALLADIUM Torbay Road (WE)  Opened 31st December 1932 – The Midshipmaid. Prop., Paignton Palladium Ltd. Architects: William Wolff & J. E. Watts OR J. E. Walter. Organ: Christie 2/7. Café attached. By 1940 – Prop., Paignton Palladium, Ltd. 1,060 seats. Booked at Hall. Pictures and Variety. Variety Booked at Hall. Prices 6d. to 2s. Proscenium width 34ft. Stage 18ft. deep; 3 dressing rooms. Café. Phone 82369. Station, Paignton, G.W.R. Fitted ‘Ardente’ Deaf Aids. Closed. To Lou Morris. To Odeon 1943. Re-named 1^st June 1947. Closed as full-time cinema 7^th December 1957. Re-opened for summer season. Closed 30^th September 1961. Top Rank Bingo: later occasional film in summer months. Closed September 1987. Demolished 1989. Flats on site.

OLDWAY HOUSE THEATRE  Opened 1873. Architect: George Bridgman (?Matcham involvement). Early film. Demolished 1904.

PALACE THEATRE / PALACE AVENUE THEATRE / GARRISON THEATRE / PALACE AVENUE HALL / PUBLIC HALL & ASSEMBLY ROOMS Palace Avenue  Opened 12^th September 1890. Architects: W. R. Fletcher & George Soudon Bridgman. Cost £3000. Cap.700. f., W. A. Axworthy  (1907) Films in Badminton (?lower) Hall pre-WWI.  By SG46 - Prop.: Paignton U.D.C., 25 Hyde Road, Paignton. Bookings: Paignton U.D.C., 25, Hyde Road, Paignton. Cap.: Stalls 432, balcony 128. Licensed for plays, etc. Stage: Pros. 40ft., height 20ft., min. depth from setting line 25ft. Elec. equip.: 230 v. A.C. Spot bar with two spots, each ind. dimmer controlled. Dressing rooms: Four rooms, acc. 50. 2006 – new foyer, auditorium altered to stadium lay-out & re-seated.

Pier Pavilion  Opened c.1878. Prop. Pier Co. (Arthur Hyde Denby). Architect: George Bridgman. W. Aitken  (1907) Cinematograph licence 1910. Destroyed by fire 1919.

REGENT CINEMA Station Square (WE)  Opened August 1932. Prop., Picture Playhouses Ltd. Architect: Leslie H. Kemp. Mgr. Clemence Tree. 730 seats. Prosc. 27′ wide. By 1941 – Props., Picture Playhouses, Ltd. Booked by W. Farrant Gilley, Lloyds Bank Chambers, Torquay. Phone Torquay 2045. 725 seats. Continuous. Prices 9d. to 2s. 6d. Proscenium width 27ft. Phone 5017. Station, Paignton, G.W.R. CinemaScope. Closed 30^th March 1983 – Double Jeopardy. Empty. For sale: £350,000. Demolished 1985.

ROYAL BIJOU THEATRE  Demolished 1890. Mahogany & gilt pros installed in Public Hall.

TORBAY CINEMA / PAIGNTON PICTURE HOUSE / ELECTRIC BIOSCOPE EXHIBITION CENTRE Torbay Road  Opened Monday 16^th March 1914. Prop., Paignton Pic Hse Co. Ltd. Architect: Henry B. Hyams & D. J. Hobgen. Mgr. Clemence Tree. 375 seats: 271 stalls, 104 balcony + 4 rear boxes. Pros width 24ft. 1922 – Prop., Paignton Picture House, Ltd. Res. man. G. Bearne. One show nightly. Daily mat. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 3s. Phone 168. WE sound by 1930. 1937: 532 seats. By 1941: (WE) – Prop., Paignton Picture House, Ltd. 600 seats. Booked at Vaughan Parade, Torquay. Continuous. Phone 5544. Station, Paignton, G.W.R. & Road Transport. CinemaScope – 22′ by 11′ screen. Re-named Torbay Cinema 1968. Sold 1975. Bought by railway. Closed 26^th September 1999 – The Last Picture Show. Grade II* listed.

 

PAINSWICK Glos

Town Hall f., J. Everatt  (1907)

 

PARKGATE  Yorks              see RAWMARSH and PARKGATE

 

PARKSTONE Dorset

PARKSTONE ELECTRIC THEATRE Ashley Road  1922 – Prop., White, Holder, & Co. Res. Man., M. Hiscock. Continuous. Three changes weekly. Prices, 4d. to 1s. Station, Parkstone, L.S.W.R.

REGAL CINEMA Ashley Road, Upper Parkstone  1937: (WE) Prop., Regal (Parkstone) Ltd. 1,250 seats. Phone 903. 1941: (WE) – Prop. Regal (Parkstone) Ltd. Regent, Poole. Booked at H.O. 1,200 seats. Continuous. Prices 6d. to 2s. Café. Station, Parkstone. Fitted ‘Ardente’ Deaf Aids.

VICTORY PALACE (The) Ashley Road  1922 – Prop., White, Holder & Co. Res. Man., C. H.. White. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s. 6d. Phone, Parkstone 129. Station, Parkstone, L.S.W.R.

 

PATELEY BRIDGE Yorks

CINEMA  Opened c.1931. Prop. poss. John Graham. By 1944 – Prop., Richard Dean. 350 seats. Prices, 9d. to 1s. 9d. Communications to the Premier, Skipton. Phone, Skipton 271.

ODDFELLOWS’ HALL  N. Irvin  (1907) 1922 – Res. Man., Jas. Forrest. By 1941: (Home Made) 400 seats.

 

PATRICROFT  nr Manchester Lancs

Drill Hall  Colonel Andrew  (1907)

MAJESTIC Liverpool Road  1937: (W.E.) Prop., Lancashire Entertainments Ltd. 820 seats. Phone Eccles 3109. 1941: (WE) – Prop., Lancashire Entertainments, Ltd., Clarence Arcade Chambers, Stamford Street, Ashton-under-Lyne. Phone 1524. 820 seats. Continuous nightly. Mats., Mon., Wed., Thurs., Sat, Twice nightly Sat. Two changes Weekly. Booked at Clarence Arcade Chambers. Prices 4d. to 1s. Proscenium width 20ft. Phone Eccles 3109. Station, Patricroft, L.M.S.

PALLADIUM  Liverpool Road  1937: (BTP) Prop., County Cinemas (Patricroft) Ltd. Phone Eccles 3524.         1941: (BTP) – Prop., Counties Cinema Patricroft, Ltd. 650 seats. Continuous. Booked at Hall. Two changes weekly. Prices 5d.to 10d.; Sat, and Holidays, 1s. Phone Eccles 3524. Station, Patricroft L.M.S.

Public Hall T. Grindle (1907)

 

PATRINGTON  Yorks

ELECTRIC CINEMA Church Lane  1922 – Prop. & Res. Man., W. H. Coates. One show nightly, on Fri., Sat., & Bank Holidays. One change weekly. Prices, 2½d. to 1s. 3d. Phone 5. Station, Patrington.

 

PEACEHAVEN Sussex

PAVILION (AWH) – Prop., P. H. Braithwaite, South Coast Road, Telscombe Cliffs. 270 seats. Continuous. Prices 6d. to 1s. Booked at Hall. Proscenium width 20ft. Stageapprox. 15ft.; two dressing rooms. Films by Road Transport. Station, Newhaven.

 

PEEL I.o.M.

PAVILION Stanley Road  1937: 450 seats. 1941: (AWH) – Prop., Strand Cinema Theatre Co. (1920) Ltd., 39 Strand Street, Douglas, I.o.M. 400 seats. Phone Douglas 14. Booked by W. J. Hughes, Picture House, Douglas. Continuous Mon. Thurs., and Sat. Once nightly Sun., Tues., Wed, and Fri. Prices, 6d. and 1s. Ballroom attached. Phone Peel 224. Station, Peel.

 

PEGSWOOD Northumb

MINER’S HALL

 

PELAW-on-TYNE Co. Durham

CROWN PICTUREDROME Swinburne Terrace Bill Quay 1929: Jn. Lewis, propr.

GRAND CINEMA / GRAND PICTURE HALL Joicey Street  1922 – Prop., Felling & Pelaw Picture Hall, Co., Ltd. Res. Man., T. W. Wilkinson. One show nightly, two on Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices, 3d. to 9d. Phone, Felling 13. Station, Pelaw, N.E.R. 1929: Stanley T. Rogers, propr. 1937 as GH: (B.T.P.) Prop., S. Rogers Cinemas Ltd             . 700 seats. Phone Felling 82213.       By 1941: (BTP) – 700 seats. Booked at H.O. Twice nightly. Prices 3d. to 9d. Phone Newcastle  82213. Station, Pelaw Junction, L.N.E.R.

 

PELTON Co. Durham

KING’S THEATRE / KING’S HALL 1929: Pelton Electric Theatre Co Ltd. proprs.; Jsph. Wood, mngr. 1937 as KH: (B.T.P.) Prop., Pelton Electric Theatre Ltd. 600 seats. By 1941: (BTP) 975 seats. Sold 1956. Closed 1959.

 

PELTON FELL  Co. Durham

COMEDY THEATRE  Opened 11^th March 1910.

 

PEMBERTON nr Wigan Lancs

Central Hall  1914 prop., Alice F. Sansome.

CARLTON  1937: (B.T.P.) Prop., Eagle Picturedromes Ltd. 1941: (BTP) – Prop., Eagle Picturedromes, Ltd. Reg. Office, County Playhouse, King Street, Wigan. Phone Wigan 3476. Booked at H.O. Once nightly, Mon. to Fri.; twice Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices 6d. to 1s. 2d. Phone Pemberton 82122. Station, Pemberton, L.M.S.

ROYAL ELECTRIC THEATRE Ormskirk Road  1914 prop., George Wadsworth.

QUEEN’S THEATRE  Ormskirk Road  1937: (B.T.P.) Prop., Eagle Picturedromes Ltd. Phone 122. 1941: (BTP) Prop., Eagle Picturedromes Ltd., Reg. Office, County Playhouse, King Street. Wigan. Phone Wigan 3476. Booked at H.O. Once nightly Mon. to Fri.; twice Sat.; Mat. Mon. Prices 6d. to 1s. 2d. Phone Pemberton 82122. Station, Pemberton, L.M.S. Demolished 2006.

 

PENDLEBURY Lancs

PALACE Bolton Road  1937: (WE) Prop., Palais de Luxe Ltd. 1,096 seats. Phone Swinton 1805. 1941: (WE) – Prop., Palace de Luxe (East Lancashire) Ltd. 1,096 seats. Booked at Hall. Continuous Mon. to Sat. Occasional Variety, booked direct. Prices 5d. to 9d. Proscenium width 30ft. Stage8½ft. deep; three dressing-rooms. Phone Swinton 1805. Station, Swinton, L.M.S.

 

PENGAM Mon

PALACE CINEMA  1922 – Prop., Rowland Williams. Res. Man., Pat Walsh. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 9d. to 1s. 3d. Station, Pengam, R.R. 1937: (BA) Prop., Palace Cinema Co.

PALLADIUM 1922 & 1941 - Prop., Rowland Williams.

REGAL CINEMA (Kalee) – Lessee, G. L. Thomas. 550 seats. Continuous. Booked at Empire, Llanbradach. Prices 4d. to 1s. Stage21ft deep. Two dressing-rooms. Proscenium width 19½ft. Café and Billiard Hall. Station, Pengam, G.W.R

 

PENISTONE Yorks

ASSEMBLY HALL CINEMA / Assembly Rooms  J. Biltcliffe  (1907) 1920 Prop., Moses Rowson. Mgr. Beatrice Harris. Prices, 5d to 9d. 1922 – Prop., Moses Rowson. One show nightly, three on Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. Station, Penistone, G.C.R.

PARAMOUNT / METRO / TOWN HALL PICTURE HOUSE Shrewsbury Road  Built 1914. Opened as cinema 20^th November 1915. Licensee J. O. Jesson, Huddersfield. Balcony added in 1920s. By 1941: (BTH) – Prop. & Man., Joseph Jesson. 900 seats. Booked at Hall. One show nightly. Mat. Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices 5d. to 1s. Phone Penistone 83. Station, Penistone, L.M.S. To Barnsley council 1974. Renovated, re-seated, & re-named Metro 1986 – The Living Daylights. To Penistone Council 1993. 2000 organ: Compton 4/9 (ex-Odeon/Paramount Birmingham). Stage end re-built & new dressing rooms 1960s. Re-named Paramount c.2000 on installation of organ. Re-seated April 2005 – stalls 229, circle 122 = 351. Still open as cinema/theatre.

 

PENRITH Cumb

Circus Pitches Coward & Siddle  (1907)

Crown Hotel Assembly Rooms  Siddle  (1907)

Drill Hall E. G. Mason  (1907)

George Assembly Rooms Armstrong  (1907)

LONSDALE ALHAMBRA / ALHAMBRA Middlegate  1937: (B.A.) Prop., A. V. Branford. 750 seats. 1941: (BA) – Props., The Penrith Alhambra Theatre Co., Ltd. 800 seats. Booked by Graves Cinemas, Ltd., Athenaeum Buildings, Maryport. Twice nightly, two changes weekly. Prices 8d. to 1s. 6d. Phone Penrith 39. Now 2 screens: 1:167 2:90. To Lonsdale City Cinemas Group 2006. Digital sound and other refurbishment announced.

REGENT  Old London Road  (BTH) – Props., New Cinema (Penrith) Ltd., 40 Baxtergate, Whitby, Yorks. Phone 149. 713 seats. Booked at Waterloo Cinema, Whitby. Con­tinuous evenings, Mon. to Fri. Three shows Sat. Mat., Tues. Prices 8d. to 1s. 6d. Proscenium width 45ft. Café attached. Phone 400. Station Penrith. Demolished 2003.

 

PENRYN Cornwall

The CINEMA  Opened 1912. 1922 – Prop., Victor Roderick Res. Man., Alt. Sellers., One show nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. 5d. Station, Penryn, G.W.R. By 1937 to Harris Bros.

Temperance  Hall T. E. Roach  (1907)

 

PENSHAW Co Durham

GEM CINEMA  1922 – Prop., Gem Theatre Co. One show nightly. Two changes weekly. Station, Penshaw, N.E.R.

Miners’ Hall  1937: 650 seats.

 

 

PENSNETT

PICTUREDROME Tansey Green  Opened 1910. Converted chapel/schoolroom. Bench seating. Closed 1914.

 

PENTRIDGE  Staffs

PICTURE HOUSE  1922 KYB

 

PENZANCE Cornwall

ABC / RITZ Queen Street (WE)  Opened 1936. Architect: A. H. James. Props., Union Cinemas, Ltd., Union House, 15 Regent Street, London, S.W.1. Phone Whitehall 8484. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Proscenium width 40ft. Phone 729. 1,000 seats. Station, Penzance, G.W.R. Bingo since 1965. To close 2007.

Central Hall  H. H. Pezzack (1907)  1922 – Prop., N. E. Wolf. Res. Man., F. Morrison. One show nightly. Two on Saturdays. Two changes weekly. Prices, 4d. to 1s. 3d. Station, Pen­zance, G.W.R.

Circus Pitch  The Corporation  (1907)

PAVILION THEATRE  The Promenade  Opened 1912. (BTP) Prop., W. Ellis Slack. 600 seats. Phone Penzance 713. Station, Penzance, G.W.R. Now amusement arcade.

REGAL / PICTUREDROME Market Place  Opened 1910. By 1941: (BTH) – Operated by Sound & Movement Cinemas, Ltd., 14 Portland Square, Plymouth. Phone Plymouth 4981. 500 seats. Contin­uous. Booked at H.O. Prices 7d. to 1s. 4d. Phone Penzance 330. Station, Penzance, G.W.R. Closed to film 1960s. Demolished.

ROYAL CINEMA  1937: Prop., J. Johnson. 450 seats.

ROYAL THEATRE

SAVOY CINEMA / CINEMA / PICTURE THEATRE  Causeway Head  Opened 1912. 1922 as Cine – Prop., Penzance Cinema, Ltd.. Man. Dir., Robert Thomas. One show nightly. Two mats. weekly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 8d. to 1s. 5d. Phone, Penzance 246. Station, Penzance, G.W.R. By 1941: (BTH) – Operated by Sound & Movement Cinemas, Ltd., 14 Portland Square, Plymouth. Phone Plymouth 4981. 550 seats. Prices 9d. to 2s. 6d. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Booked at H.O. Phone Penzance 330. Station, Penzance, G W R. Now 3 screens Seats: 1:200 2:50 3:50. Merlin Cinemas.

St. John’s Hall  E. C. Scobey   (1907)

WINTER GARDENS Alexandra Road           Conversion to hotel. On site of Royal Theatre.

 

PERRANPORTH Cornwall

The CINEMA  Opened 1927. Prop., A. E. Hamblin. 1929 closed as Palace opened. 1937: (Brown) Prop., W. Dowling. 375 seats. Demolished.

PALACE  Opened c.5^th August 1929. seats 296 stalls & 72 balcony. Props., Messrs Menadue & Thomas, then to R. Hill, Palace, Truro. Proscenium width 20’; stage 12’ deep; 2 dressing rooms. By 1941: (Brown) – Prop., W. Dowling. 500 seats. Pictures and occasional Plays. Prices 6d. to 1s. 6d. Proscenium width 20ft. Stage12ft. deep; two dressing rooms. Station, Perranporth, G.W.R. 1942 to Cornwall Cinemas (Newquay) Ltd, then Riviera Cinemas and later J. A. Makinson. 1955 modernised. Proscenium demolished/enlarged to 30’. CinemaScope. Closed late 1960s. Model car racing circuit. Indoor market Demolished c.1999.

 

PERSHORE Worcs

GRAND CINEMA  1922 KYB

Music Hall  f., G. Phillips  (1907)

NUMBER-8 High Street  Seats: 250 [Repertory, likely opened about 2004]

PLAZA  (AWH) – 325 seats. Booked at Plaza Bromyard. Continuous nightly. Mat., Sat. Prices 6d. to 1s. 3d. Station, Pershore, G.W.R. Demolished 1960s.

 

PETERBOROUGH Northants

BROADWAY (2) / ODEON THEATRE Broadway (BTH)  Opened 2^nd September 1937 – Theodora Goes Wild. Prop., Odeon (P’boro’) Ltd. Architect Harry Weedon – from original plans by Roland Satchwell. 1,850 seats. By 1941 – Props., Odeon (Peterborough) Ltd., Old County Cinema, Marlow, Bucks. Phone Marlow 695-9. Booked at Moor Hall, Cookham, Berks. Continuous. Prices 9d. to 2s. 4d. Stage; two dressing-rooms. Phone 3319. . 1,752 seats. CinemaScope February 1955 – The Sign of the Pagan. Faience tiles removes – façade rough-cement rendered. Tripled 25^th February 1973 – 544, 110, 110 seats. Closed 23^rd November 1991. Empty. To Peter Boizet. Altered, new block added on left (site of T.R.) & refurbished as single auditorium. Architect: Tim Foster. Re-named & re-opened 30^th May 2001. 1200 seats. Stage shows, concerts, films, conferences. 

CANNON / ABC / ABC EMBASSY / EMBASSY THEATRE Broadway  Opened 1^st November 1937 – 1066 and All That. Architect: David Evelyn Nye. Prop., Peterborough Amusements Ltd. (Bancroft circuit). Mgr. Jack Bancroft. Theatre use, but space for cinema equipment. Sg46: Prop.: Peterborough Amusements, Ltd., Embassy Theatre, Broadway, Peterborough. Book­ings: Montague Lyon, Eagle House, Jermyn St., London S.W.1. Cap.: 1,500. Once nightly 7.  Matinée  Saturday 2. Twice nightly.  Matinée Saturday 2.30. All types of entertainment. Stage: Prosc. 42ft., height 26ft., min. depth from setting line 30ft., height under fly galleries 23ft., one fly rail, height of grid from stage 59ft. Counterweight gear installed. 20 lines. 40 hemp lines. Elec. equip.: 230 v. A.C., 50 cycles. Footlights, four circuits with ind. dimmers. Four battens each with four circuits with ind. dimmers. Spot bar with six spots each ind. dimmer controlled. Six floods. 24 dips with nine ind. dimmers. Six dips switch controlled. Four spots on stands. Six floods on stands. Six f-o-h pre-set spots with ind. dimmers. Two f-o-h following limes. One 12-way ind. portable dimmer unit. Dressing rooms: One single, three acc. four each, eight acc. two each, two chorus acc. 36. Sep. room for orchestra. Orchestra: Acc. 14, Resident 9. Amplifying equip.: Microphone.  Projection equipment installed 28^th June 1954 – Flight of the White Heron. Films in summer, winter shows and panto. Jack Bancroft retired – to ABC 4^th April 1965. Re-named. Tripled 1981. To Cannon & re-named. Closed 25^th November 1989. Empty. 1996 converted to Academy bar. Circle removed. Architects: Mason Richards Partnership. By 2007 Edwards’ bar.

CITY CINEMA / CITY PICTURE HOUSE Bridge Street  Opened 27^th OR 31^st March 1927 – . Architect: Alan W. Ruddle. Prop., Charles Gray. Lessee, J. A. Campbell. 1927 organ: Conacher 4m 30s. 1^st talkies in town 9^th September 1929 – The Singing Fool. 1930 RCA, leased to Bijou Cinemas, Coliseum Harrogate. Lessee Arthur Dent 1937. 1937: (RCA) Prop., Peterborough Amusements Ltd. 1,200 seats. Phone 2197. Lessee Bancroft circuit 1940. By 1941: (RCA) – Prop., Peterborough Amusements, Ltd., 56 Bridge Street. 1,200 seats. Booked by H. Bancroft, Hippodrome, Wisbech, Cambs. Continuous. Café and Dance Hall attached. Prices 6d. to 1s. 10d. Proscenium width 26ft. Stage 40ft. deep; four dressing-rooms. Phone Peterborough 2197. Station, Peterborough, East or North. Fitted ‘Ardente’ Deaf Aids. 1942 – bomb damage, organ destroyed. 1946 mgr. A. E. Brett. 1955 bought by P’boro’ Amusements (Bancroft circuit). Altered for CinemaScope 27^th August 1956 – The Land of the Pharoahs. 1,150 seats. Closed Sunday 21^st March 1960 – The Lone Ranger and Crashing Las Vegas. Demolished February/March 1961. Shop on site – now M&S.

Drill Hall  H. H. Holloway  (1907)

Fitzwilliam Hall J. Clifton  (1907)

GAUMONT / BROADWAY (1) / BROADWAY KINEMA / BROADWAY ELECTRIC THEATRE  Broadway  Opened 17^th December 1910. Prop. G. C. W. Fitzwilliam. Architect: Alan W. Ruddle. 700 seats. Extended to rear late 1912. 1,000 seats. Lessee Arthur J. Gale & co. Balcony and new façade added August 1913 – re-named B Kinema. Architect: Alan Ruddle for both extensions. 1,560 seats. Lessees Gale & Co. Lessees August 1919 P.C.T., J. E. Draper mgr. 1922 – Prop., Pro­vincial Cinema Theatres, Ltd. Res. Man., J. E. Draper. Continuous. Daily mat. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s. 6d. Phone 225. To G-B February 1929. Talkies 16^th September 1929 – Movietone Follies of 1929. Mgr. H. W. Watson. 1937: (RCA) Prop., Prov. Cinematograph Ths. Ltd. 1,427 seats. Phone 312511. 1941: (RCA) – Prop., Provincial Cinematograph Theatres, Ltd. 123 Regent Street, London W.1. Phone Regent 8080. 1,474 seats. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Prices 9d. to 1s. 10d. Pro­scenium width 30ft. Phone 312511. Station, Peterborough, L.N.E.R. & L.M.S. Fitted ‘Ardente’ Deaf Aids. c.1952 mgr., G. C. Dwyer. Wide-screen. 3-D. CinemaScope. Re-named Gaumont 5^th November 1961. Closed to film 18^th October 1963 – It’s All Happening and Watch It Sailor! Bingo. To Hutchinson Leisure. Closed 1982. Demolished October/December 1983. Slot machine arcade.

Grand Assembly Rooms   F. D. Ballard  (1907)

IMPERIAL / NEW ENGLAND CINEMA / OSBORNE’S CINEMA / New England Working Men’s Club  Occupation Road  Built 1902. 1^st-floor ‘concert room’. Opened as cinema c.April 1913. Prop., J. Osborne. 1914 to E. H. Moston & re-named  NEC.1919: as N.E.C. H. E. Denny, mgr. 400 seats. Prices, 6d to 1/6d. 1922 - Lessee & Res. Man., H. E. Denny. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s. 6d. Phone 281. c.1926 lessee Arthur Alderman. Talkies. 1937 as NEC: () Prop., A. Alderman. 500 seats. Phone 3319. 1941: (Morrison) – Prop. A. Alderman. 500 seats. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices 6d. to 1s. 6d. Station, Peterborough. Later Imperial sound. CinemaScope 10^th October 1955 – Three Coins in the Fountain. Closed 21^st May 1966 – Dracula, Prince of Darkness. 1971 re-opened for Indian/adult films. By 1980 Independent film Club. Closed 1987. Bar/function room.

JOHN CLARE THEATRE  Broadway  Opened . Right-hand wing of Library building.

KEY THEATRE Embankment  Opened 23^rd November 1973 – Twelfth Night. Architect: Jo Robottom (Robottom & Hill). Prop. Peterborough Arts Theatre Ltd. Cost £165,000. 399 seats. BFI 35mm & 16mm equipment – later removed.

PALACE / PALLADIUM / HIPPODROME Broadway  Opened 16^th September 1907. Prop. T. M. Sylvester & Co. Architect: T. V. Woodhouse, Nottingham. Brick with corrugated iron roof. September 1908 leased to Fred Karno Co. Pictures & variety. By 1911: F. W. Hawkins & Fred. Frank. 1915 those two trading as P’boro’ Hipp & Empire Ltd. 1921 cinema conversion. Architect: Sam Dodson, P’boro’. 9^th February 1922 re-named Palladium. P’boro’ Palladium Ltd. – man. dir. F. W. Hawkins, sec. A. E. Cooke. 1922-23 lessee Leopold Saloman. Leased to Bancrofts December 1923, re-opened as Palace 8^th December 1924; bought 1930. Pros. width 42’, stage 37’ deep; 6 dressing rooms. BA Sound. 1937: (BA) Prop., H. Bancroft. 490 seats. Closed 24^th November 1937 after Embassy opened – Trouble in Morocco and Clarence. Demolished. 1938 Broadway Garage on site. Tesco supermarket on enlarged site.

PETERBOROUGH THEATRE / PLAYHOUSE / THEATRE (2) Church Street/Exchange Street  Opened c.1798. Prop., Company of Proprietors. Leased to Robertson – Lincoln Circuit. Demolished 1848. Corn Exchange on site. Demolished 1963. Offices on site.

PRINCESS CINEMA Lincoln Road  Opened 22^nd July 1929. Prop. Fred Hart & Sons, Whittlesey Cinema. WE sound. Leased to Bijou Cinemas, Coliseum Harrogate. To Odeon January 1936. Leased to Emery circuit. 1937: (WE) Prop., J. F. Emery Circuit. 1,100 seats. Phone 2821. 1941: (WE) – Prop., J. Emery Cinema Circuit, 26 Cross Street, Manchester. Phone Blackfriars 7876. 942 seats – single floor. Booked at H.O. Continuous even­ings. Mats. Mon., Thurs. and Sat. Prices 7d. to 1s. 2d. Proscenium width 31ft. Two dressing rooms. Phone Peterborough 2811. Station, Peterborough North, L.N.E.R. Closed 21^st March 1958 – Son of the Hunchback and The Kid. Sold by Rank Organisation. Furniture store. Garage – façade block removed for forecourt. Later retail use.

SAVOY / GEM CINEMA / WOODSTON CINEMA Palmerston Road, Woodston  Opened Monday 29^th March 1920 – The Girl Who Came Back. Conversion of 1890 Malden’s brewery. Architects: Smith & Robinson, Leicester. Prop., Aubrey  C. E. Malden. 425 on forms & seats. Rear projection – 2 machines. Once nightly. 1922 – Prop. & Res. Man., Aubrey Malden. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Closed 1931. Auctioned February 1931 – no bids. 1933 to Mrs G. E. Catlin, man. dir. New Provincial Entertainments, Higham Ferrars. Secretary, P. Long. Re-built, extended, sound, re-opened as Gem Monday 15^th January 1934. Architect: Alan W. Ruddle. Morrison (later Kalee) sound. 550 seats. Pros 20’, stage 8’ deep, 2 dressing rooms. 1937: (Morrison) Prop., New Provincial Enter’ments Ltd. 600 seats. Phone 2662. 1939 to H. Miller, Midland & General circuit, Dunstable – re-named Savoy. By 1940: (Morrison) – Prop., W. Harris. 550 seats. Continuous nightly. Mats. Mon., Thurs., and Sat. Prices 7d. to 1s. 4d. Booked at Hall. Proscenium width 20ft. Stage 8ft. deep; two dressing rooms. Phone 2662. Station, Peterborough, L.N.E.R. & Film Transport. 1941: (Kalee) – Prop., H. Miller, Savoy Cinema, Palmerston Road, Woodston. 500 seats. Prices 6d. to 1s. 2d. Pro­scenium width 20ft. Stage 14ft.; two dressing-rooms. Phone 2662. Booked at H.O. Station, Peterboro’ North & East, L.N.E.R. Closed 1^st October 1955 – The Blazing Forest and Rhubarb. Shop. Warehouse.

SHOWCASE Mallory Road, Boongate  Opened Friday 2^nd December 1988. 11 screens. Now 13 screens.

Temperance Hall  H. Beech  (1907)

THEATRE (1) ?Church Street  fl.1774. Closed by 1798.

THEATRE ROYAL (1) Park Road  Opened 1872. Architect: Pye & Hayward. Prop. W. D. Nicholls. Re-built internally for theatre 1878. To W. H. Vernon 1890. Re-built and auditorium turned around as TR 13^th August 1894. Closed 1898. 1899 re-built as TR (2). Became scenery workshop & store for TR2. Demolished with theatre 1961.

THEATRE ROYAL and EMPIRE / EMPIRE / GRAND / THEATRE ROYAL (2) Broadway  Opened 3^rd September 1900 – re-built from TR 1. Architect: John P. Briggs. A. D. Vernon  (1907) Altered & new frontage 1913. Architect: J. P. Briggs. Re-named Grand April 1916. Re-named TR & Empire from 8^th December 1919. 1919: J. A. Campbell, mgr. 1940 cap. 800. 1937 as TR&E: (Legit.) Prop., J. A. Campbell. 600 seats. Phone 3123. 1952 680 seats. Closed 29^th November 1959 – Not In The Book (Penguin Players). Demolished 1960/1. Shelton’s store extension built on site. Demolished. Broadway/ex-Odeon bars built on site.

Local Studies Library notes / Brian Hornsey – 90 Yeas of Cinema … series

 

PETERSFIELD Hants

Corn Exchange f., W. C. Burley  (1907)

ELECTRIC THEATRE  KYB 1922. Demolished for Savoy.

SAVOY (Edibell)  Opened 1935. Architect: Leslie H. Kemp & Tasker. Prop., South Downs Cinemas, Ltd., 129, Victoria Road, North, Southsea. Phone Portsmouth 32455. 850 seats. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Prices 9d. to 2s. 6d. Phone 338. Station, Petersfield, S.R. Films by Marmion Motor Transport. Closed 1985 – Ghostbusters. Nightclub. Demolished 2007.

 

PETTS WOOD Kent

EMBASSY (WE)  Opened 12^th October 1936 – A Tale of Two Cities. Architect: David E. Nye. Prop., Shipman & King, Shell Mex House, W.C.2. Phone Temple Bar 5077. Booked at H.O. 1,350 seats. Continuous. Café. Phone Orpington 2511. Fitted ‘Ardente’ Deaf Aids. Prices 1936, 6d. to 1s.; 1939, 6d. to 1s. 10d. CinemaScope c.1955. To EMI 1967. Closed 14^th April 1973 – Snoopy Come Home and Mighty House Playhouse. Derelict. Demolished for offices/supermarket.

 

PETWORTH Sussex

CINEMA  1922 – Prop., Arthur Barrett. One show weekly (Mon.). Prices, 4d. to 1s. 10d. Phone 12. Station, Petworth, L.B.S.C.R.

PICTUREDROME  Pound Street (Imperial) – Prop., S. Collins, Grove House, Grove Street, Petworth. 160 seats. Booked at Hall. Once nightly. Continuous. Sat. Prices 9d. to 1s. 9d. Station, Petworth, S.R., or Southdown Bus. Closed.

REGAL  Medhurst Road (Kalee) – Prop., Stanley Collins, Grove House, Petworth. 400 seats. Continuous. Prices 6d. to 2s. Booked at Hall. Pros. width 24ft. Phone 147. Station, Petworth, S.R. or Southdown ‘bus.

Town Hall A. P. McLachlan  (1907)

 

PEWSEY Wilts

BOUVERIE HALL  Film shows in 1930s.

REX CINEMA  (BECKETT’S) Open by 1939. Prop., Frederick A. Beckett. 350 seats. Continuous. Prices 10d. to 2/9d. Closed mid 1950s. By 1960s factory.

 

PICKERING Yorks

CASTLE CINEMA Burgate – Props., Majestic Cinema (Pocklington) Ltd., Manor Buildings, Pock­linglon. 550 seats. Prices 8d. to Is. 6d. Booked at Tower, Leeds. Phone 126. Station, Pickering, L.N.E.R. Now seats 250. To Nigel & Angela Hargreaves 2000. 163 seats. Closed 1^st September 2006. For sale 345,000.

CENTRAL Hall CINEMA  1922 – Prop., Cooper & Son. Res. Man., J. A. Cooper. One show nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 4d. to 1s. Station, Pickering, G.N.R. Talkies: AWH sound. By 1941: (BTH) – Prop., H. Boulton. 385 seats. Booked at Hall. Continuous. Mat. Sat. Prices 7d. to 1s. 6d. Proscenium width 14ft. Station, Pickering, L.N.E.R.; also by Cleveland Films Transport Co., Leeds.

KINEMA / Temperance Hall  J. Wiley  (1907) 1922 – Prop. & Res. Man. A. Warwick. One show nightly. Two changes weekly. Station, Pickering, N.E.R.

 

PILSLEY Derbyshire

RITZ  Bridge Street (Imperial)  Opened 1936/7. 350 seats. Phone Tibshelf 58. 1941 – Props., Ritz Cinema Co. (Pilsley) Ltd., Victoria Street, Mansfield. Phone Mansfield 578. 316 seats. Continuous. Prices 6d. to 1s. Booked at Hall. Proscenium width 15ft. Station, Pilsley, L.N.E.R.

 

PINNER Middlesex

IDEAL CINEMA  / Field End Hall  Field End Road, East­cote  Opened as dance hall/ amateur theatre 10^th December 1927. Prop., Telling Bros. Opened as Ideal Thursday 3^rd January 1929 – Under The Tonto Rim and My Friend From India. Mgr. P. H. Templeton. Prices 6d, 9d, 1s. 1/6, 2s. 1937: (B.T.H.) Prop., W. A. Kelling & Sons. 425 seats. Phone Pinner 3178. 1941: (BTH) – Prop., W. A. Telling, Ltd., 62-64 Raymouth Road, Bermondsey. Jnt ma. dirs. W. A. Telling & A. A. Telling. Phone Bermondsey 1195. 448 seats. Booked at Hall. Gen. mgr., A. H. Bainbridge. Continuous. Prices 6d. to 1s. 6d. Proscenium width 25ft. Phone Pinner 3178. Station, Ruislip & Ickenham, L.N.E.R. G.W.R. Joint. Closed 30^th May 1956 – The Far Horizons and Triple Blackmail. Garage. Demolished. Offices.

ABC / MAYFAIR / LANGHAM  Bridge Street  1937: (RCA) Prop., ABC Ltd. 1,500 seats. Phone 3242. 1941: (RCA) – Prop., Pinner Cinema Co., Ltd., 30-31 Golden Square W1. Phone Gerrard 7887. 1,500 seats. Booked at H.O. Proscenium width 42ft. Phone Pinner 3242. Station, Pinner, Met. Rly.

 

PINXTON Notts

PICTURE PALACE 1922: Prop., Midland Empire Theatres, Ltd. Res. Man., A. E. Orton. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s. Station, Pinxton, M.R. By 1941: (BTH) – Prop., Ollerton Pictures, Ltd. 500 seats. Pictures and occasional Variety. Booked at Empire, Somercotes. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices 8d. to 1s. 2d. Stage14ft. deep; four dressing-rooms. Phone 48. Station, Pinxton, L.M.S. & L.N.E.R. Prop. Percy Dennis. Closed c.1959.

 

PITSEA Essex

GRANADA / CENTURY / BROADWAY CINEMA The Broadway (BTP)  Opened 28^th March 1930. Architects: A. J. Varndell & L. A. Green. 700 seats – single tier. Pictures & variety. Café. Prop., Roger H. Howard, ‘Blue House,’ London Road, Pitsea. Phone Vange 3140. 600 seats. Booked at Hall. Continuous. Occasional Variety. Prices 8d. to 1s.10d. Phone Vange 2206. Café attached. Station, Pitsea. To Granada June 1954. 6 week closure for modernisation. Re-opened February 1955 as Century. Closed 31^st October 1970. Bingo.

 

PLATT BRIDGE Lancs

MINERS HALL  (BA) – Props., Livesey & Forshaw. 410 seats. Booked at 48, Scholes, Wigan. Twice nightly. Two Mats, weekly. Prices 5d. to 10d. Phone 6198. Station, Platt Bridge, L.M.S.

PALACE PICTURE HOUSE  (BTH) – Prop., Eagle Picturedromes, Ltd., Booked by T. C. Robin­son. Twice nightly. Three changes weekly. Prices 6d. to 1s. 2d. Station, Platt Bridge, L.M.S.

SAVOY

 

PLUMSTEAD Kent

CENTURY / KINEMA / EMPIRE  High Street/Garibaldi Street  c.1911. Architect: Andrews & Peascod. Prop., Alexander Bernstein. Cap. 900. To G-B March 1928. ?Leased to Bersteins. Cap. 1,008. Altered & seated. Architect: Cecil Masey. Re-opened as Kine 27^th July 1928. 913 seats. Re-named Cent 3^rd March 1952. Closed 24^th September 1960.    

Freemason’s Hall f., Secretary  (1907)

PLAZA / PLUMSTEAD CINEMATOGRAPH THEATRE High Street  Opened 7^th September 1911. Cap. 600. To London & District Cs. Altered, sound installed, re-opened as Plaza 1931. 528 seats. To Granada 11^th December 1954. Closed c.1961. Store. Demolished for Woolworth branch.

 

PLYMOUTH Devon                           see also Devonport

ANDREW’S NEW PICTURE HOUSE (2) 151 Union Street  Opened Monday 1^st August 1910. Architects: Messrs Thornley, Rooke & Barron, Plymouth. Prop., Arthur and Horace Andrews – Andrews Pictures Ltd, 49 Greek Street, London. Licensee, Arthur Harry Andrews. Cost £15,000. Gen. mgr Charles Gaston. Res. mgr. Montague Gilpin. M.D. Coppyn Baxter. Cap 1,500 in raked stalls and balcony. Prices 3d to 2s. Tea rooms attached. 1911 licensee Mrs E Linsdell. Mgr. Auguste Denton. 1915 licensee William Gregory then Herbert Cecil Fontaine. 1917 with Horace Edward Andrews.  1922 – Prop. Provincial Cinematograph Theatres, Ltd. Res. Man. H. C. Fontaine. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 9d. to 3s.    Phone, Plymouth 935. Station, Millbay. G.W.R To G-B February 1929. Closed Saturday 4^th October 1930. Demolished for Gaumont Palace.

ARCADIA The Hoe  Opened Monday  22^nd May 1922. Lessee Gwyther Eastlake Prance. ‘a canvas covering in case of inclement weather‘. Performances 3pm and 7.30pm.Prices 3d, 8d and 1s 3d, reserved seats at 2 shillings each. Closed @ season end.

ARTS CENTRE Looe Street:  Seats: 73

BELGRAVE Picture THEATRE / BELGRAVE ELECTRIC THEATRE / BELGRAVE HALL ELECTRIC THEATRE / Belgrave Hall 2 Belgrave Road, Mutley Plain  Built c.1908. Opened as cinema July 1910. Licensee W. Dobie. ?re-built 1911. Re-opened Monday 11^th September 1911 – The Cattle Herders and Call of the Open Range. Prop., Dobie’s Electric Theatres Ltd. Mgr. Frank Seymour. Prices 3d & 6d. 1914 lessees: Joseph Montague Gilpin & Alfred Williams. 1920 closed, reconstructed, wooden seats removed. Re-built 1921. Architect: Thornely & Rooke. Cost £6,000+. 673 seats – 541/132. Kalee machines. 1922 – Prop., Belgrave Picture Theatre, Ltd. Man. Dir. Mont Gilpin. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s. 10d. Station, Mutley, G.W.R. Sold 1923. March 1925 to Thomas Hoyle – £5,550. Mgr. R. D. Nichols. 1926 licensee Ernest Bertram Hoyle. Talkies 9^th May 1929 – The Jazz Singer. By 1941: (BA) – 700 seats. 1951 to Embassy Cinema (Plymouth) Ltd. Mgr. John Prance. Closed Saturday 26^th March 1983 – First Blood. Later snooker hall.

CINEDROME  57 Ebrington Street  Opened 27^th Monday  November 1913  - possibly site of Gem. Prop. William Linsdell. M.D. Sydney Graham. Prices, 3d, 6d, 9d &1s. 1916 cinema organ. M.D. H. E. Linsdell. 1922 - Prop., W. J. Lindsell. Two shows daily. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s. 3d. Phone 810. 1940: (WE) – Prop., Mrs. M. Hoyle, ‘Protea,’ Seaway Lane, Torquay. Phone 65244. 900 seats. Booked at Hall. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices 4d. to 1s. Phone Plymouth 4810. Stations, Friary, S.R.; & North Road, G.W.R. Bombed Thursday March 20th 1941. Front remains.

CINEMA de LUXE 110 Union Street  Licensed March 23^rd 1910 – converted house & waxworks. Prop., William Caston. Cap. 500 on benches. December 1919 to Mrs. Caston (widow). 1922 – Prop., Mrs. Hannah Caston. Res. Man., W. Caston. Two shows nightly. Four mats. weekly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 2½d. upwards. Station, Mut­ley, G.W.R. Closed late 1926/early 1927.

Corn Exchange  Market Tolls Collector  (1907)

CRITERION KINEMA 13/14 Cornwall Street  Opened Thursday 10^th February 1920 -  The Temperamental Wife and The Polar Star. Conversion of owner’s drapers shop premises. Prop. Frank Pearce. Prices, 9d to 2s 3d. 1922 – Prop., Frank Pearce. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 2s. 6d. Talkies Tuesday 19^th July 1932 – The Lottery Bride. By 1939: (BTH) – Prop., Frank Pearce. 600 seats. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices 4d. to 1s. Station, Millbay, G.W.R. Closed Saturday 2^nd September 1939 – You Can’t Take it with You. Not re-opened – sold for tailor’s. Bombed March 1941. Demolished January 1945.

DRAKE FILM CENTRE / ODEON (3) / DRAKE – ODEON / DRAKE Union Street  Derry’s Cross  Opened 5^th June 1958 – South Pacific. Architect: Leonard Allen FIAA. Prop., 20^th-Century Fox. Mgr. Peter Bland. Prices, 4s & 5s circle, 2s & 3s stalls. To Rank 1961. 1043 seats. Closed as single screen Saturday March 1st 1975. Re-opened as Drake triple Thursday 27^th March 1975. 919/168/168 seats. Chief projectionist Pat A’Hearn, senior projectionist Ron Wilson. Closed 9^th April 1980. December 1980 – roller disco. 1987 nightclub/rock venue. Screen 1 split. Re-opened as triple Friday 29th March 1991. Allan Rosser still Gen mgr. Closed Sunday 31^st October 1999 – Big Daddy. Closed. Demolished. Galleon removed to storage.

EMBASSY / CARLTON / GAIETY THEATRE Union Street  Opened 4^th September 1919 as cinema. Mgr. Gilbert Smith. 1922 to Horace Jones. September 1923 to Harry Knowles. 1931 to H. B. Mather Cinemas Ltd. July 1936 leased to E. J. and W. E. Pope. 1937: (R.C.A.) New Carlton, W. E. & E. J. Pope. 350 seats. To C. Lowe. Re-seated, re-opened, re-named Carlton. 580 seats. Closed 3^rd June 1939 on lease end. Re-named EMBASSY Thursday August 8th 1940 – French Without Tears and Death of a Champion. By 1940 (GB) – Props., Embassy Cinema (Plymouth) Ltd. Phone 60987. 650 seats. Prices 9d. to 2s. Two changes weekly. Booked at Hall. Sunday opening. Station, Plymouth. Destroyed by bombing Thursday March 20th 1941 – Dance Girl Dance and Laughing at Danger.

EMPIRE ELECTRIC THEATRE  40 Union Street  Opened Friday July 29^th 1910 Faust  excerpts + others. Prop., Bournemouth, Exeter and Plymouth Bioscope Theatres Ltd. Mgr. R. E. Wensley. 400 tip-up seats. Reversed auditorium. Prices, 6d & 3d. 1916 licensee Harry Douglas Parry. 1922 – Prop. King & Parry, Res. Man. W. Barrow. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 9d. July 1923 to closure Major A O Ellis. By 1940: (Picturetone) – Prop., Empire (Plymouth) Ltd. 300 seats. Man., Dir., A. O. Ellis. Booked at Suther­land Tower, Higher Warberry, Torquay. Phone Torquay 2895. Continuous. Two changes weekly, Prices 7d. to 1s. 2d. Phone Plymouth 2640. Station. Millbay, G.W.R. Bombed Thursday 20^th March 1941. Ruins demolished.

Belgrave Hall 40 Union Street  Opened as cinema July 10th 1910 a licence was granted to Mr W. Dolcie. August 1910.

FORD PALLADIUM / PALLADIUM St. Levan’s Road/Ford Hill Thursday 9^th August  1917 – The Combat + others. Conversion of F. J. Stanbury’s building shed. Licensee Gwyther Eastlake Prance. Mgr. Ernest W.  Price (ex-Cinedrome). Gallery added c.1918. Post-war licensee A. Fredman.  1922 as Pall – Prop., Ford Palladium, Ltd. Res. Man. E. W. Price. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly, Prices, 5d. to 1s. 3d. Phone, Devonport 87. Station, Ford, G.W.R. By 1941: (RCA) – Prop., Henry B. Mather. 430 seats. Booked at Grand Union Street. Continuous. Mats., Wed, and Sat. Prices 8d. to 1s. 2d. Station, Plymouth (North Road); & Film Transport Services (Cardiff) Ltd. To Cyril Charters  Closed 1964. Builders’ merchants / DIY shop. destroyed by arson 20^th January 1994.

GAIETY THEATRE  193/194 Union Street  Opened Thursday 4^th September 1919. Architect: E. H. H. Barron, Plymouth. Tip-up seats. Continuous 6 to 10.30pm. Prices, 9d to 2/3d inc. tax. 1922 - Prop. M. P. Lowe. Res. Man, G. H. Smith, Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 9d. to 2s. 5d. Phone, Plymouth 2472. Station, Millbay, G.W.R. By 1941: (RCA) – Prop., Henry B. Mather. 400 seats. Booked at Hall. Continuous. Prices 6d. & 1s. Station, North Road, G.W.R.; or Film Transport Services (Cardiff) Ltd. (Closed.)

GEM / THEATRE ELITE PICTURE PLAYHOUSE Ebrington Street  1921 as Th Elite – Prop., Theatre Elite, Ltd. Res. man. C. H. Rundle. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 9d. Station, Plymouth, G.W.R. Demolished. ? Cinedrome on site.

GLOBE THEATRE / BIJOU THEATRE  Royal Marine Barracks Stonehouse  Opened 1848 – conversion of racquet court and hay loft. Altered 1864 & 1887. Pros width 26ft. 1928 – cinema equipment installed. Auditorium restored 1971. Still in use. 260 seats. Grade II listed.

HOE SUMMER THEATRE Opened 8^th June 1962 – pre-fab. building. 600 seats. November 1973 orchestra pit installed. 545 seats. May 1981 the first five rows taken out. Cap. c400. Saturday  13^th February 1982 – The Last Night. Mgr., Peter Millington. Demolished May/June 1982.

HOME of SERIALS William Street, Morice Town  1922 – Prop., W. Corse. Res. man. R. Scawn. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 9d. Station, Devonport, G.W.R.

MAYFLOWER / STATE CINEMA  Victoria Road, St. Budeaux (RCA)  Opened Monday 16^th October  1939 – That Certain Age.  Prop. St. Budeaux Cinema Company Ltd. Capital £10,000. Prices 6d, 1s. and 1/6d. 1941 – Props., St. Budeaux Cinema Co., Ltd. 750 seats. Prices 6d. to 1s. 6d. Two shows daily. Booked at Hall. Station, North Road, Plymouth, G.W.R. Re-named Saturday 2^nd May 1970. Mgr., Prynne Richards. 935 seats. Closed Saturday 3^rd March  1973 – Soldier Blue and Carnal Knowledge. Some childrens’ Saturday shows after. Snooker/retail.

NEW ATHENÆUM THEATRE  Opened Thursday 1^st June 1961. 352 seats. Occasional film from 1971.

NEW LYRIC PICTURE HOUSE / LYRIC THEATRE / NEW PICTURE LOUNGE 34 Union Street, Stonehouse  Opened Saturday 6^th May 1911. Prop., Theatrical Picture Lounges Ltd., Cannon Street, London. Cap. 500. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Re-named c.March 1915. Licensee Mrs H Farrell. 400 seats. To William Caston. To Frederick Wardle. Re-named & re-opened Easter Monday April 24th 1916. Cap. 400. To Walter T Ellis. Closed c.1916. Dance hall. Blitzed WWII.

ODEON THEATRE (1) / REGENT  Frankfort Street (RCA)  Opened Saturday 21^st November 1931 – City Lights. 1931. Architect W. Watson (Chadwick, Watson & Co., Leeds) Props., Regent Cinema (Plymouth) Ltd. (Prance & Mumford circuit) 3,254 seats inc. 1,390 balcony. Mgr. E. B. London. Prices, 7d to 1/6d. To Oscar Deutsch. Re-named 17^th June 1940 – Contraband. 1941: Prop., Associated Theatres (P. A. & D.) Ltd., Old County Cinema, Marlow, Bucks. Phone Marlow 695-9. Booked at Moor Hall, Cook­ham, Berks. Continuous. Prices 9d. to 2s. 6d. Proscenium width 48ft. Phone Plymouth 5392. Station, Plymouth, North Road, G.W.R. Modernised. Closed 8^th September 1962. Closing Mgr. A. M. Edwards. Chief projectionist Leonard Jeffery. Demolished July 1963 – Littlewood’s store.

ODEON (2) / GAUMONT / GAUMONT PALACE Union Street (BA)  Opened Monday 16^th November 1931 – The Ghost Train and Almost a Divorce. On enlarged site of An­drew’s Pic Hse. Architect: Percy Bartlett (W. H. Watkins). Prop., Gaumont-British. Mgr. and licensee R. E. Eady. Organ: Compton. 2,252 seats: 1462 stalls & 790 circle. Prices, 7d to 2s. Cont. form 2pm. Box equipment: Gaumont R/S Eclipse Hall and Connelly type R.4 H.I. arc lamps, BA Duosonic sound. Premier spotlight and slide lantern. Renamed Gaumont c.1937. 1939 box staff: R. Thomas (2nd), C. Charters (3rd), C. Peel (4th) and E. West (5th). By 1941 – Prop., Gaumont-British /P.C.T., 123 Regent Street, London. Chief: Maurice Leacey. 2,025 seats. Prices 9d. to 2s. 6d. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Station, Millbay, G.W.R. Fitted ‘Ardente’ Deaf Aids. Mgr 1950 to end A. M. Edwards. Chief still Maurice Leacey! Closed 2^nd December 1961 – Francis of Assissi and Temple of the Swinging Doll. Organ removed to chapel. Split for dance hall in stalls and 1,000 circle cinema. Re-opened as Odeon 10^th September 1962 – Billy Budd. Mgr. A. M. Edwards. House engineer Maurice Leacey. 70mm Cinemeccanica plus stereo sound. Prices, 3/6 to 5/6d. Cinema closed Wednesday 9^th April 1980 – The Deer Hunter. December 1980 roller disco. Now nightclub. Closed c.2005. Building boarded up – sold 2006.

PALACE THEATRE Union Street  Opened 5^th September 1898 – variety bill. Architect: William Arber (J. T. Wimperis & Arber). Prop., United Counties Theatres Ltd. Man. Dir. Alfred Moul. Cost £95,000. Mgr E. J. Dexter. M. D. Frank Reed. Cap. c.2,500. Prices, stalls 2/6d, grand circle 1/6d, and gallery 1s. Closed through fire. Repaired. Re-opened as New Palace Theatre of Varieties 22^nd May 1899.  Man. dir. James Wynes.  Bioscope from c.1904. J. Field (1907) 1909 – Bioscope – the Paloscope. September 1911 to G Hamilton Baines syndicate, Theatre Royal, Cardiff. June 1913 to Thomas Hoyle – £25,000.  1915 to Myer Fredman.   1924 to John Tellam. Re-purchased by Hoyle for £25,000. 1933 to Hoyle widow. 1,408 seats. January 1945 to Gerard Heath (man dir) syndicate. SG46: Direction: Gerard Heath, Palace Theatre, Plymouth. Tel.: 5347. Bookings: Gerard Heath, ‘Eagle House,’ 108-111, Jermyn Street, London, S.W.1. Tel.: Abbey 2357. Cap. : Stalls 339, P. stalls 307, D. circle 214, U. circle 148, gallery 400. Barring clause:  40 weeks prior to and two weeks afterwards within a radius of 20 miles. Also bars Torquay. Once nightly 6.30. Matinées Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. Twice nightly 6 and 8,10. Variety, opera, circus, plays, pantomime, orchestral musical weeks, etc. Stage : Pros. 30ft. 7 in., height 32ft., min. depth from setting line 22ft. 6 in., height under fly galleries 27ft., width between fly galleries 36ft. 6 in., height of grid from stage 55ft. No counterweight gear. 38 sets hemp lines. Elec. equip.: 230 v. A.C., 50 cycles. Footlights, three circuits with ind. dimmers. Four battens, each with three circuits with ind. dimmers. Four dips with ind. dimmers. Four dips switch controlled. Eight floods on stands. Two f-o-h following limes. Dressing rooms: Six to take three or four persons. Four single star rooms, two chorus, acc. 26. One M.D. room. Band room. One pianist room (lady). Orchestra : Acc. 14 (with grand piano) 18 without. Resident 13 and M.D. (two 1st violins, 1st and 2nd ‘cellos, bass, flute, clarinet and/or sax, bassoon or sax, piano, 1st trumpet, trom­bone, drums). Amplifying equip.: Micro­phone. Closed July 1949. Redecorated & re-seated. Re-opened July 1950 – Wakey! Wakey!  Billy Cotton Bandshow. Closed 1954. Renovated, stage enlarged, dressing-rooms reconstructed. Re-opened 1^st  October 1956. Closed Saturday 7th February 1959 – Little Miss Muffet.  1961 to Palace Theatre (Bingo) Ltd. George Roseman man dir. Gen. Mgr Geoffrey Wren, Reg Sully resident mgr. 1962 re-opened Sinbad the Sailor. (Many changes & re-openings). Re-opened 23^rd December 1978 – Cinderella. Lessee John Redgrave New Palace Theatre (Plymouth) Ltd. Closed. 1983. ‘Arcade’ Disco. Closed. Listed Grade II*. Empty.  

PALLADIUM  27 Ebrington Street  Opened Monday 11^th December 1922 – Foolish Wives. Conversion of 1909 skating rink with corrugated iron roof. Cap. 2,458. Prices, 6d, 9d, 1/3d. Mgr. Reginald Eady. To G-B July 1928. Talkies 30^th September 1929 – Behind that Curtain.  Percy Gibson from 1934. 1940: (WE) – Prop., Denman Picture Houses, Ltd., 123 Regent Street, London W.1. Phone Regent 8080. 2,458 seats. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Prices 9d. to 1s. 10d. Proscenium width 32ft. Phone Plymouth 601141. Station, North Road, G.W.R. Bombed out 21^st March 1941. Ruins demolished. Road over.

PARAGON PICTURE HALL 26/27 Vauxhall Street  Licensed December 1912. Prop., Charles Hancock & sister Sophie. 1^st-floor hall. Cap. 100 on wooden benches. December 1913 licensee J. F. Cox. Last licensed in June 1916. Demolished.

PEOPLE’S PALACE / OLYMPIA Martin Street  fl. 1890s – circus et al. By 1897 re-named. 

PEOPLE’S POPULAR PICTURE PALACE / PICTURE PALACE Lower Street/Harbour Avenue  Licensed 21^st December  1910. Prop. William Caston. Architect: F. A. Wiblin. December 1919 to Mrs Hannah Cason (widow). Closed c.July 1926. Demolished.

PHOENIX HALL of AMUSEMENTS Phoenix Street

PICTURE HOUSE 19 George Street  Licensed 24^th April  1918 – Hearts Adrift. Prop., Sydney George Boultwood. Conversion of existing premises. Prices, 6d, 1s and 1/6d plus tax. 1921 - Prop. Sydney G. & G. F. Boultwood. Man. Dir. S. G. Boultwood. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 9d. to 1s. 10d. Phone 1595. Station, Millbay, G.W.R. Closed Wednesday 3^rd May 1922 - Poor Little Peppina. Burton’s shop & billiard hall on site. Blitzed.

PICTUREDROME / WYCLIFFE HALL ELECTRIC THEATRE St John’s Road, Cattedown  Licensed 21^st December 1910 – conversion of 1^st floor of former factory. Licensee E. A. Conybeare. Cap. 150. Dance hall attached. Re-named c.December 1911. January 1912 to Harry Walker. March 1913 to William Christopher Smith. 1919 to Sydney Bambridge Mather. 1922 as P’drome- Prop., Mrs. Henry Bambridge Mather. One show nightly. Two changes weekly. Station, North Road, G.W.R. 1927 to Henry Bambridge Mather. 14^th December 14th 1932 Council revoked licence. Closed between then & 1^st April 1933. Demolished.

Pier Pavilion J. H. Higson (1907)

PLAZA / STUDIO 7 / PLAZA Exeter Street/Treville Street (RCA)  Opened Monday 19^th February 1934 – This Week of Grace and The Ship of Wanted Men. Architect: H. J. Hammick. Licensee G. E. Prance. 943 seats: 710/233.  Holophane lighting on rising tabs. To ABC 3^rd June 1935. By 1941: Prop., Associated British Cinemas, Ltd., 30-31 Golden Square W1. 933 seats. Booked at H.O. Pro­scenium width 30ft. Phone Plymouth 4450. Station, North Road. 1941 mgr. Prynne Richards. 1946 mgr. Stanley Holman. ABC sold lease to Star circuit from Sunday 23^rd March 1969. Closed Sunday 7^th September: final week – Body Stealers and Mission Mars  - Sunday Haunted Palace and Masque of the Red Death. Re-decorated, re-fitted, re-opened as Studio 7 Thursday 11^th September 1969 – I, a Woman and Roseanna. Mgr. Alan Gregory. Closed Saturday 27^th March 1976 – More Sexy Canterbury Tales and I am a Nymphomaniac. To Shipman & King, re-named Plaza Sunday 28^th March 1976. Re-opened following day – Diary of a Space Virgin and A Girl Called Jules. Closed Saturday 3^rd October 1981 – Sex on the Rocks and Blue Movie Star. Mgr. Bill Willitts. Split for various businesses.

Princess Hall  f., F. W. Murray  (1907)

REELTIME / ABC / MGM / CANNON / ABC / THEATRE ROYAL (3) / ROYAL CINEMA Derry’s Cross (RCA)  Opened Friday 15^th July 1938 – Stage Door and Dangerously Yours. On site of Theatre Royal. Architect: W. R. Glen. Props., Associated British Cinemas. 2,404 seats. Organ: Compton . Continuous. Prices, 6d to 1/6d. Phone 3300. Fitted ‘Ardente’ Deaf Aids. January 1954, new stage facilities, re-named T.R. – Peter Brough with Archie Andrews. Re-named ABC 26^th October 1958 - Merry Andrews and Blind Spot. Mgr. Tom Purdie. 2,124 seats. Closed 1976. Closed Saturday 30^th October 1976 The Likely Lads and Steptoe & Son. Mgr. Bill Clarke. Re-opened as triple Thursday 5^th May 1977. 578 / 367 / 122 seats + 1,200 bingo hall. Mgr., Clive Jones ex ABC Cheltenham. Projection: Philips projectors & Kinoton platters. To Cannon & re-named 7^th January 1987. Re-named MGM Sunday 24^th May 1992. September 1994 Clive Jones, Carole Philips retired gen. mgr. Re-named ABC. Re-named Reeltime. Closed 2^nd September 2008.

REPERTORY THEATRE  Opened 24^th December 1915. Closed 1929. Re-opened. Closed May 1935.

ROSEVALE EMPIRE / ARGYLL / MUTLEY PLAIN CINEDROME 56 Ford Park Road, Mutley Plain  Opened c.January 1914. Prop. Mrs William Linsdell. Licensee, William James Lindsell. 1921 – Prop. W. Lindsell. Man. L. Baxter. Three shows daily. Two changes weekly, Prices, 6d. to 1s. 5d. Phone 374. Station, North Road, G.W.R. December 1921 to John Mumford. Re-named Argyll. Cap. 300. December 1922 to Samuel W Hodgess. Re-named. Closed c.April 1923.

Royal Assembly Rooms  S. Pearce  (1907)

ROYAL NAVAL BARRACKS CINEMA Devonport   1941: (BTH) – Props., Canteen Committee, R.N. Barracks, Once nightly. Admission only to Naval Ratings. Phone Devonport 372.

ST. JAMES’S HALL / ANDREW’S PICTURE PALACE (1) / PALACE of VARIETIES / St. James’s Hall Union Street Opened November 1866 – variety & circus. Livermore Brothers. Re-named. Closed Saturday 6^th November 1897 as Palace opened. Back to hall. Early films. W. J. Thomas  (1907) Leased to Aberdeen Picturedrome July 1910 ‘Extensive alterations’ and redecoration. Re-opened Tuesday 2^nd August 1910. Lessee Henry N Phillips. Twice daily 3 and 7.45pm. Prices, 2d, 4d, 6d & 9d. Resident manager W. H. Anderson. M.D. H Wilson. Bio box March 1911. 900 seats. To Biocolour circuit. Closed for reconstruction 30^th October 1920. Demolished for Savoy.

SAVOY PICTURE HOUSE Union Street  Opened Monday 1st August  1921 -  The Breed of the Treshams and The  Dreamer. On site of St James’s Hall. Prop., Savoy Picture House (Plymouth) Ltd London. Joint Managing Directors E. E. Lyons & H. T. Underwood. Mgr G Mudge. Cost c.£60,000. 1,400 seats. Prices, 9d to 2s 4d. Café and tea lounge attached. 1922 – Prop.. Savoy Picture House (Plymouth), Ltd. Res. Man., H. W. Knowles. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s. 5d. Phone 528. Station, Millbay, G.W.R. To G-B March 1927. Talkies 12^th August 1929 – The Singing Fool. By 1941: (WE) – Prop., Gaumont-British Picture Corpn., Ltd., 123 Regent Street, London W.1. 1,393 seats. Booked at H.O. Prices 6d. to 1s. 6d. Mats., 9d. to 1s. 10d. Phone 528011. Station, North Road, G W.R. Bombed out 20th March 1941. Flats on site.

STANTON’S THEATRE of VARIETIES Lambhay Hill  fl. 1890s.

STAR HALL of VARIETIES Frankfort Street  fl.1900 Prop., William Lindsell.

THEATRE Broad Hoe Lane  Opened 1745. Conversion of cottages. Abandoned 1758.

THEATRE de LUXE 166 Union Street  Opened Saturday April 10th 1909 – The Raven + others. Licensee William Sharp. Res. mgr. Harry W. Knowles. Price, 3d. Continuous 2pm to 11pm. Two changes weekly. To Cecil Frost. 1922 – Prop., Sydney Boultwood & Lowe. Man., Cecil Frow. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Station, Millbay, G.W.R. 1922 to Horace Edward Jones. 1923 to Harry Knowles. Closed mid-1923. Motorcycle shop. Demolished.

THEATRE ELITE PICTURE PLAYHOUSE 11A Ebrington Street  Opened to public Monday May 9^th 1910 – The Man (private performance held Friday 6^th).  Prop., Alfred Ernest Bryant. Mgr. Charles Halderson Rundle. Cap. 300+. Price, 3d. Continuous to 11pm. Closed 1923/24. Umbrella maker to WWII. then fishing tackle shop.

THEATRE ROYAL (1) / THEATRE Frankfort Gate

THEATRE ROYAL (2) Opened Monday 23^rd August  1813. Architect: John Foulston (see Richard Leacroft for interiors and machinery.) (No 1)  C. F. Williams (1907) Cinematograph licence with new box 1918. Closed & demolished April 1937 for ABC’s Royal Cinema.

THEATRE ROYAL (4)  Opened 5^th May 1982.

VAUXHALL THEATRE / PANTHEON Old London Inn, Vauxhall Street  fl.1840s – 1897

VUE / WARNER VILLAGE Barbican Leisure Centre,  Coxside  Opened 27^th May 1999 – Notting Hill. 15-screens / 3,577 seats. 1^st provincial THX sound system.

Extra info from Brian Moseley – plymouthdata web-site

 

PLYMPTON Devon

The CINEMA  Ridgeway Opened during w/c Monday 22^nd December 1913. Prop., R. C. Budge. Doors opened 6.30pm, mat. Saturdays.

CINEDROME  Opened 1918. Prop., Reginald Charles Koostra Budge. 1922 – Prop. & Res. man. R. C. Budge. One show nightly. Mat. Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s. 3d. Station, Plymp­ton, G.W.R. Closed by bankruptcy mid 1923. Demolished.

District Hall f., Hon. Secretary (1907)

 

POCKLINGTON Yorks

CENTRAL HALL  Peter’s/Market Square 1922 – Prop. & Res. Man., Mrs. F. Lee. One show nightly. One change weekly. Prices, 5d. to 8d. Phone, Pocklington 11. Station, Pocklington, N.E.R. By 1941: (AWH) – Prop., Central Hall Cinema Co., Ltd. 500 seats. Booked by C. H. Whincup, at 54, New Briggate, Leeds. Once nightly. Mon. to Fri. Two shows Sat. Prices 4d. to 1s. Phone Pocklington 46. Station, Pocklington L.N.E.R. (Closed.)

CIVIC ARTS CENTRE / RITZ / OAK HOUSE Market Place  (BA) – Prop., Majestic Cinema, (Pocklington) Ltd., Manor Buildings, Pock­lington. 548 seats. Booked at Tower, Leeds. Prices 8d. to 1s. 6d. Phone Pocklington 2137. Station, Pocklington, L.N.E.R.

MAJESTIC

Victoria Hall f., T. Grant (1907)

 

POLESWORTH Warks

ELECTRIC PICTURES – Prop., G. Deeming. One show nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s. Phone, Polesworth 14. Station, Polesworth, L.N.W.R.

PALACE THEATRE (AWH) – Prop., L. & M. K. Hudson, The Hood, Polesworth. Phone 16. 500 seats. Booked at Grand Theatre, Coal­ville. Mon. to Fri., from 6.30 p.m. Sats. and Holidays at 2, 5, and 7 p.m. Two changes weekly. Prices 8d. to 1s. 2d. Station, Polesworth, L.N.E.R.; & Film Transport.

ROYAL CINEMA (Marshall) – Prop., Wm. A. Brown, Knighton Lodge, Dordon, nr Tamworth. 316 seats. Prices 4d. to 1s. 2d. Once nightly, including Sun. Two shows Sat. Proscenium width 24ft. Booked at Birmingham. Phone Polesworth 50. Station, Tamworth. Fitted ‘Ardente’ Deaf Aids

 

POLPERRO Cornwall

Church Schoolroom 120 seats. Prop., Mr Leonard, Cinema, Looe. Shows ceased 1931. Demolished c.1932.

CINEMA (BTH) ?Opened during/post WWII. 144 seats. Mrs S. B. Pearn Regent, Looe. Closed mid-1960s.

 

PONDERS END Middx

ELECTRIC THEATRE High Street  1922 – Prop., W. Paterson. Continuous. Mat., Mon., Thurs. & Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices, 3d. to 1s. 3d. Phone, Enfield 502. Station, Ponders End, M.R.

PLAZA High Street  1937: (Bauer) Prop., J. W. Davies. 520 seats. Phone Howard 1502. 1941: (Parmeko) – Props., Plaza, Ponders End, Ltd., 26, D’arblay Street, London W.1. Phone Gerrard 1454. 500 seats. Booked at D’arblay Street, W.1. Continuous. Mat, daily. Prices 7d. to 1s. 2d. Phone Enfield 1502. Road Transport.

 

PONTEFRACT Yorks

ALEXANDRA  Tanshelf (RCA) – Props, The Pontefract Cinema, Ltd. 860 seats. Booked at the Crescent. Prices 9d. to 1s. 6d. Phone No. 444. Stations, Monkhill & Tanshelf, L.M.S. Later to Star circuit.

Assembly Rooms f., A. Baxter (1907)

CINEPLEX / CRESCENT CINEMA  Ropergate  Opened 1926. Prop., Pontefract Cinema Co. Ltd. Booked at Hall by Man. Once nightly. Café and dance hall attached. Prices, 6d. to  1s. 3d. Phone 188. Talkies 30^th December 1930 (WE) – Broadway. followed in subsequent weeks by fifteen listed talking films. By 1941: (WE) – Prop., Pontefract Cinema, Ltd. 1,190 seats. Booked at Hall by Man. Once nightly. Mat., Mon., Thurs. and Sat. Dance Hall attached. Prices 9d. to 1s. 6d. Phone Pontefract 188. Stations, Monkhill & Tanshelf, L.M.S. Now 300 seats.

PREMIER PICTURES / PICTURE HOUSE  Tanshelf  KYB14: Mr. Wilcox. 700 seats. Town’s 1^st first purpose-built cinema. 1922 – Prop. & Res. Man., Albert Wilcock. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 3d. to 9d. Station, Tanshelf, L.& Y.R. 1927 prop., T. C. Holden, mgr. H. M. Farrington. Once nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 3d. to 1s.  Phone 205. By 1931: (WE) prop. T. C. Holden & Co. Booked at Hall. One show nightly, two Sat. Mat., Mon. Thurs. & Sat. Prices 6d. to 1s. Phone 205. Station Tanshelf, L.M.S. 1941: (WE) – Prop., T. C. Holden & Co. 800 seats. Booked at Hall. Once nightly. Two shows Sat. Mat., Mon., Thurs., and Sat. Prices 6d. to 1s. 3d. Proscenium width 26ft. Phone 205. Station, Tansfield, L.M.S.

PLAYHOUSE CINEMA / PICTURE PLAYHOUSE / THEATRE  Late 18^th Century theatre. Closed 19^th century – became Wesleyan chapel. Opened as Pic P’house 1917. 2^nd cinema. 1920: props. J. Hutchinson & A. Firthy. One show nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices 5d. to 9d. 500 seats. Licensed for music & dancing. 1922 as Playh Cine – Prop., J. Hutchinson & A. Firth. Res. Man., J. Hutchinson. One show nightly. Booked at Hall.  Two changes weekly. Station, Pontefract, N.E.R. By 1941: (WE) – Props., Playhouse Cinema (Pontefract) Ltd., Gillygate. 853 seats. Prices 4d. to 1s. 6d. Booked at Leeds. Once nightly; twice Sat. Mat., Mon., Thurs., and Sat. Occasional Variety. Phone 164. Later to Star circuit. Extra info. Kate Taylor.

REGENT Upton (WE) – Props., Star Cinemas (London) Ltd., New Star Cinema Castle­ford. Phone 2531. 700 seats. Prices 6d. to 1s. 2d. Once nightly; Twice on Sat. Phone Upton 237. Station, South Elmsall, L.N.E.R.

 

PONTNEWYNYDD Mon

PALACE  1922 KYB

SUPER PAVILION  1937 as Pav: (Kamm) Prop., Pontypool Theatres Ltd. 1,250 seats. 1941: (Sound, Ltd.) – Prop., West Pavilion, Ltd. Phone Pontypool 77. Booked at Cardiff. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices 7d. to 1s. 4d. Station, Pontnewynydd, G.W.R.

WEST’S PAVILION  1922 – Prop., West’s Pavilion, Ltd. Res. Man., Altred Maurice. Continu- Dos. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 2s. Station, Poutnewydd, G.W.R.

WHITE ROSE CINEMA  1937: (Edibell) Prop,. C. Holloway. 700 seats.

 

PONTYPOOL Mon

Hanbury Assembly Rooms  f., W. H. Pitten  (1907)

New ROYAL Osborne Road  1937: (BA) Prop., Pontypool Theatres Ltd. 750 seats. Phone 24. 1941: (BA) – Prop., Pontypool Theatres, Ltd. 800 seats. Booked at Pavilion, Abertillery. Continuous. Prices 7d. to 1s. 2d. Proscenium width 24ft. Phone Pontypool 24. Station, Crane Street, Ponty­pool, G.W.R. ; & Road transport.

PARK CINEMA  1937: (Mihaly) Prop., Pontypool Theatres Ltd. 1,180 seats. Phone 77.        1941: (Sound, Ltd.) – Prop., The Pontypool Theatres, Ltd. 1,200 seats. Prices 7d. to 1s. 2d. Booked at Pavilion, Abertillery. Continuous. Phone Pontypool 120. Station, Crane Street, Pontypool, G.W.R.

PONTYPOOL CINEMA  1922 – Continuous. Phone Pontypool 120. Station, Pontypool, G.W.R.

Town Hall  H. H. Hadon (1907)

WEST’S PAVILION Clarence Street               1937: (Kamm) 1,000 seats. Phone 148.             

 

PONYESBURY Salop

Assembly Rooms  f., Wm. Martin (1907)

 

POOLE Dorset

AMITY HALL / AMITY PICTURE & VARIETY PALACE / Amity Hall High Street  f., W. A. Hunkin (1907) South Coast Theatres Ltd. 1922 – Prop., & Res. Man., J. Bravery. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Phone 103. 1937: (B.T.H.) Prop., S. Coast Theatres Ltd. Phone 103. By 1941 – (BTH) Prop., South Coast Theatres, Ltd. H.O. Regent Theatres, High Street, Poole. Booked by J. Bravery, Man. Dir. at H.O. Continuous. Mat. Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices 6d. to 1s. 4d. Proscenium width 24ft. Phone Poole 355. Station, Poole, S.R.

ELECTRIC THEATRE High Street  1922 – Prop., J. Bravery. Res. Man., W. G. Ferguson. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Phone 103. Station, Poole, L.S.W.R.

EMPIRE / ODEON / UCI Tower Park:  10 screens. November 2005 to Empire Cinemas (Ward Anderson) after Odeon/UCI merger.

LIGHTHOUSE Arts Centre Seats: 100

REGENT High Street  1937: (W.E.) Prop., S. Coast Theatres Ltd. 1,200 seats. Phone 355. 1941 (WE)  - Props., South Coast Theatres, Ltd. 1,000 seats. Booked at Hall. Continuous. Prices 6d. to 2s. Proscenium width 20ft. Stage 25ft. deep. Seven dressing-rooms. Phone Poole 355. Station, Poole, S.R. Fitted ‘Ardente’ Deaf Aids. Closed. Demolished. Tesco on site.

 

PORLOCK Devon

VILLAGE HALL

 

PORT ERIN I.o.M.

STRAND CINEMA  1941 (WE) – Prop., Strand Cinema Theatre Co. (1920) Ltd., 39, Strand Street. Douglas, I.o.M. 700 seats. Booked by W. J. Hughes, Picture House, Douglas. Phone Port Erin 217.

 

PORTHLEVAN Cornwall

Town Hall  Cornish Mobile Cinemas ?16mm.

 

PORT ISAAC Cornwall

RIVOLI  Opened late 1930s. Prop., Olivers Radio & Cinema Services, St Teath, Bodmin. 16mm. operation. ?Friday night. Café.

1950′s West Country Mobile Entertainments, 50 Ebrington Street, Plymouth. Two shows weekly. Closed c.1960.

 

PORTISHEAD Somerset

Assembly Hall  f., S. Thomas  (1907)

CINEMA / PORTISHEAD CINEMA High Street  1922 – Prop., Avonmouth & Portishead Picture House, Ltd. Res. Man., S. H. Hubmet. Two shows Thurs. & Sat. Continuous rest of week. Mat, Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s.                1937 as Cine: (Morrison) Prop., S. Durbain. 400 seats. 1941: (Gyrotone) – Prop., S. W. Durbin, Heathdene, Slade Road, 230 seats. Once nightly. Prices 7d. to 1s. 2d. Booked at Hall. Films by Transport Service. Station, Portishead, G.W.R.

 

PORTLAND Dorset

PALACE / EASTON  PALACE Park Road, Easton  Opened 1911. 1922 – Prop., Provincial Cinematograph Theatres, Ltd. Res. Man., W. Walton. One show nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s. 5d. Station, Eas­ton, G.W.R. 1937: (B.A.) Prop., Albany Ward Theatres Ltd. 280 seats. Phone 104. Closed 1958. Demolished.

Jubilee Hall  f., E. Stone  (1907)

PALACE / Masonic Hall Victoria Square Chiswell f., The Caretaker (1907) Prop., Albany Ward circuit. To PCT. 1922 – Prop., , Provincial Cinematograph Theatres, Ltd.. Res. Man., H. Reynolds. One show daily. Mat, Sat. Prices, 6d. to 1s. 3d. Station, Portland, G.W.R. To G-B February 1929. Closed c1931.

REGAL Fortuneswell (BA)  Opened c.1932. Architects: Andrews & Andrews. 1937: (B.T.P.) Prop., Herbert Bros. 562 seats. Phone 137. 1941: Prop., J. W. & F. H. Herbert. 562 seats. Continuous. Mats., Wed., Thurs. and Sat. Booked at Hall. Prices 6d. to 1s. 6d. Proscenium width 31ft. Phone Portland 2137. Station, Portland, G.W.R. & S.R.

 

PORTSCATHO Cornwall

Public Hall Cinema 1920s – 1930s ?part-time. 1937 (Brown) Prop. A. E. Hamblin. Replaced by later Public Hall.

 

PORTSLADE-by-SEA Sussex

PAVILION / PORTSLADE PICTUREDROME / PRINCE’S IMPERIAL PICTURE PALACE and THEATRE North Street  Opened 1911 (purpose-built). 1922 – Prop., Sussex Picturedrome Co., Ltd. Res. Man., A. E. Taylor. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. 3d. Phone, Portslade 79. Station, Portslade, L.B.S.C.R. 1941 - Prop. & Res. Man., P. V. Reynolds, 298 Seats. Booked in London. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Pictures and Variety. Prices 6d. to 1s. 2d. Phone Portslade 282. Station, Portslade, S.R., & Transport. By 1941: (WE) – Prop., J. E. Greaves. 630 seats. Prices 8d. to 1s. 6d. Continuous. Booked at Hall. Occasional Variety. Proscenium width 30ft. Stage. 10ft. One dressing-room. Phone 8492. Station, Portslade-by-Sea. Closed 1958.

ROTHBURY CINEMA Franklin Road (BTH)  Opened 27^th March 1934 – The Private Life of Henry VIII. Architect: George Coles. Orig. to be an assembly hall, taken over by Odeon. Prop., Langdon Enterprises, Ltd., Ritz Cinema, Seaford, Sussex. Phone Seaford 2988. 548 seats – single floor. Continuous. Occasional Variety. Prices 8d. to 1s. 9d. Proscenium width 34ft. Phone Portslade 8752. Café and Dance Hall attached. Station, West Hove & Portslade. Closed 19^th January 1964 – The Champion and Where Danger Lies. Bingo. 1983 Southern FM Radio.

 

PORTSMOUTH and SOUTHSEA, Portsea, and Landport  Hants

Albert Hall  H. Russell  (1907)

ARCADE CINEMA / ARCADE PICTURE PALACE 17 The Arcade, Commercial Road Landport  1922 – Prop., J. W. Mills. Res. man., J. H. Stedham. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s. 6d. Phone, Portsmouth 5854. Station, Portsmouth, L.S.W.R. 1931: John W. Mills, propr. Licensee, J. W. Mills, 9&11, Arcade. Phone 5834. 504 seats. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices 6d. to 1s. Booking Manager, John M. Stedhan, 8, Wilson Grove, Southsea. Phone 73456. 1937: (BTH) Prop. J. W. Mills  . Phone 5645. 504 seats.

CANNON / ABC / SAVOY 335 Commercial Road/Fitzherbert Street Kingston Cross (WE Mirrophonic)  Opened Saturday 17^th July 1937 – That Girl From Paris. Prop., ABC Ltd. Architect: William R. Glen. 1,921 seats. Organ: Compton 3c/6+melotone with surround on lift. Ross FC machines. Mgr. Bert Miller. Continuous from 1.30pm. Prices, 6d to 2s. 1941 – Props., Associated British Cinemas Ltd. 1,911 seats. Fitted ‘Ardente’ Deaf Aids. WWII mgr. F Stewart. Later mgrs. D. Denyer, J. Fisher. Re-named ABC c.1961. 1,841 seats. Organ removed 1966. 1967 – Todd-AO , new box. 1,660 seats. Tripled 1982 – total 1,000 seats. 1984 mgr. Mike Rodgers. To Cannon & re-named 1986. Open in 1993. Closed.

Clarence Pier C. Hunter  (1907)

CLASSIC CINEMA  Commercial Road  1937: (B.T.H.) Unique Cinema (Croydon) Ltd. 464 seats. 1941: (BTH) Props., Unique Cinemas, Ltd. 465 seats. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Prices 8d. & 1s. 2d. Phone 6262. Station, Portsmouth Town, S.R.

COLISEUM Theatre of Varieties Edinburgh Road Landport Portsmouth Empire Palace Limited, props.

COMMODORE THEATRE Fawcett Road  1931: Harry Joseph, propr. Fawcett Road Southsea. 1937: (W.E.) New Era Cinema (Southsea) Ltd. Phone 73967. 1,000 seats. To ABC by 1934. 1,000 seats. 7d. to 1/6d.

Connaught Drill Hall  Captain Cooper  (1907)

COPNOR THEATRE Copnor Road  1922 – Prop. and Res. Man., Sydney Treviss. Continuous Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. upwards. Station, Fratton, L.B. & S.C.R.

EMPIRE CINEMA Stamshaw Road Landport  Captain E. R. Warren Wright  (1907)  1931: A. Levison, propr. 1934: 574 seats. 7d to 1/3d. 1937: (W.E.) A. & H. Levinson. 574 seats. Phone 6350.

ESSOLDO / APOLLO KINEMATIC THEATRE  42 Albert Road, Southsea  Opened 6 April 1912. 500 seats. Prop. Apollo Kinematic Theatre (Southsea) Ltd. Enlarged 1916 & 1920. 1250 seats. 1922: Res. Man., W. Bass. Continuous. Daily Mat. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s. 3d. Phone, Portsmouth 4995. Station, Fratton, L.S.W.R. 1934: 6d to 1/6. 1,257 seats. Rebuilt 1^st August 1936. Architect R. A. Thomas. (RCA) 1483 seats. Leased by ABC 26^th December 1937. By 1941: (RCA) – Prop., Associated British Cinemas, Ltd., 30-31 Golden Square, London W.1. Phone Ger­rard 7887. 1,455 seats. Continuous. Phone Portsmouth 4995. Station, Portsmouth Town, S.R. Films per London & Provincial Films, Motor Transport. Fitted ‘Ardente’ Deaf Aids. Essoldo – lease taken over 26^th December 1949. Re-named Essoldo November 1950. To Classic and re­named 2^nd April 1972. Closed 29^th November 1975. Flats.

ESSOLDO / MAJESTIC PICTURE THEATRE  Kingston Cross  Opened 5^th December 1921 – A Yankee at the Court of King Arthur. Prop. Richard Stokes. Cost £51,000. 2 dressing rooms. 1931: R. W. G. Stokes, proprietor. 1^st talkie – Melody of Love. 1934: (WE) 1,095 seats. 7d to 1/6d. By 1941: (Ernemann) – Prop., Exors. of R. W. G. Stokes. 1,088 seats. Continuous. Prices 8d. to 1s. 6d. Phone Portsmouth 6652. Station, Portsmouth Town, S.R.  To Essoldo 1949. Refurbished, re-decorated, ‘floating screen’. BA sound. Walturdaw 5s (water-cooled gate), Zeiss-Ikon arcs. Re-opened & re-named Boxing Day 1949 – The Fighting O’Flynn. Mgr. Jack Hearn (ex-Chief). Later mgr. Brian Gauntlett. 1,026 seats. Closed. Snooker.

FORUM CINEMA Stamshaw Road (WE) – Props., A. & H. Levison, 19, Angerstein Road, North End, Portsmouth. 574 seats. Booked at Hall. Continuous. Prices 7d. to 1s. 2d. Proscenium width 22ft. Phone Portsmouth 73967. Station, Portsmouth Town. S.R.

GAIETY PICTURE HOUSE Festing Road/Albert Road Southsea 1931: L. Zeid, mngr. 1937: (W.E.) Regent Circuit Ltd. 1,382 seats. Phone 6428. By 1941: (WE) – Props., R. Hyman & H. Levison. 1,382 seats. Booked at Hall. Continuous. Prices 7d. to 1s. 6d. Phone Southsea 31350 Stations, Portsmouth Town or Fratton, S.R. Closed 1959. Supermarket.

GAUMONT / REGENT THEATRE  55 London Road, North End  Opened 31^st March 1923. Architect: S. Closigh, 1908 seats. To Hyams & Gale  8^th October 1929. To G-B 10^th February 1931: Jas. Carreras, mngr. 2,017 seats. 1934: (WE) Prop. APPH. 1,972 seats. 7d to 2s. By 1941: (WE) – Prop., Associated Provincial Picture Houses, Ltd. Regent Street, London W.1. 1,972 seats. Continuous. Prices 9d. to 2s. 6d. Stage 40ft. deep; six dressing-rooms. Phone Portsmouth 725611. Station, Portsmouth Town, S.R. Fitted ‘Ardente’ Deaf Aids. Renamed 9^th March 1953. 1616 seats by 1970. Closed 1^st September 1973. Demolished April 1974. Supermarket.

GLOBE ELECTRIC THEATRE Fratton Road  1922 – Prop., W. Pannell & Sons. Res. man., W. Pannell. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1S. 5d. Phone, Portsmouth 2918. Station, Fratton, L.B. & S.C.R.  1931: Pannell Bros. proprs. 1937: (Private) Tivoli (Portsmouth) Ltd. 543 seats. Phone 2368.                                  

GRAND CINEMA Arundel Street 1922 – Prop., Landport Electric Theatre, Ltd. Res. Man., J. W. Gaskin. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 9d. Station, Portsmouth Town, L.S.W.R.

HIPPODROME / New ROYAL HIPPODROME Commercial Road Landport  W. de Frece  (1907) Prop., Portsmouth Hippodrome Ltd. To GTC March, then G-B May 1928. 1,873 seats. 1931: Claude Earner, res. mgr. Cine-variety by 1933. Films Sundays. (B.A) 1,423 seats. Phone 2101. Destroyed by bombing 10^th January 1941. Hippo­drome House (offices) on site.

KING’S THEATRE Southsea Albert Road  Architect: Frank Matcham. 1931: W. E. C. Sperring, genl. mngr. 1937: (R.C.A.) Portsmouth Theatres Ltd. (Legit.) Cap. 2,064. Phone 5665. By 1941: (RCA) – SG46: Prop.: Portsmouth Theatres, Ltd. (Chairman & Managing Director, Chas. Clarke) Theatre Royal, Portsmouth. Phone 2101.Bookings: Moss’ Empires, Ltd., Cranbourn Mansions, Cranbourn Street, London W.C.2. Cap.: Boxes 6, ground floor 742, D. circle 202, U. circle 400, gallery 640. Barring clause: 20 miles, one month before and after. Once nightly (times of performances vary under existing transport restrictions). Matinées Thursday and Saturday. Once nightly touring and prior to London productions. Stage: Pros. 30ft., height 26ft., min. depth from setting line 40ft., height under fly galleries 23ft. 6 in., width between fly galleries 44ft. 6 in., height of grid from stage 53ft. Elec. equip.: 230 v. A.C., 50 cycles. Foot­lights, four circuits with ind. dimmers. Five battens, each with four circuits with ind. dimmers. Spot bar with 12 spots, each with ind. dimmers. Eight dips with ind. dimmers. Six f-o-h pre-set spots. Two f-o-h following limes. Dressing rooms: 11 single, one chorus. Band room. Orchestra: Acc. 20-24. Resident 12. Amplifying set with four house speakers, two stand microphones (portable) and three swan necks in floats.

No 6 CINEMA No 6 Boathouse Dockyard.

NORTH END CINERAMA Stamshaw Road 1922 – Prop., W. J. Parlett. Res. Man., W. Peade. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 15. 3d. Phone, Portsmouth 4645. Station, Portsmouth Town, L.S.W.R. 1937: (BTH)

ODEON / UCI Portway, Port Solent  6 screens. Re-named February 2006.

ODEON THEATRE  London Road, Portsmouth (BTH)  Opened Monday 14^th December 1936 – Chick. Architect: Andrew Mather. 1,824 seats. By 1941 – Prop., Odeon Theatres, Ltd., Old County Cinema, Marlow, Bucks. Phone Marlow 695-9. Booked at Moor Hall, Cook­ham, Berks. Continuous. Prices 9d. to 2s. 6d. Stage; two dressing-rooms. Phone Portsmouth 73175. Foyer damaged by bomb. Modernised, re-decorated & Todd-AO 25^th September 1960 – South Pacific. Tripled 26^th August 1973. Quadded 1990. Sold 2006. Closed.

PALACE 32-36 Commercial Road  Opened 1921. Architect: A. E. Cogswell. 1934: 626 seats. 6d to 1/3d. By 1941: (WE) – Props., Portsmouth Town Cinemas, Ltd. 613 seats. Booked at Shaftesbury Cinema, Portsmouth. Phone Portsmouth 4976. Prices 8d. to 1s.6d. Continuous. Phone Portsmouth 5665. Station, Portsmouth Town, S.R. To S & K. To ABC. To independent September 1977. Closed Marrch 1980 – The Man Who Couldn’t Get Enough and Virgin of St. Tropaz.

PARAGON PICTURES Lake Road 1922 – Prop., E. Martin. Res. Man., M. Martin, Jnr. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 3d. Station, Portsmouth Town, L.S.W.R.

PEOPLE’S PICTURE PALACE  / PEOPLE’S PALACE  Lake Road  F. Pearce  (1907)

PICTURE HOUSE Commercial Road – Prop., Provincial Cinematograph Theatres, Ltd. Res. Man., R. H. Jones. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 1s. 3d. to 2s. 4d. Phone, Portsmouth 5029. Station, Portsmouth Town, L.S.W.R.

PLAZA SUPER CINEMA Bradford Junction, Southsea  1937: (WE) Assoc. Prov. Picture Houses Ltd. 1,770 seats. Phone 2580. 1941: (BA) – Prop., Associated Provincial Picture Houses, Ltd. Regent Street, London W.1. 1934: 1,770 seats. 7d to 2s. By 1941: 1,700 seats. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Prices 9d. to 2s. 6d. Phone 718111. Station, Ports­mouth Town, S.R. Fitted ‘Ardente’ Deaf Aids

Portland Hall R. A. Storry  (1907)

PRINCE’S THEATRE  Lake Road  The New Prince’s Theatre (Portsmouth) Ltd. 1931: proprs. ; J. H. Martin, mngr. ; E. W. Kidd, sec. 1934: 1,488 seats. 7d to 1/6d. 1937 as New Princes Pic Hse (W.E.) New Era Cinema (Portsmouth) Ltd. 1,488 seats. Phone 725511.By 1941: (WE) – Props., South Downs Cinemas, Ltd., 129 Victoria Road North, Southsea. Phone 32455. 1,500 seats. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Prices 6d. to 1s. 6d. Phone 2580. Station, Portsmouth, S.R. Films by Marmion Transport.

QUEEN’S CINEMA Queen Street, Portsea  1922 – Prop., L. Zeid. Continuous. Prices, 6d. to 1s. Station, Portsmouth Town, L.S.W.R. 1931: H. F. Bingham, propr. 1934: 452 seats. 6d to 1s. 1937: (B.T.H.) Joseph Petrels. 452 seats. Phone 7191.        

New QUEEN’S CINEMA Queen Street, Portsea  1941: (BTH) – Prop., H. P. E. Mears. 547 seats. Continuous. Mat., Sat. Prices 7d. to 1s. 2d. Booked at Roxy Theatre, Bournemouth. Proscenium width 22ft. Phone 2569. Station, Portsmouth Town, S.R.

REGAL PICTURE HOUSE  Eastney Road Southsea  (WE) – Prop., E. J. Baker & Son, 116 Haslemere Road, Southsea. Phone 31795. 830 seats. Booked at Hall. Continuous. Three changes weekly. Prices 6d. to 1s. 3d. Café attached. Phone Portsmouth 31273. Station, Fratton, S.R.

REX Fratton Road  1941: (RCA) – Prop., Tivoli (Portsmouth) Ltd., 285, Lake Road. Phone. Portsmouth 73842. 500 seats. Continuous. Prices 8d. and 1s. 2d. Booked at 95, Shaftesbury Avenue, London W.1. Phone Ports­mouth 6538. Proscenium width 32ft. Station, Fratton, S.R.

RIALTO SUPER CINEMA Arundel Street  1931: G. Ramsey, propr.; B. Croucher, mngr. 1937: (Brown) Rialto (Portsmouth) Ltd. 1,250 seats. Phone 73228. By 1941: (BTH) – Prop., Rialto (Portsmouth) Ltd., 1 Sussex Court, Sussex Road, Southsea. Phone 5859. 1,250 seats. Proscenium width 27ft. Con­tinuous. Prices 7d. to 1s.2d. Booked at Hall. Phone Portsmouth 7107. Station, Portsmouth Town, S.R.

ROYAL SAILORS’ REST – Res. Man., Dame Wintz. Occasional shows. Station, Ports­mouth Town, L.S.W.R.

St. James’s Concert Hall  Frank Pearce  (1907)

SALON / ODEON THEATRE  Festing Road/Highland Road, South­sea (BTH) Opened 4^th December 1937 – The Sky’s The Limit. Architect: Andrew Mather. 1,688 seats. By 1941 – Prop., Odeon (Southsea) Ltd., Old County Cinema, Marlow, Bucks. Phone Marlow 695-9. Booked at Moor Hall, Cook­ham, Berks. Continuous. Prices 9d. to 2s. 6d. Stage; one dressing-room. Phone Portsmouth 32163. Closed 19^th November 1977 – Valentino. To independent & re-named 1980. 2^nd screen in back stalls 1981. Closed September 1983. Demolished 1985. School playing field.

SCALA THEATRE  / SCALA PICTURE HOUSE Elm Grove, Southsea  Southsea. 1922 – Prop. & Res. Mans., Pannell Bros. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 1s. to 2s. 4d. Phone 2919. Station, Fratton, LB. & S.C.R. 1931: Mrs. J. Boultwood, proprtrss. 1934: 743 seats. 7d to 2s. 1937: (B.T.H.) Rialto (Portsmouth) Ltd. 743 seats. Phone 7859. By 1941: (BTH) – Prop., Basingham Subsidiary Properties, Ltd., 75-77, Shaftesbury Avenue, London W.1. Phone Gerrard 1970. 800 seats. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices 6d. to 1s.6d. Proscenium width 30ft. Phone 5859. Station, Portsmouth Town, S.R.

SOUTH PARADE PIER PAVILION / South Parade Pier Southsea  F. W. Chambers  (1907) 1922 – Prop., Ports­mouth Corporation. Res. Man., F. G. Robson. Occasional shows. Station, Fratton, L.S.W.R. 1934: Films. 496 seats. 4d to 1/6d. 1937: (B.T.H.) Portsmouth Corporation. 500 seats. Phone 5411. SG46: concert parties, etc.

SOUTHSEA ELECTRIC THEATRE Pawcett Road 1922 -  Prop., Southsea Picture Playhouse Co., Ltd. Man. Direc,, H. B. Harrison. – Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s. 3d, Phone, Portsmouth 5643. Station, Fratton, L.S.W.R.

STATE CINEMA  Fawcett Road (BTH) – Props., Southsea Entertainments, Ltd., 37/38, Golden Square W1. Phone Gerrard 7347. 1,010 seats. Prices 6d. and 1s. Continuous. Booked at H.O. Proscenium width 30ft. Phone Portsmouth 4244. Station, Fratton

STRAND KINEMA de LUXE Lake Roads  1922 – Prop., E.         Martin. Res. Man., Ms Martin, Jnr.  Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s. 3d. Station, Portsmouth To L.S.W.R.

TATLER / SHAFTESBURY CINEMA / SHAFTESBURY HALL PICTURE PALACE  Kingston Road, Buckland  Opened 1910. 1922 – Prop., Cook & Bamber. Res. Man., B. J. Cook. Three shows daily. Two changes weekly. Prices 6d. to 1s. 1d. Phone, Portsmouth 4976. Station, Portsmouth Town, L.S.W.R. 1934: 1,127 seats. 7d to 1/4d. By 1937 (WE) Portsmouth Town Cinemas Ltd. 1941: (WE) – Prop., Portsmouth Town Cinemas, Ltd. 1,021 seats. Booked at Hall. Continuous. Prices 8d. to 1s. 6d. Phone Portsmouth 4976. Station, Portsmouth & Southsea S.R., & Transport Service. Closed to film 1959. Bingo. Still in 2007.

THEATRE ROYAL Commercial Road J. W. Boughton (No 1) (1907) 1931: Portsmouth Theatres Ltd. proprs. 1931: W. E. C. Sperring, man. dir. 1934: 1,418 seats. 6d to 1/6d. 1937: (R.C.A.) (Legit.)               Portsmouth Theatres Ltd. 1,418 seats. Phone 73228. 1941: (RCA) – Prop., Portsmouth Theatres, Ltd. Phone Portsmouth 2793 or 73228. Station, Ports­mouth Town, S.R.

TIVOLI THEATRE  Copnor Road  1934: 1,752 seats. 9d to 1/3d. 1937: (W.E.) Tivoli (Portsmouth) Ltd.           1,752 seats. Phone 6347. 1941: (Mirrophonic) – Prop., Tivoli (Portsmouth) Ltd., Buckingham Place. Phone 73842. 1,642 seats. Continuous. Mats, daily. Booked at Troxy Cinema. Prices 8d. to 1s.6d. Proscenium width 35ft. Stage 25ft. deep. Two dressing-rooms. Phone Portsmouth 6347. Station, Fratton, S.R.

TROXY  Fratton Road (WE) – Prop., Tivoli (Portsmouth) Ltd., Buckingham Place, Laker Road, Portsmouth. Phone Ports­mouth 73842. 1,921 seats. Continuous daily from 1.30 p.m., Sun. from 2.30 p.m. Booked at 95 Shaftesbury Avenue, London W.1. Prices 8d. to 1s. 6d. Proscenium width 42ft. Stage 35ft. deep. Four dressing-rooms. Phone Portsmouth 6538. Station, Fratton, S.R.

VICTORIA / VICTORIA HALL CINEMA THEATRE / Victoria Hall Commercial Road Landport  f., G. W. Ash  (1907) Opened as cinema c.January 1914. 1922 – Prop. S. J. Flatau. Res. Man., Tom Panton. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 2s. 4d. Station, Ports­mouth, L.S.W.R. To Union August 1928. 1934: 1,407 seats. 3d to 1/6d. To ABC 1937. Later re-named Victoria. By 1941: (WE) – Props., Union Cinemas, Ltd., Union House, 15 Regent Street, London, S.W.1. Phone Whitehall 8484. 1,407 seats. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Sundays once nightly. Two changes weekly. Proscenium width 28ft. Phone 2525. Station, Portsmouth, Central, SR.; Films by Road Transport. Closed 7^th March 1960. Demolished. Offices.

VUE Gun Wharf Seats: 14 screens

 

POTTERS BAR Middx

RITZ  Darkes Lane/Byng Drive  (WE) Opened Monday 8^th October 1934 – Roman Scandals and One Is Guilty. Architect: Major W. J. King. Organ: Compton 2/6 with surround on lift. Tea Lounge and Dance Hall attached. Briefly leased by ABC on opening. 1937: (W.E.) Prop., W. C. Dawes. 1,200 seats. Phone 718. 1941 – Prop., Shires & Southern Counties Cinemas, Lid, 113-117, Wardour Street, London W.1. Phone Gerrard 1363. 1,170 seats. Prices 9d. to 1s. 10d. Continuous. Booked at H.O. by F. W. Allwood. Proscenium width 39ft. Stage20ft. deep; three dressing-rooms. Phone Potters Bar 2718. Station, Potters Bar, L.N.E.R.; & Road Transport. Closed April 1954. Returned to Major King. Re-furbished, new heating/ventilation, CinemaScope installed, leased by George Snazelle, re-opened 24^th January 1955 – How To Marry A Millionaire. 1955 Frank Seymour mgr. Sold to Tesco. Closed Saturday 1^st July 1967 – That Riviera Touch and Shenandoah. Organ removed 1968. Demolished. Tesco supermarket.

 

POULTON-Le-FYLDE  Lancs

PICTURE HOUSE Vicarage Road  1937&41: (BTH) – Prop., & Man., J. I. OR . J. J. Smith. 600 seats. Booked at Hall by Prop. One show nightly, Prices 7d. to 1s. 6d. Proscenium width 15ft. Stage25ft. deep; four dressing-rooms. Phone Poulton 11. Station, Poulton, L.M.S.

 

PRESCOT Lancs

Assembly Rooms H. Cross & Son  (1907)

LYME HOUSE CINEMA 22, Eccleston Street  1937&41: (WE) – Prop., Lyme House Cinemas, Ltd., 980 seats. Booked by County Playhouse, Wigan. Once nightly. Twice Sat, and holidays. Mat., Mon., Thurs. and Sat. Prices 7d. to 1s. 2d. Proscenium width 22ft. Phone Prescot 6114. Station, Prescot, L.M.S.

PALACE  Kemble Street  1937: () Prop., Eagle Picturedromes Ltd. Phone 6439. 1941: (BTH) – Prop., Lyme House Cinemas, Ltd., 22, Eccleston Street, Prescot. Phone 6114. 698 seats. Once nightly; twice Sat, and Holidays. Prices 6d. to 10d. Phone Prescot 6439. Station, Prescot, L.M.S.

Parish Rooms  (1907)

Town Hall H. Cross & Son  (1907)

 

PRESTON Lancs

               

ABC Fishergate/Theatre Street  Opened 14^th March 1959 – The Reluctant Debutante. On site of Theatre Royal. Architect: C. J. Foster & R. J. Westaway. 1,487 seats. Mgr. J. W. Bonnick. First Xenon installation. Prices, 1/9 to 3/6d. Continuous from 1pm. 6^th May 1973: split to Painted Wagon pub in rear stalls and circle film operation. 637 seats. Closed 11^th September 1982. Empty. Demolished. Opening programme in GTC.

ALEXANDER PICTURE PALACE Walker Street/Friargate  Opened 4^th October 1909 – conversion. Prop., Will Fare. Closed c.1915.

CARLTON Blackpool Road, Ribbleton  Opened Monday 8^th August 1932. Prop. Carlton (Preston) Ltd. (Mr Moorcroft, Birkenhead.) Pros. 33ft. 1936: (W.E.) Prop., Ribbleton Theatre Co. Ltd. 975 seats. Phone, 84112. By 1941: (WE) 900 seats. Booked at Hall. Prices 4d. to 1s. Phone Preston 84112. Station, Preston Central. CinemaScope. Closed to film 1961. Bingo. Play centre. Empty.

CHARTER THEATRE  Opened 1972 – part of Guild Hall complex. Prop., Council. 800 seats.

CONTINENTAL / QUEEN’S CINEMA  New Hall Lane (or Acregate, Tunbridge Street)  Licensed 1914. Prop., Hogg & Garton. Cap. 850. 1936: (B.T.P.) Prop., Queen’s Cinema (Preston) Ltd. 500 seats. Phone 5004. 1941: (BTP) – Prop., Philip H. Yorke. 420 seats. Continuous. Three changes weekly. Prices 5d. to 8d. Proscenium width 12ft. Station, Preston, L.M.S. c.1962 sold & re-named. CinemaScope. BT-H sound. 235 seats. Closed by 1972. Later temple.

COSY THEATRE  St. Peter’s Street  Opened c.January–April 1914. Closed c.1915 & sold. Post WWI to Alfred Wiles. Re-furbished & re-opened 6^th Jnue 1921. 450 seats. Pros. 25ft. Prices, 3d to 5d. 1936: (B.T.P.) Prop., Cosy Cinema Ltd. 400 seats. Phone 3875. 1941: (BTP) – Prop., & Res. Man., A. Wiles. 450 seats. Booked at Hall. Two shows nightly. Daily Mat. Two changes weekly. Prices 2d. and 3d. Proscenium width 25ft. Phone 875. Station, Central. Closed mid-50s. Spiritualist church. Now garage.

DOMINION / ELECTRIC THEATRE Cragg’s Row, Moor Lane  Opened late 1910. Prop., J. Bennett. 1939: (Gramo-Radio) – Prop., H. Bennett. 500 seats. Two shows nightly. Mat., Sat. Two changes weekly. Phone 490. Station, Preston, L.M.S.  c.1939 to Victor Bell Theatres Ltd. & re-named. 450 seats. Closed mid-50s.

EMBEE HALL Avenham Street  1^st-floor hall above garage converted from mill. Dances, roller skating. Opened as cinema 1^st September 1908. Props., Mercado Bros.

EMPIRE THEATRE Church Street  Architects: Bush, Hope & Tasker. Cine Licence 1911. Late 20s to HDM circuit. WE Sound. 1936: 1,805 seats. 1941: (WE) – Props., Empire (Preston) Ltd., Imperial Buildings, Oxford Road, Man­chester. 1,628 seats. Booked at H.O. Phone Preston 5033. Station, Preston. Pros. 32ft. CinemaScope. Bingo c.1961. Closed 1974. Derelict. Demolished c.1976.

EMPRESS SUPER CINEMA Eldon Street (WE)  Opened 12^th October 1929. Prop., N. Buck. 900 seats. Cine-variety. Stage 15ft deep, 2 dressing rooms. Prices 4d to 9d. 1936: (W.E.) Prop., Empress Cinema (Preston) Ltd. 960 seats. Phone 2932. 1941 – Props., Empress Cinema (Preston) Ltd., 900 seats.  Occasional Variety. Booked at Manchester and Liverpool. Continuous nightly. Daily Mat. Prices 6d. to 1s. 4d. Proscenium width 28ft, stage 15ft. deep; 2 dressing-rooms. Phone 2932. Station, Preston, L.M.S. 1960 to Hutchinson Leisure. Re-furbished.

New GAIETY PALACE of Varieties Tithebarn Street  Opened 1884. Sole Prop. & Mgr. Harry Hemfrey.

GUILD CINEMA Geoffrey Street  Opened by September 1922. Prop., David Ainsworth. Twice nightly. Prices 2d, 4d, 6d. 1936: (W.E.) Prop., Mather & Murray. 929 seats. Phone 4423. 1941: (WE) – Prop., Philip H. Yorke. 960 seats. Booked at Hall. Continuous. Mats., Mon., Thurs. and Sat. Prices 5d. to 1s. Phone Preston 4423. Station, Preston, L.M.S.

GUILD HALL  Opened 1972. Prop., Corporation. cap. 2,000+. Theatre, concerts, snooker,

Guildhall Old Town Hall  Prop., Corporation. Bookings: Town Clerk  (1907)

IMPERIAL PICTURE PALACE Church Street  Opened c.July 1909 – building conversion. Prop., Fred S. Walworth. 1936: Prop., Preston Casino & Pictures Ltd. (Closed)                                       

LIDO / REGAL CINEMA / GRAND PICTURE THEATRE Marsh Lane  Licensed mid-1918. Prop., Grand Pic Th. Mgr. R. Forrest. Cap. 600. Prices, 2d to 6d. To HDM circuit. Re-vamped & re-named. BTP sound. 650 seats. 1937 as Regal: (BTP) Prop., S. Kingston. Phone 3598. 1941: (BTP) – Prop., S. Kingston, 5, Woodlands Drive, Broughton, Preston. 640 seats. Booked at Hall. Con­tinuous. Prices 2d. to 6d. Phone 3598. Station, Preston, L.M.S. Post-WWII to Marks Cinema Circuit. Re-named c.1955.

LYRIC Penworthy  1936: (Brown) 306 seats. (Closed)                                                                                                                                                                                                 

MARATHON HALL  Frank Street  Licensed February 1911. Part of/adjacent to 1909 skating rink. Licensee John Hall. Closed c.1915. Re-opened post-war. 1920s prop. Frank Foster. Closed 1920s.

ODEON / GAUMONT / NEW VICTORIA Church Street  (WE)  Opened 17^th September 1928. Prop., PCT. Architect: W. E. Trend, 2,070 seats: 1,400/670. Gen. mgr. Ivan Yeatman. Organ: WurliTzer 2/9. 13 dressing rooms. WE sound 1^st in town. To G-B with circuit February 1929. By 1941 – Prop., Provincial Cinematograph Theatres, Ltd., 123 Regent Street, London W.1. Phone Preston 280011. 2,099 seats. Prices 9d. to 1s. 10d. Fitted ‘Ardente’ Deaf Aids. Re-named Gaumont 22^nd September 1952. cinemascope April 1954 – How to marry a Millionaire. Modernised 1959. Closed 16^th June 1962. Split: ground floor dance hall/disco & upstairs ODEON opened 28^th January 1963. 1,229 seats. 2^nd screen in ex-restaurant opened April 1970. 105 seats. 1986 re-fitted. Closed 10^th OR 19^th September 1992 – Lawrence of Arabia and Alien 3.

ODEON / UCI Riversway  Opened 9^th March 1990. 10 screens. Re-named December 2005.

PALACE THEATRE  / KING’S PALACE THEATRE Old Vicarage  Opened 6^th February 1913 – ‘A Hot Time in Dogville’ supported by Star Variety. Broadhead Circuit. Architect: J. J. Alley. Interior décor: Barlett. Mgr Harry Winstanley. Stage; 75ft wide; 35ft deep. Scenic artist Edward Leigh.  2,600 seats – standing 400. Later film, then live again. 1936 : King’s Palace (Legit.), (P.T.A.) Prop., P. Broadhead. 2,340 seats. Phone 3317. 1941: – 2,340 seats. Contin­uous. Two changes weekly. Prices 4d. to 1s. Phone Preston 3317. Station, Preston L.M.S. SG46: Prop.: Percy B. Broadhead, Harewood Lodge, Carlton Road, Whalley Range, Manchester 16. Cap.: Stalls 567, P. stalls 768, D. circle 693. Barring clause: Revues, plays, etc.: 10 miles. Variety: V.A.F. Award. Once nightly 7. Matinées Thurs­day and Saturday 2.15. Twice nightly 6.15 and 8.20. (Saturday matinée arranged for pantomime and circus). Variety, revues, pantomimes, etc. Stage: Pros. 32ft., height 32ft., min. depth from setting line 40ft., height under fly galleries 20ft., width between fly galleries 40ft., grid to stage 42ft. No counterweight gear. 30 working sets lines. Elec. equip.: 230 v. A.C. Footlights, three circuits with ind. dimmers. Four battens, each with three circuits with ind. dimmers. Spot bar with two spots with ind. dimmers. Four spots on stands. Four floods on stands. Two f-o-h following limes. Dressing rooms: Eight single, two chorus. Orches­tra: Acc, 18. Resident 11 (three violins, ‘cello, bass, piano, clarinet, two trum­pets, trombone, drums). Amplifying equip.: Two turn-table reproducer. F-o-h and stage. Microphone. Closed 1955. Skating. Demolished for ‘bus station & shops.

PALLADIUM Church Street  Opened 21/22 December 1915 – The Man Who Stayed At Home. Prices, 3d, 6d, 9d. 1936: (W.E.) Preston Palladium Ltd. 952 seats. Phone 3470. 1941: (WE) – Prop., Preston Palladium, Ltd. 952 seats. Gen. Man., Ernest Angers. Continuous. Two shows Sat. Daily Mat., Sun. from 7.30 p.m. Prices 4d. to 1s. 3d. Phone Preston 3470. Station, Preston, L.M.S. To Kennedys. Pros. 26ft. CinemaScope. Closed late 60s – compulsory purchase: access road to Guildhall.

PICTURE PALACE Brook Street  Opened Christmas 1909/early 1909. Prop., Will Fare. Closed c.1915.
PICTUREDROME / PALACE and PICTUREDROME Brackenbury Place  Opened Whit Saturday 1909 – 1^st purpose cinema conversion from brewery. Prop. Will Onda. Dance hall attached. 1936:       (B.T.H.) Prop., Will Onda. Phone 5465. 1941: (BTH) – Prop., Will Onda. Two shows nightly. Mats., Mon., Thurs. and Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices 3d. to 1s. Phone Preston. 5465. Station, Preston, L.M.S. By 1956 CinemaScope.

PLAZA New Hall Lane (WE)  Opened 12^th December 1932. Prop., Plaza (Preston) Ltd. Architect: George Tonge. (walls former cotton mill) 900 seats. 1936: (W.E.)  Prop., Plaza Theatre Co.            982 seats. Phone 2357. 1941: – Props., The Plaza (Preston) Ltd. 900 seats. Phone Preston 2357.

PRINCE’S THEATRE  Tithebarn Street  Opened 1882. Cap. 3,000. Sawyer & Woodruff  (1907) Will Onda converted to film c1908 before K. Pal op. By 1941: (AWH) – Prop., Will Onda. 1,000 seats. Three shows daily, except Friday. Two changes weekly. Prices 3d. to 1s. Phone Preston 4165. Station, Preston, L.M.S. Closed October 1959. Derelict. Demolished July/August 1964.

PUBLIC HALL / New Public Hall / Corn Exchange  Built 1824. Altered 1882. Cap. 2,000. Borough Treasurer (1907) Films in 1908. 1941: W. A. Davies, Borough Treas­urer. Phone 1. Station, Preston, L.M.S.

QUEENS  Tarleton  1941: (AWH) 450 seats. Prop., High Park Picture Palace Co. (Southport). Twice weekly. Thurs. and Sat, Prices 4d. to 1s. 3d.

Queen’s Hall SG46: Some years ago the Corporation erected New Baths in Saul Street, and during the winter months the large plunge bath is covered by a dance floor and is let for dancing, also high class concerts, and is known as Queen’s Hall.

ROYAL HIPPODROME Friargate  Opened  Saturday 14^th January 1905. Prop., William Henry Broadhead. Architect: J. J. Alley. Cap. 2,500. Variety & bioscope. W. H. Broadhead  (1907) 1936: Prop., P. B. Broadhead. 1,313 seats. SG46: Prop. : Talbot’s Entertainments, Ltd., Royal Hippodrome, Preston. Bookings: Booking Director, Ivor E. Faull, 8, Mount Ephraim Rd., Streatham, London, S.W.16. Booking Agent, Mrs. B. Braham, 8-10, Charing Cross Rd., London W.C.2. Cap.: Stalls 622, pit stalls 235, D. circle 277, U. circle 120. Barring clause: 20 miles. Once nightly 7.15. Matinées Thursday and Saturday 2.30. Twice nightly 6.15 and 8.20. Matinée Saturday. Grand opera, light opera, musical comedy, plays, comedies, revue and variety. Stage: Prosc. 36ft., height 30ft., min. depth from letting line 20ft., height under fly galleries 27ft., width between fly galleries 42ft. No counterweight gear. 30 hemp lines. Elec. equip.: 230 v. A.C., 50 cycles. Foot­lights, three circuits with ind. dimmers. Four battens each with three circuits with ad. dimmers. Seven dips, switch controlled. One spot on stand. Six floods on stands. Dressing rooms: 11 single. Orchestra : Acc. 24. Resident 11. Ampli­fying equip.: Microphone. Closed c.mid-50s. Demolished June 1955.

RIALTO CINEMA / VICTORY CINEMA St Paul’s Road, Deepdale  Opened c.1922. Mgr. G. Crook. Prices 5d to 1s. c.1930 sold & re-named. Pros. 18ft. 700 seats. Prices, 5d to 9d. 1941: (BTH) – Prop., Rialto Cinema (Preston) Ltd. 700 seats. Booked at Hall. Twice nightly Prices 5d. to 9d. Proscenium width 18ft. Phone Preston 5598. Station, Preston, L.M.S.

RITZ Church Street  Opened 23^rd March 1937 – Keep Fit. Cost £45,000. 1,650 stadium seats. 1941 – Props., Preston Palladium Ltd. Daily from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Sun. from 7.30 p.m. Booked at Palladium. Stage 40ft. wide, 18ft. deep; 11 dressing­-rooms. Phone 3470. May 1968 to Star circuit. Closed c.1972. Bingo. Closed. By 1986 Skating rink. Closed. Auditorium empty. Foyer night club / restaurant. 

SAVOY CINEMA Ashton Street  Opened 27^th June 1921 – The Sea Wolf. Prop., The Savoy (Preston) Ltd. Cap. 700. Prices, 4d to 1s. 1936: (B.T.H.) Prop., Savoy Cinema (Preston) Ltd.  736 seats. Phone 6140. 1941: (BTH) – Prop., Savoy Cinema (Preston) Ltd. 750 seats. Booked at Hall. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices 4d. to 6d. Phone Preston 6140.

STAR CINEMA Corporation Street  Opened 13^th June 1921 – Carousel. Prop., A. W. Kenyon & co., Manchester. Twice nightly. Mat. Daily. Prices, 6d, 9d, 1s. Sold to ABC 1929. Sold by them 1935. 1936 as Star Pic Hse: (R.C.A ) Prop., Arthur Hall. 913 seats. Phone 3836. By 1941: (RCA) Prop., Daniel Jackson. 829 seats. Booked at Hall. Continuous. Two shows Sat. Mat. daily. Prices 4d. to 9d. Proscenium width 30ft. Stage10ft. deep. Two dressing-rooms. Phone Preston 3836. Post-WWII to Dennis C. Walls. Pros. 30ft. CinemaScope. Closed 4^th July 1959. Demolished by Polytechnic.

Temperance Hall 62 North Road  Opened 1856 – conversion of maltings. Cap. 800. John Proffitt (1907) c.1908 1^st hall to open as cinema. To Will Onda. Pictures & variety.

THEATRE ROYAL (1)  Opened 1802. Rebuilt 1879. Demolished for TR2.

THEATRE ROYAL (2) Fishergate/Theatre Street  Opened c.1889. Cap. 2,300. Stephen Pritt (No 3) (1907) By 1920 prop. Leslie Knight. By 1922 to Mrs Knight. To T. H. Bailey (Preston Pic Hse Co). Closed 1928. To ABC November 1929. Altered. Organ: Christie 2/6. 1936: (W.E.) Prop., A.B.C. Ltd. 1,240 seats. Phone 3694. By 1941: (WE) – Prop., Associated British Cinemas, Ltd., 30-3m, Golden Square W1. Phone Gerrard 7887. 1,207 seats. Booked at H.O. Phone 3694. Station, Preston, L.M.S. Closed 3^rd December 1955. Demolished for new ABC.

TIVOLI and CINEDROME Fleetwood Street  Opened 1910. Prop., N. Blackburn.

UCLAN University Campus Seats: 110 [Repertory]

VUE The Capitol Centre, London Way, Walton-Le-Dale  Seats: 1: 180 2:180 3:412 4:236 5:236 6:412 7:192

 

PRESTWICH Lancs

Co-operative Hall f., N. Briggs  (1907)

ODEON THEATRE / ASTORIA CINEMA Bury New Road, Sedgley Park  Opened 3^rd September 1931. Prop. J. F. Emery circuit. Architect: Charles Swain. 2,000 seats. Café and ballroom attached. 1934: New exterior red, green, and blue neon display 400ft of tube. 18^th September 1937 & re-named: (W.E.) Prop., Odeon Theatres. 1,700 seats. Phone 2227. 1941: (WE) – Props., Odeon Theatres, Ltd., Old County Cinema, Marlow, Bucks. Phone Marlow 695-9. Booked at Moor Hall, Cookham, Berks. Continuous. Prices 8d. to 2s. 6d. Café and Dance Hall attached. Stage. Four dressing-rooms. Phone Prestwich 2227. Station, Prestwich. Closed 12^th August 1961. Demolished for supermarket.

New PLAZA Bury New Road  1937: (B.T.H.) Prop., Jackson’s Amusements Ltd. 1,400 seats. Phone 2023. 1941:  (WE) – Prop., Jackson & Newport (Prestwich) Ltd. 602 seats. Prices 5d. to 1s.1d. Continuous. Booked at Longford Theatre, Stretford, Manchester. Phone Prestwich 2023. Station, Prestwich.

PRESTWICH PICTUREDROME  1922 - Continuous. Two changes weekly. Phone Broughton 23. Station, Prestwich, Manchester, L.M.S. (Closed.)

 

PRINCES RISBORO’  Bucks

Assembly Rooms Hall  H. R. Button  (1907)

CARLTON CINEMA (BTP)  Props., Messrs. R. L. Weller & J. S. Stevenson, Broadway Cinema, Chalfont St. Peter. Phone Gerrards Cross 2904. 450 seats. Phone 303. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Prices 10d. to 1s. 10d. Phone Risboro’ 303. Station, Princes Risboro’ G.W.R.

Institute Hall  f., C. Bloss  (1907)

PRINCES CINEMA            1937: (A.W.H.) Prop. A. & H. Wright . 150 seats.                          

The Hall  (1907)

 

PRINCETOWN Devon

BB CINEMA / Town Hall  During the 1930s Captain J. H. Blackhurst operated his BB cinema ?part-time. ?Closed end of WWII. Demolished December 1989.

 

PRITTLEWELL  Essex

PICTURE HOUSE / GIBBS’ / IDEAL / GAIETY / PRIORY / STAR  West Street  Opened December 1917. Prop., J. Holloway. 380 seats inc. balcony. 1922 as Priory: Prop.& Res. Man., H. W. Elston. Continuous, Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. Station, Prittlewell, G.E.R. 1923: Gaiety – prop. B. S. C. Thomson. 1925 – Ideal. 1926: Gibbs’ – prop. S. C. Gibbs. 1928: Picture House.  Closed, still silent, 1932. Many uses. Empty & for sale in 1995.

 

PRUDHOE-on-TYNE Northumb

COSY CINEMA  1941 - Props., R. S. & J. Stokoe. 450 seats. ?Was this the Co-op Hall, Front Street.

PALACE THEATRE  South Street  Opened c.1912. 1,600 seats. In receivership 1915. Leased to Dixon Scott 1916. Sold to Working Men’s Club 1925. Still stands as club.

REX / ELECTRIC THEATRE / ELECTRIC PALACE / Drill Hall  Front Street  Licensed from 1910 (probably used for earlier shows). 791 seats. Prosc. width 22’, stage. 1920: Prudhoe Elec Pal Ltd. (Dixon Scott & R. E. Scott) Mgr. J. R. Scott. 1922 as Elec Th – Prop., Prudhoe Electric Theatre, Ltd. Res. Man., J. R. Scott. Two shows nightly, Mon. &  Sat., one rest of week. Three changes weekly. Prices, 3d. to 9d. Station, Prudhoe, N.E.R. 1930 BTP sound & new façade. 1937 as Elec Th: (R.C.A.) Prop., Dixon Scott               . 900 seats. Phone 29. 1941: (RCA) – Prop., Prudhoe Electric Theatre, Ltd., Haymarket House, Newcastle-on-Tyne. 791 seats. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Twice Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices 6d. to 1s. Proscenium width 22ft. Phone Prudhoe 29. Station, Prudhoe, L.N.E.R. Closed during WWII? Re-opened as Rex. Prop. Crabert (Stanley) Ltd. Closed by 1960. Converted to swimming pool early 1960s. Demolished c.1995. Shops at front, nursing home behind.

RIO (BTP)  Prob. opened 25^th November 1939 – Barefoot Boy and The Circus Comes to Town. Screen 25’ wide. 1941 – Props., Tynedale Cinemas, Ltd., Tatler Chambers, 147-149, Northumberland Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Phone 20317. 990 seats. Prices 8d. to 1s. 2d. Continuous, Mon. to Sat. Once nightly Suns. Booked at H.O. Proscenium width 27ft. Stage14ft. deep; two dressing-rooms. Phone 230. Station, Prudhoe L.N.E.R. 1950s: CinemaScope, screen 32’x15’ in front of orig. pros. Part-time bingo from mid-60s. 1970; 565 seats. Closed. Empty. Demolished 1990s. Co-op yard on site.

 

PUDSEY Yorks

PALACE CINEMA / ELECTRIC PICTURE PALACE and VARIETIES Lowtown  Opened 19^th December 1910. Prop., John Greene. 1922 as Pal – Prop., Pudsey & District Cinema Co., Ltd. Res. Man., A. Simpson. Two changes weekly. Phone Pudsey 37, Station, Lowtown, G.N.R. By 1941: (Electrocord) – Prop., Greene’s Pictures (Pudsey) Ltd. 700 seats. Once nightly. Mat., Mon., Thurs. and Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices 5d. to 1s. Phone. Stanningley 71453. J Greene d.1942. Closed to film 30^th July 1960 — Odongo.

PICTURE HOUSE  Church Lane   Opened 22^nd November 1920 — Darby and Joan. 1922 – Prop., Picture House (Pudsey), Ltd. Res. Man., S. Coram. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s. 6d. Station, Lowtown, Pudsey, G.N.R.

By 1941: (WE) – Prop., Picture House (Pudsey) Ltd. Booked at Hall. Continuous nightly. Mat., Mon., Thurs. and Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices 8d. to 1s. 5d. Phone Stanningley 71377. Station, Lowtown, L.N.E.R. 901 seats 12/11/60 — Doctor in Love. Converted to supermarket.

VICTORIA HALL / Victoria Hall  f., Wm. B. Burnell  (1907) 1922 – Prop., John Greene. Res. Man., A. Simpson. One show nightly. Two Sat. Prices, 6d. to 1s. Station, Lowtown Pudsey, G.N.R.

 

PULBOROUGH Sussex

CINEMA  1922 – Prop., Arthur Barrett. One show weekly (Wed.). Prices, 4d. to 1s. 10d. Station, Pulborough, L.B.S.C.R.

Corn Exchange f., W. F. Jennings  (1907)

Village Hall – Tues. Cinetour, Ltd., Hove

 

PURBRIGHT Surrey

Lord Pirbright’s Hall f., F. H. Ball  (1907)

 

PURLEY Surrey

ABC / MGM / CANNON / ASTORIA  London Road/High Street  Opened 2^nd April 1934 – The Way to Love and Ever in my Heart. Architect F. C. Mitchell. Prop., Astoria (Purley) Ltd (E. E. Lyons). Organ: Compton 3c/5 (single chamber) with surround on lift. 1^st organist Robin Richmond. 1,550 seats. Co. compulsory liquidation 1935 – to H.J.M. Cinemas Ltd. June 1935. By 1941: (WE) – Prop., H. J. Morgenstern, 1 Wren Avenue, London N.W.2. Phone Gladstone 2822. 1,470 seats. Booked by Prop. Prices 9d. to 3s. Continuous. Proscenium width 34ft. Stage 12ft. deep; three dressing-rooms. Café. Phone Uplands 0724 & 2544. Station, Purley. To Shipman & King February 1949. CinemaScope 22^nd November 1954 – The Black Shield of Falworth. To ATV Television, to EMI in 1960s. Organ removed 1973. Tripled c.1974. To Cannon, then MGM, finally ABC. Closed Thursday 18^th May 1999. Demolished February/March 2000.

REGAL 92-98 Brighton Road (WE)  Opened Monday February 26^th 1934 – I Live With You and Her First Mate + Mickey Mouse cartoon Building a Building. Architect:  Harold S. Scott. Prop., chairman Colonel J. Baldwin-Webb, Joseph Cohen, man. dir. 1,578 seats. Leased to ABC 11^th June 34 – no alteration to be undertaken without owner’s consent. By 1941 – Prop., Associated British Cinemas, Ltd., 30-31 Golden Square, London W.1. Phone Gerrard 7887. 1,616 seats. Continuous. Booked at H.O. Pro­scenium width 33ft. Café. Phone Uplands 2044. Station, Purley, S.R.  Café closed – let to Yates Williams School of Dancing. 1974 ABC brought freehold for £75,000 + two adjoining shops (Sub-Post Office, and Confectionery) for £25,000. Projector Shut Down system (ACOP – Automatic Control Of Projector) installed for carbon arc or film failure. System rang bell in foyer, manager’s Office, plenum room, boiler house, & projection staff room to alert projectionist. Remained Regal, with ABC triangle logo front of house to demolition (?part of freehold purchase conditions). To EMI with circuit February 1969. Closed as cinema Saturday 16^th February 1974 – Don’t Look Now and The Wicker Man. Bingo. Freehold to Cannon 1986. Sold 1987. Closed 31^st August 1996. Demolished 1997. Shops &  flats.

Extra info.: www.cinephoto.co.uk

 

PURTON Wilts

Working Men’s In­stitute  H. Borton  (1907)

OAKDALE

OAKDALE PICTURE HOUSE            Demolished.

 

OAKENGATES Salop

GROSVENOR CINEMA Market Street  Opened 19^th November 1923 – Who Are My Parents? Built on Owen’s Field, fairground site.  Prop., Pat Collins. Architects: ?Hickton & Framer. 700 seats. Mgr. Joe Proverbs (Chester de Luxe M.D.). 1926 sold to W. G. Allbritt. (WE) – Prop., H. M. Wright. Twice nightly. Prices 6d., 9d. and 1s. Phone Oakengates 48. Station, Oakengates. Closed 1^st April 1967.

REGENT Wrockwardine Road

 

OAKHAM Rutland

COUNTY / REGENT LUXURY THEATRE High Street  (RCA) Prop., T. E. H. Black. 171 Leicester Road, Blaby, Leicester. Phone 89296. 700 seats. Continuous from 5.30 p.m. daily. Prices 8d. to 1s. 10d. Phone 19. Station Oakham, L.M.S.

OAKHAM PICTURE THEATRE South Street  1932: Guy Daw­son, propr.

REGAL (GB) – Prop., Thos. E. H. Black, 171 Leicester Road, Blaby, Leicester. Phone 89296. 420 seats. Once nightly Mon. to Fri. Continuous Sat. from 6 p.m., and Mat. at 2.30. Prices 7d. to 1s. 6d. Phone 19. Station, Oakham, L.M.S.

 

ODIHAM Hants

REGAL (RCA)  Opened Monday 22^nd November 1937 – King Solomon’s Mines and The Mighty Treve. Prop., Regal (Odiham) Ltd. Architect: ?Harold S. Scott. 520 seats. Phone 164.             Continuous from 5.30, Sunday pm. Sat. mat. Prices 6d to 1/6. 1941 – Props., Regal (Odiham) Ltd., 89 Cornwall Street, Birmingham. Phone Central 7145. 498 seats. Prices 8d. to 2s.4d. Booked at Birmingham. Continuous evenings; mats. Wed. and Sat. Twice nightly Sun. Proscenium width 27ft. Phone Odiham 164. Station, Hook, S.R. Fitted ‘Ardente’ Deaf Aids. To Mayfair circuit. To Nigel Marsh Theatres. 1949 to O. & P Enterprises Ltd. (man. dir. M. Overmass). 50s cinema cat – ‘Scaramouche’. Closed Saturday 20^th June 1959 – Girls at Sea and Naked in the Sun. Equipment stripped & building sold. Motor shop. Demolished.

 

OKEHAMPTON Devon

CARLTON (1) St James Street  Opened 1937. Prop., W. E. Pope & Sons. Seats: 380. Closed April 2004. Projector to local museum. Derelict – demolished January/February 2007.

CARLTON (2) / Old Market Hall  Opened 22^nd December 2006. Prop., Merlin Cinemas. 2 screens – 160/60 seats.

PREMIER CINEMA / PICTURE PALACE Lodge Road (later Market Street)  Opened 1915 – conversion of draper’s shop. Architects: Blatchford & Dawe. 300 seats. 1922 – Prop., S. New­combe, Res. Man.., Mrs. Warley Higgins. One show nightly. Mat. Sat., Two changes weekly. Prices, 2½d. to 1s. 3d. 1939 prop. Simon Newcombe. By 1941 as Premier: (BTH) – Prop., S. Newcombe. 275 seats. Booked at Hall or 11 New Road, by C. Holmes. Continuous except Tues. and Fri., when from 7.30 o’clock only. Three shows Sat. Prices 6d. to 1s. 6d. Station, Okehampton, S.R. Closed 1960s. Supermarket. Later nightclub. Demolished by 2006.

 

OLDBURY Worcs

Bingo. Closed 1973? Demolished.

GAIETY MUSIC HALL  Opened 1888. Closed 1892.

GRAND THEATRE  Church Street  1922 – Prop., W. H. Vaughan. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 9d. Statign, Oldbury, L. N. W. R.

NEW PALACE of VARIETIES Freeth Street (BTP) – Props., Oldbury Palace Ltd., 109 Colmore Row, Birmingham. Phone Central 6370. Booked at Hall. Continuous. Pictures and Variety. Prices 3d. to 1s. 3d. Proscen­ium width 42ft. Stage22ft. deep; two dressing-rooms. Station, Oldbury L.M.S.

PALACE 1922 – Prop., C. H. Dent, Tamworth. Head office, Grand Theatre, Tamworth. Res. Man., G. E. Dent. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. Station, Oldbury, L.N.W.R. 130 miles.

Palace of Varieties / Museum Concert Hall ‘The Bird Show’  Opened 1860. Prop. Benjamin Sadler. Closed 1899. Other use.

PICTURE HOUSE  1922 – Prop., T. Leach, Res. an., G. Robbins. One show nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 4d. to 7d. Station, Oldbury, L.N.W.R.

REGENT  1941: (BA)

SAVOY PICTURE HOUSE Birmingham Street  (BTP) – 964 seats. Licensee, J. F. Emery Circuit, 26 cross Street, Manchester. Phone Bla 7876.                Booked at H.O. Continuous from 5.30 p.m., Mats., Mon. and Thurs. Prices 5d. to 1s. 2d. Phone Broadwell 1069. Station, Oldbury, L.M.S.

 

OLDHAM Lancs

ADELPHI MUSIC HALL Union Street  Opened 1868. Architect: -. Ashton. Closed 1874. Demolished 1875. Replaced by New Adelphi.  

ALHAMBRA PICTURE HOUSE  Horsedge Street  1937: (AWH) Prop., Shaw’s Amusements Ltd. 450 seats. 1941: (Imperial) – Props., Shaw Amusements. Ltd. 450 seats. Booked at Manchester. Evenings continuous. Mat., Sat, and holi­days. Two changes weekly. Prices 4d. to 7d. Station, Oldham Mumps.

BROWN’S PICTURE PALACE  Open by 1910.

CASINO CINEMA  Marks Circuit. 6, St. Mary’s Gate, Manchester.

COLISEUM THEATRE / COLOSSEUM THEATRE Fairbotton Street  Opened on present site 1887. Prop./ Architect/ builder: Thomas Whittaker. Some cinema use by 1910. Façade rebuilt and projection box added 1931. 1937 as Colosseum: (AWH) Prop., W. T. Grossman. 1,000 seats. SG46: Coliseum. Prop.: Oldham Repertory Theatre Club, Coliseum Theatre. Cap.: Stalls 334, D. circle 206, gallery 130. Once nightly 7. Matinées Tuesday and Saturday 2.30. Repertory. Stage: Pros. 26ft., height 18ft., min. depth from setting line 22ft. No flies. Elec. equip.: D.C. Footlights, four circuits with ind. dimmers. Two battens, each with four circuits with ind. dimmers. Spot bar with five spots, each ind. dimmer controlled, Six dips with ind. dimmers. Six floods on stands. Three f-o-h pre­set spots. Dressing rooms : 14 single. Orchestra: Acc. 12. No resident orchestra. Amplifying equip.: Two turn-table re­producer. F-o-h or stage. Microphone. Pros. renewed in 1963: 29 ½ft wide. New stage & fly-tower 1974.

COLOSSEUM Henshaw Street  Opened 1885 – wooden circus. Prop. Myers. Designer & builder: Thomas Whittaker – also prop. As Myers couldn’t pay. Converted for music hall, then plays. Closed 1887 and building moved – see Coliseum.

CONTINENTAL / VICTORY CINEMA / HIPPODROME / GAIETY / PRINCE’S / NEW ADELPHI MUSIC HALL Union Street  Opened August 1875. Architect: T. Crossley. 1880 pros. renewed. Architect: R. Owen. Re-named Prince’s for drama. 1881 re-named Gaiety – variety. 1906 re-named Hipp. Cinema use by 1910. Closed 1919. Converted to cinema. Architects: Roberts & Taylor. 1920 re-opened as Victory. 1937 as Vic: (BTP) Prop., H. D. Moorhouse Circuit. Phone Main 1120. 1941: (BTP) – Prop., Pavilion Cinemas (Oldham) Ltd. 7 Oxford Street, Manchester. 974 seats. Continuous evenings. Twice nightly Sat. and holidays. Mat. daily. Booked at H.O. Phone Main 1120. Station, Oldham. Re-named Continental. Closed to film 1970. Bingo. Closed. 1978 foyer to amusement arcade, auditorium empty.

COSY CINEMA Bridge Street  1937: (Private) Prop., Shaw’s Amusements Ltd. 420 seats. 1941: (BTP) – Props., Shaw’s Amusements, Ltd., Bridge Street, Oldham. 450 seats. Continuous nightly. Daily Mat. Twice nightly Sat. Prices 4d. to 7d. Station, Oldham (Mumps).

ELECTRACEUM King Street  1937: (BTP) Prop., Land and Buildings Ltd. 850 seats. 1941: (BTP) – Props., Oldham District Land & Builders’ Society. 820 seats. Booked at Hall. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices 4d. to 8d. Proscenium width 26ft. Phone Main 1216. Station, Central

EMERALD HALL CINEMA  Opened 1910.

EMPIRE THEATRE Waterloo Street  Opened 1897. Architect: Sir Sidney Scott. Cinema use by 1910. By 1941: (BTH) -Props., Pavilion Cinemas (Oldham) Ltd., Oxford Road, Manchester. Booked at H.O. 1,534 seats Continuous evenings. Twice nightly Sat. Mat. daily. Phone Oldham Main 4362. Station, Oldham Mumps, L.M.S. 1937: (BTH) Prop., H. D. Moorhouse Circuit    . Phone Main 4362. SG46: Prop.: Pavilion Cinema (Oldham) Ltd., Imperial Buildings, Oxford Road, Manchester, 1. Bookings: The H. D. Moorhouse Circuit, Imperial Build­ings, 7 Oxford Road, Manchester, 1. Cap.: O. stalls 221, C. stalls 252, arena 336, P. stalls 309, D. circle 416. Barring clause : Two weeks after. Six miles (including Rochdale & Ashton-under-­Lyne). Once nightly 7. Twice nightly 6.20 and 8.30. Stage : Pros. 32ft., height 26ft., min. depth from setting line 19ft. (with 9ft. apron stage) height under fly galleries 22ft., width between fly galleries 41ft., height of grid from stage 43ft. 6 in. No counterweight gear. 25 sets lines. Elec. equip.: 2301400 v. A.C., 50 cycles. Footlights, four circuits with ind. dimmers. Four battens, each with four circuits with ind. dimmers. Four dips with ind. dimmers. Also dips switch controlled. Two spots on stands. Four floods on stands. Nine f-o-h pre-set spots with ind. dimmers, One f-o-h following lime. Two perch following limes. Dressing rooms: Ten sing)e, one chorus, acc. 12. Orchestra: Acc. 14. Resident 11 with M.D. (three violins, piano, two trumpets, trombone, bass, ‘cello, clarinet and sax, drums). Amplifying equip.: Two turn-table re­producer. F-o-h and stage. Microphone. Refreshments are obtainable from Mrs. Green, facing stage door. Closed 1969. Demolished 1981.

GAUMONT  King Street  Opened 14^th June 1937 – reconstruction of Grand. Architect: W. E. Trent. 1,911 seats. 1937: Prop., A.P.P.H. Ltd. 1941: Props., Gaumont Super Cinemas Ltd. 1,842 seats. Prices 9d. to 1s. 10d. Continuous. Station, Mumps, Oldham. Fitted ‘Ardente’ Deaf Aids. Closed 2^nd December 1961. 1962: Bowling, then ballroom, later nightclub. Empty.

GEM PICTURE HOUSE Suffolk Street, Werneth   1937: (WE) Prop., J. Covell. 1,167 seats. Phone Main 1920. 1941: (WE) – Props., Gem Pictures (Oldham) Ltd. 1,167 seats. Booked at Hall. Con­tinuous nightly Mon. to Fri. Twice nightly Sat. Mats. Mon., Thurs. and Sat. Prices 4d. to 9d. Proscenium width 20ft. Phone Main 920. Station, Oldham (Werneth) L.M.S.

GRAND THEATRE & OPERA HOUSE King Street/Union Street  Opened 1908. Architect: Thomas Taylor (+ London specialist). Cinema operation by 1910. Bought by Gaumont-British and closed 1936 – total internal auditorium re-construction as Gaumont.

GROSVENOR SUPER CINEMA Union Street  1937: (WE) Prop., Picture Hse. (Oldham) 1927 Ltd. 1,114 seats. Phone Main 4423. 1941: (WE) – Props., Picture House (Oldham) 1927, Ltd. 1,072 seats. Three shows daily. Booked by C. Ogden, 196, Deansgate, Manchester. Prices 6d. to 1s. 6d. Proscenium width 26ft. Phone Main 4463. Station, Oldham (Central) L.M.S.

IMPERIAL  Featherstall Road North  1937: (WE) Prop., J. Cheetham. 801 seats. Phone Main 1498. 1941: (WE) – Props., Palatine Cinema Co., Ltd. 801 seats. Booked at Hall. One show nightly. Two on Sat. Prices 3d. to 8d. Phone 1498. Station, Oldham (Werneth) L.M.S.

KING’S PICTURE HALL Fairbottom Street   1937: (BTH) Prop., Albion Picture Hall (Oldham) Ltd. Phone Main 1403. 1941: (BTH) – Props., Albion Picture Hall (O/M) Ltd.: man. dir., A. F. Rountree. 1,600 seats. Continuous evenings from 6.30p.m., Mats. daily from 2.30. Phone Main 1403. Station, Oldham Mumps.

ODEON THEATRE Union Street (BTH)  Opened 19^th August 1936 – The Baxter Millions. Architect: (Harry Weedon) – internal reconstruction of Palace. 1,689 OR 1,707 seats (1,122/585). Phone Main 1328. By 1941: Props., Odeon Theatres, Ltd., Old County Cinema, Marlow,  Bucks. Phone Marlow 695-9. Booked at Moor Hall, Cookham, Berks. Continuous. Prices 9d. to 1s. 10d. Stage. Eight dressing-rooms. Main 1328. Tripled 14^th July 1974. Closed 29^th October 1983. Empty. Demolished 1992 for council building.

Osborne Hall  Opened as cinema by 1910.

PALACE THEATRE of VARIETIES Union Street  Opened 1908. Architect: Bertie Crewe. Cinema operation by 1910. Bought by Odeon and closed c.1936 for reconstruction as Odeon.

PALLADIUM  Union Street  Opened September 1913. Architect: Thomas Hilton. To ABC c1935. 1937: (WE) Prop., A.B.C. Ltd. 1,918 seats. Phone Main 1027. 1941: (WE) – Props., Associated British Cinemas, Ltd., 30/31 Golden Square W1. Gerr. 7881. 1,841 seats. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Phone Oldham Main 1027. Station, Oldham (Central) L.M.S. Closed 1958. Re-constructed 1959. 1,456 seats. Closed 1^st October 1977. Sold. Bingo. Re-opened as circle cinema December 1985. 420 seats. Closed 5^th June 1986. Bingo. Demolished 1990.

PAVILION PICTURE PALACE  High Street, Lees   1937: (El’cord) Prop., H. Ward. 600 seats. Phone Main 1768. 1941: (BTH) – Prop., Harold Ward, 6 Brown Street, Manchester 2. Phone Deansgate 3542. 600 seats. Booked at H.O. Continu­ous. Prices 4d. to 9d. Phone Main 1768. Station, Lees, near Oldham.

QUEEN’S CINEMA  Opened 1910.

ROXY Hollins Road, Hollinwood  Opened 1937.  7 screens Seats: 1:470 2:130 3:260 4:260 5:320 6:96 7:? Closed end September 2005. Demolished immediately.

ROYAL COURT (1)  Opened 1892. Destroyed by fire 1906. Replaced by R Ct 2.

ROYAL COURT (2)  Opened 1907. Architect: -. Turner. Closed 1960. Demolished 1966.

SAVOY CINEMA Huddersfield Road  1937: (BTP) Prop., Savoy Entertainments Ltd. 850 seats. Phone Main 2618.        1941: (BTP) – Prop., Savoy Entertainments (Oldham) Ltd. 735 seats. Booked at Hall. Continuous. Twice nightly Sat. Three Mats, weekly. Billiards room attached. Prices 6d. to 10d. Sats., 1s. 2d. Phone Main 2618. Station, Oldham (Mumps).

St. George’s Hall  Open as cinema by 1910.

TEMPERANCE HALL  Open as cinema by 1910.

THEATRE ROYAL  Opened 1898. Architect: -. Cook. Cinema use by 1910. 1937: (WE) Prop., Theatre Royal (Oldham) Ltd. 1,044 seats. Phone Main 2549. 1941: (WE) – Prop., Theatre Royal (Oldham) Ltd., F. E. Spring, 3 The Parson­age, Manchester. Phone Bla 7905. 1,200 seats. Variety, Repertory, Revue. Twice nightly. Booked by Prop. Prices 5d. to 2s. Proscenium width 30ft. Stage 40ft. deep; twelve dressing-rooms. Phone Main 2549. Station, Oldham (Mumps) L.M.S. SG46: Prop., Theatre Royal (Oldham) Ltd., Horsedge Street, Oldham, Bookings: Mannie Jay, Chandos House, 45-46, Chandos Place, London W.C.2. Cap.: Stalls 181, P. stalls 200, D. circle 180, U. circle 201, gallery 400. Twice nightly 6.20 and 8.20. Saturday matinée on special occasions. Repertory at present. Stage : Pros. 30ft., height 50ft., min. depth from setting line 40ft., height under fly galleries 20ft., width between fly galleries 50ft., height of grid from stage 70ft. No counterweight gear. 60 lines. Elec. equip.: 230 v. D.C. and A.C., 50 cycles. Footlights, three circuits with ind. dimmers. Four battens, each with three circuits with ind. dimmers. Spot bar with six spots, each with ind. dimmers, Eight dips with ind. dimmers, Eight dips switch controlled. Six spots on stands. Four floods on stands. Three f-o-h pre-set spots with ind. dimmers, Dressing rooms : One single, ten chorus, acc. 30. Band room. Orchestra : Acc. 12. Resident, for repertory three. Amplifying equip. : Microphone. Two bars, dress circle and stalls. Closed 1954. Demolished 1967.

VENTO’s PALACE of VARIETIES / PEOPLE’S  Opened 1891. Demolished.

 

OLD HILL  Staffs

GRAND THEATRE  1922 - Prop., B. P. Priest. Res. Man., Geo. C. Smith. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 4d. to 1s. Phone, Cradley, 161. Station, Old Hill, G. W.R. By 1941: (WE) – Prop., B. P. Priest. 890 seats. Booked at Hall. Continuous Tues., Wed., Thurs. and Fri. Twice nightly. Mon. and Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices 8d. to 1s. Phone Cradley 6161. Station, Old Hill, G.W.R.

 

OLLERTON Notts

PICTURE HOUSE

 

OLNEY Bucks

ELECTRIC CINEMA  82 High Street  1937: (Mihaly) J. E. Poyntz. 400 seats. 1941: (Mihaly) – Prop., J. E. Poyntz. 400 seats. Booked at Scala, Oxford. Once nightly. Three shows Sat. Prices 6d. to 1s. 3d. Stage 20ft. deep; two dressing-rooms. Station, Olney, Former chapel. Now converted to residence.

NEW HALL, PICTURE HOUSE  1922 – Prop. and Res., Man,, Harry Clifford. One show nightly, two on Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. 3d. Station, Olney M.R.

 

ONCHAN I.o.M.

The AVENUE / AVENUE KINEMA  1937: Prop., Onchan Picture House, Ltd. 850 seats. 1941: (BTH) – Props., Onchan Cinemas, Ltd., c /o Gaiety Theatre, Douglas, IO.M. Continuous Mon., Thurs. and Sat, only, once nightly Sun. 875 seats. Prices 6d., 1s. and 1s. 3d. Proscenium width 34ft. Booked at Liverpool. Stage 13ft. Three dressing-rooms. Phone Douglas 1331. Sta­tion, Douglas.

 

 

 

ORFORD Suffolk

-Wed. Travelling show – H. Sultings.

 

ORKNEY

Kirkwall

NEW PHOENIX (1999)

PHOENIX  Opened 1955. Closed 1998. Demolished 2004.

 

ORMSKIRK  Lancs

PAVILION Moorgate  Opened c.1911. Architect: Herbert Langman, ARIBA, Southport. Prop., Lancashire Picturedromes Ltd. 500 seats. By 1927 Prop., E. W. Locke, Liverpool. Sound: Culey. To F. Donaldson 1936: (WE) Prop., F. Donaldson. 550 seats. Phone 269.          1941: (WE) – Prop., F. G. Donaldson, Ormes Buildings, Parsonage, Manchester. Phone Blackfriars 7242. 524 seats. Booked at Manchester. Continuous evenings, Mon. to Fri. Twice nightly Sat. and holidays. Prices 8d. to 1s. 2d. Phone 269. Station, Ormskirk, L.M.S. 1955 to Arthur Prince. 1959 to Mrs Lillian Prince. 1979 adult prices, 85p. and 75p. Closed Saturday 19^th December 1981 – Friday 13^th Part 2 and The Warriors. Incorporated into indoor market with upstairs bar – Brahms & Liszt.

REGAL  Church Street  Opened 1935. 1,000 seats. 1937: (WE) Prop., Regal (Ormskirk) Ltd. 1,100 seats. 1941: (WE) – Props., Regal (Ormskirk) Ltd., 10 Dale Street, Liverpool. Phone Central 4757. Continuous nightly. Two shows Sat. Daily Mat. Prices 8d. to 1s. 2d. evenings. Mats., 5d. and 8d. Booked at Clubmoor Cinema. Proscenium width 34ft. Phone 444. Station, Ormskirk. Closed mid-60s. Now Tesco.
ROSE THEATRE Opened for occasional film 7^th February 2007 – The Warriors.

Working Men’s Institute f., E. A. Poole (1907) Early film shows. Ceased when Pavilion opened.

 

ORPINGTON Kent

Perry Hall  Messrs. Hawthorne & King. Licensed. (KYB14)

CARLTON / PALACE / PICTURE PALACE  Opened 1914. Prop. & Res. Man., A. Spencer-May. 400 seats. 1917 prices, 4d to 1s. 1922 – Prop. & Res. Man., A. Spencer-May. Two shows daily. Two changes weekly. 1941: (Kamm) Booked at 243 High Street, Orpington. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices 6d. to 1s. 6d. Phone Orpington 1000. Station, Orpington, S.R.  Re-named 1951. Closed 19^th September 1959 – The Admirable Crichton and Song of India. Demolished.

COMMODORE THEATRE Sevenoaks Road (Kamm- c.1946 GB-Kalee) Opened 4^th December 1933. Architects: Kemp & Tasker. Prop., Commodore Cinema (Orpington) Ltd. (A. Spencer-May) 1,000 seats (actually 820). Organ; Christie 3c/5. 1941: Prices 9d. to 2s. Café attached. Phone Orpington 1000. Station, Orpington, S.R. CinemaScope c.1955. To Shipman & King. To EMI. Closed 8^th May 1982 – The Challenge and Budo – The Art of Killing. No bingo. Demolished 1983.

Village Hall  f., F. G. Hodsoll (1907)

 

ORRELL   nr. Wigan Lancs

MAJESTIC Sefton Road  1937: Prop., Vickers Entertainments (Liverpool) Ltd. 490 seats. 1941: (RCA) Sefton Road, Orrell  - Props., Vickers Entertainments, Ltd., 11–13 Victoria Street, Liverpool. Phone Bank 4860 – 1; 491 seats. Prices 5d. to 9d. Once nightly, Mon., to Fri.; Twice Sats. Mats. Mon., Wed. and Sat. Booked at Lyceum, Garston. Phone Upholland 129. Station, Orrell.

 

ORTON  Cumb

CINEMA 16mm. ?part-time 1954 J. M. Wheatman of Kendal.

 

OSSETT Yorks

PALLADIUM Town Hall Square  Opened 22^nd December 1913 - Greater love hath no man. Prop., The Newtown Picture Palace Co. Ltd. Cross Stamford Street Leeds.  The Ossett Observer described is as ‘a comfortable, pleasant building’, and noted that it was well ventilated with an electric fan in the roof and that it was warmed by a ‘hot water apparatus’. It could seat 800 principally on plush-covered tip-up seats. (Kate Taylor) 1920: Res. man. Mrs. E. F. Wilson. Two shows nightly, 3 on Mon. & Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices 5d. to 1s. Licensed for music. Voltage 230. 1922 – Prop., Newtown Picture Palace Co., Ltd. Res. Man., Archie Wilson. Two shows nightly. Mat. Mon. & Sat. Three changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. Phone 157. Station, Ossett, G.N.R. WE sound installed c.1930. c.June 1934 – External re-decoration and frontage and name sign outlined in red neon. (CTGC) 846 seats. By 1941 – Prop., Palladium (Ossett) Ltd. 700 seats. Booked by Mr. Friedman, 2, Bristol Street, Leeds. Twice nightly. Mat., Mon. and Sat. Prices 8d. and 1s. Phone 157. Station, Ossett, L.N.E.R. By 1955 680 seats. Closed. Demolished.

Temperance Hall  f., W. Hainsworth (1907)

Town Hall Town Hall Square  Opened June 1908. Town Hall Pictures (KYB14) Not in KYB20. Organ: Compton 3/13 (10 units Compton, 3 Christie) movable console+piano installed 1970.

 

OSWALDTWISTLE Lancs

EMPIRE PICTURE PALACE Union Road  1937: (B.T.P.) Prop., T. C. Whittaker. 475 seats. Phone Accrington 3073. 1941: (BTP) – Props., J. C. Whitaker & W. Reader. 560 seats. Two shows nightly. Mats., Mon., Wed. and Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices 4d. to 9d.

PALACE CINEMA  Rhyddings Street  1937: (B.T.P.) Prop., E. Wardle. 840 seats. Phone Acc’ton 2980. 1941: (BTP) – Prop., Queen’s Hall (Church) Ltd. 721 seats. One show nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices 5d. to 8d. Phone Accrington 2980.

PALLADIUM Union Road  1937: (W.E.) Prop., Regent Circuit Ltd. 1,058 seats. Phone Accrington 2825. 1941: (WE) – Prop., Associated British Cinemas, Ltd., 30-3 1, Golden Square W1. Phone Gerrard 7887. 1,027 seats. Continuous. Mats. Mon. Wed, and Sat. Booked at H.O. Two changes weekly. Proscenium width 18ft. Phone Accrington 2825. Station, Church and Oswaldtwistle, L.M.S. For sale 2004.

PLAZA  1937: () Prop., Oswaldtwistle Picture Hall Ltd. 969 seats. Phone .

Town Hall  f., C. H. Ogden.

 

OSWESTRY Shropshire

CENTURY / KING’S THEATRE (2) New Street (BTH)  Opened 17^th April 1933. Architects: Bradley & Clarke. 1,100 seats. 1^st Chief: Richard Thomas Smith. Kalee 8s. 1934: Granada as share-holder. By 1941 – Prop. Wm. C. Hill Black. Booked at Hall. Continuous. Prices 7d. to 1s. 8d. Proscenium width 27ft. Phone Oswestry 148. Station, Oswestry, G.W.R. Granada take-over. By 1945 mgr. R. N. Jones. 1955, re-named. Closed to film 4^th January 1966. Bingo to 1998. Empty. Converted to Wilkinson’s store.

CINEMA PALACE Salop Road  1922 – Prop. & Res. Man., Arthur Browne. Continuous. Mat, Sat, Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. 3d. Station, Oswestry, G.W.R.

Circus Pitch (1907)

GRANADA / REGAL Cross Street (WE)  Opened 22^nd May 1933. Architect: Lionel A. G. Pritchard. 1,080 seats. Prop., Oswestry Regal Cinema Co., Ltd. 1934: Granada as share-holder. By 1941: Controlled by The Granada Theatres Ltd., 36, Golden Square W1. Gerrard 3554. Booked at H.O. Continu­ous. Phone Oswestry 230. . By 1945 mgr. R. N. Jones. Granada take-over 1955. V. W. Freeman, House Manager. Closed, re-furbished. Re-opened as Granada 1956. Closed 194. Re-opened as Regal by independent 1976. Twinned 1985. 3^rd screen 1987. Then 1 screen & nightclub. Closed 16^th June 1994. Empty. Now store.

KING’S THEATRE (1) New Street  Prop., Wm. C. Hill Black. Closed c.1933. Demolished for King’s (2)

PLAZA Oswald Road (BTH) – Prop., Wm. C. Hill Black, King’s Theatre, Oswestry. Booked at King’s Theatre. Continuous. Prices 7d. to 1s. 2d. Phone 148. Station, Oswestry, G.W.R.

Public Hall  f., Manager  (1907)

Victoria Rooms  Wallace Ollerhead  (1907)

 

OTLEY nr Leeds Yorks

BURRAS LANE PICTURE HOUSE / PICTURE HOUSE  Burras Lane Opened 25^th November 1912 – Charge of the Light Brigade, Lion Let Loose (in Gaumont colour), and The Redemption of Red Rube. Conversion of printer engineer’s works. 500 seats – one raked floor. Prices 2d, 4d, 6d, and 9d reserved. Continuous 6.30-10.30pm. Power: 14½h.p. ‘National’ gas engine & dynamo. Two projectors ‘Kalee’, and ‘a powerful machine from the New Century Film Services’. Closed on 22nd April 1922 as same company opened Picture House Kirkgate. Reopened Monday 18^th September, under new management, re-named. Iris from Monday to Wednesday, and The Silent Avenger remainder of the week. Probably closed 28^th February 1931 – road widening.

KING’S HALL     Station Road  Opened c.5thMay 1911 – Racing at Epsom, Flying at Brooklands, Paris Fashions, True to his Post, The Faith of a Child, and Pathé Gazette. Owner/lessee J. N. O. Lawson. 500 seats – single floor. Hall 60ft long, 50ft wide, 18ft floor to ceiling. Power: 13hp gas engine & dynamo. Pathé projector. Prices 3d, 6d, and 1/-. Once nightly at 8pm; 3pm, 6.30pm, and 8pm Saturdays. Closed end June 1912, reopened 22^nd August – Mrs ‘Enery ‘Awkins and A Trail Through the Hills. 1919 prop. Mrs. Lumby, mgr A. L. Horton, February replaced by C. Pickard. Closed Saturday 5^th July 1924, reopened 25^th August – The Old Nest. New Years Day 1925 re-named ‘The Kings’. 2^nd May closed – ‘alterations and improvements’. Reopened Monday 31^st August – Ghosts of Yesterday. Closed to film 30^th April 1927. Various entertainments. Now industrial use.

Mechanics’ Insti­tute  Opened 31^st October 1871. Cost £4,000. f., Curator (1907)  Films shown at intervals from 27^th March 1897 to November 1910.

PICTURE HOUSE Kirkgate  Opened Saturday 22^nd April 1922 Through the Back Door and The Mollycoddle. Prices 3d, 5d, 9d, 1/3, and 1/10. 1925: 7pm Monday to Friday, 2pm, 6pm, and 8pm Saturdays. Closed 11^th April 1931, re-opened 12^th October – A.W.H. sound – The Big Pond. 25^th November 1932 taken over by Otley Entertainments Ltd., man. dir. H. Watkinson, others Fred Waite, P. Raymond, and A. H. Taylor. Closed during summer till 1940. To Star circuit 1945 with the Beech Hill. CinemaScope 4^th July 1955 – Ring of Fear and Sitting Bull. Closed 1959. Converted to shops.

QUEEN’S THEATRE / GRAND THEATRE / QUEEN’S HALL / Recreation Hall  Opened as Rec. Hall 1895. Prop. Henry Dacre. Interior decorated as Winter Garden. 6^th February 1911 Globe Cinematograph Company two shows daily. Films ceased beginning of May when King’s Hall opened. Grand Theatre opened in the Queen’s Hall 5^th July 1915. Sole Mgr  John Chippendale, ass mgr George Beasley – Mrs. H. Sherwood’s Company Never Worry. Twice nightly 6.30pm and 9pm. 1919 lessees Horace West & Walter Cunliffe, also manager, Thornbury Avenue, Bradford. Saturday night concerts, Tuesday special dances, and Wednesday concerts. Hall could be hired for balls, reception, and meetings. 1921 lessees Bentley & Stead. Mainly variety. Queen’s Theatre closed 25^th February 1928, re-opened 2^nd April, lessee J. A. Hesseldean. September 1929 management Tom Fleming. Revue and variety, musical comedy, pantomime. Prices orchestra stalls 1/-, balcony 1/6, side balcony 1/-, stalls 6d, and pit 3d. Closed c.February 1933. Various uses.

STAR / BEECH HILL CINEMA Beech Hill (WE)  Opened 20^th October 1930. Prop., Otley Entertainments Company Ltd., who also owned the Otley Picture House. Architect: Oswald Holmes. 750 persons (later 600). Holophane colour lighting. Screen l6ft by l3ft 6ins. Prices 1/3d, 1/-, 9d, and 6d. Manager H. Watkinson (also director). To Star circuit 1945 & re-named. Fred Watson mgr. Cinemascope 21^st February 1955 - Lucky Me. Part-time Star bingo from Thursday l6th November 1967. Closed to film Saturday 3^rd February 1968 – Triple Cross and Payment in Kind. Bingo. Closed. Empty. Demolished autumn 1999.

WESTGATE CINEMA Westgate (AWH)  580 seats. Demolished January 2005.

 

OTTERY St. MARY Devon

SCALA PICTURE THEATRE / The PALACE  / PALACE THEATRE CINEMA 8 Jesu Street  Opened 1918. 1922 – Prop. E. R. F. Coleberd, Res. man. J. H. Moyam. One show nightly and Sat, mat. Winter, three shows weekly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 2s. 4d. 1937 as Scala: (Morrison) Prop., Wessex Cinemas Ltd. 217 seats. By 1941: (Morrison) – Honiton Cinema, Ltd., High Street, Honiton. 220 seats. Booked at H.O. Once nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices 6d. to 1s. 6d. Proscenium width 21ft. Stage 10ft. deep. Phone 100. Station, Ottery St. Mary (S.R.). Films by Road Transport. Closed 1960s, now a shop.

Town Hall J. Warne  (1907)

 

OUNDLE Northants

VICTORIA / Queen Victoria Hall f., R. Knight  (1907)   Built . Pop., Council. General entertainment inc. early films. By 1941 – Two shows Sat. only.

Town Hall  A. King  (1907)

 

OUTWELL Norfolk

CINEMA  Closed. Empty. Sold. Auditorium to residence, foyer retail. (Maurice Brader)

 

OUTWOOD nr Wakefield Yorks

EMPIRE  Opened 1921. Prop., Rothwell Empire, Ltd. Mgr. Reg. Harrison. (BTH) – Prop., Rothwell Empire, Ltd., Leeds Road, Outwood. 750 seats. Booked at Hall. One show nightly, Prices 4d. to 10d. Pros.width, 28ft. Phone Lofthouse Gate 7169. Station, Lofthouse for Outwood. Closed to film 1^st August 1964. Empty. Sold for bingo 1967. By 2006 – fish & chip emporium.

 

OVENDEN Yorks

RITX / PIONEER PICTURE HOUSE  Whestley Lane  (BTH) Prop., Ovenden Pioneer Picture House Co, Ltd., Wheatley Lane, Lee Mount, Halifax. 700 seats. Booked at Hall by Man. Con­tinuous. Prices 4d. to 1s. Phone Halifax 2004. Station, Ovenden (Parcel Office).

 

OVERTON-on-DEE

VILLAGE HALL CINEMA

 

OWSTON FERRY Lincs

Coronation Hall High Street – touring cinema run by  -. Booth & Wilf Lindley; showed films one night a week

Public Hall T. Clark  (1907)

 

OXFORD Oxon

CINEMA High Street Watlington  Opened late 30s. Props., local businessmen George & Ernest Worley. Community hall 700 – 900 seats in stalls & balcony. Programme change twice weekly. Sold c.1946 but continued as a cinema, interspersed with some stage shows.

Clarendon Assembly Rooms S. W. Buris  (1907)

ELECTRA PALACE  Queen Street  Opened 25^th March 1911. Prop., Electra Palace (Oxford) Ltd. Mgr. L. F. Belcham. Cap. 1,000. Frontage widened 1913. Enlarged c.1920. 1922 – Prop., Electra Palace (Oxford), Ltd., Res. Man., G. E. B. Parr. Continuous. Two changes weekly. To Union June 1931. 1,078 seats. By 1941: (WE) – Props., Union Cinemas, Ltd., Union House, 15 Regent Street, London, S.W.1. Phone Whitehall 8484. Continuous, Booked at H.O. Café attached. Phone Oxford 2990. Stations, Oxford, G.W.R. Films by Road Transport. Closed 23 August 1958. Annexe to Co-op. Demolished for M&S.

GEORGE STREET CINEMA / CINEMATOGRAPH THEATRE 32 George Street  Opened 23^rd March 1912. Architect: Gilbert W. Booth. Prop., Oxford Cinematograph Theatre Ltd. 608 seats. 1922 – Prop., Oxford Cinematograph Theatre Co., Ltd. Res. Man., H. G. Wilson. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. 10d. Phone 676. Station, Oxford, G.W.R. Closed 27^th March 1935. Demolished as part of Ritz site.

MAJESTIC Botley   Built 1930 as skating rink. Architect: J. R. Wilkes. Converted to cinema 1932. To Union, thence ABC. By 1941: (BTH) – Props., Union Cinemas Ltd., 15 Regent Street, W.1. Phone Whitehall 8484. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Dance Hall attached. Phone Oxford 3727. Requisitioned at WWII outbreak. Never re-opened. Evacuees – Industrial/ retail. Demolished c.1990.

NOT THE MOULIN ROUGE / MOULIN ROUGE / HEADINGTON CINEMA New High Street  Opened 1910. Prop., E. J. Hall. Cap. 500. Prosc. 22ft. wide. By 1941: (FI) – E. James Hall. 600 seats. Booked at Hall. Continuous from 2 p.m. Prices 8d. to 2s. 6d. Proscenium width 21ft. Phone Headington 6718. Station, Oxford, G.W.R. To W. Maelor-Jones 1970s. re-named Moulin Rouge.  Prices, 4s. to 6s. 509 seats. Closed 27^th August 1977. re-opened 29^th August. closed again soon after.  1981 to Penultimate mgment. Re-opened as Not the MR. Closed 1991 through lock-out. Demolished immediately. 

NEW THEATRE (1) George Street  Opened 1868. Burned down c.1885.

NEW THEATRE (2) George Street (No 2)  Opened 1886. Architect: Drinkwater. T. Lucas  (1907) Altered c.1908. Architect: W. G. R. Sprague. Pictures & variety. To Stanley Dorrill – Oxford Theatre Co. Closed 1933 & demolished for New (3).

NEW THEATRE / APOLLO THEATRE / NEW THEATRE (3) George Street  Opened 26^th February 1934. ‘England’s Finest Theatre’ on façade. Architects: W. & T. R. Milburn, interior T. P. Bennett. SG46: Prop.: The Oxford Theatre Company, Ltd., New Theatre, Oxford. Cap.: Stalls 719, circle 568, balcony 423. Barring clause: Within 30 miles of Oxford prior to or for one month after engagement. Once nightly 6.30 (subject to alteration). Matinées Wednes­day and Saturday 2. Twice nightly 6.30 and 8,50. Saturday matinée occasionally. Theatrical, variety, revue and celebrityé Stage: Prosc. 45ft., height 24ft., 6 in., min. depth from setting line 36ft., height under fly galleries 23ft., width between fly galleries 60ft., height of grid from stage 60ft. Counterweight gear installed. 62 sets lines in all (50 working sets). 20 hemp lines. Revolving stage 35ft. dia. Elec. equip.: 230-400 v. A.C., 50 cycles. Footlights four circuits with ind. dimmers. Five battens each with four- circuits with ind. dimmers. Spot bar with 12 spots, each ind. dimmer controlled. Four spots on stands. Six floods on stands. Four towers. Eight f-o-h pre-set spots. Three f-o-h following limes. Dressing rooms: 10 single, five chorus acc. 71. Sep. room for orchestra. Orchestra: Acc. 24. Resident 12 (three violins, ‘cello, bass, flute (sax.) clarinet (sax.) two trumpets, trombone, piano, drums and tymps.). Amplifying equip.: Equipment for stand­ard and table microphones available. Bathrooms for artists. Lift. 1970s to Howard & Wyndham. To Apollo Leisure. GK 21s installed – periscope projection. 1,692 seats. Still open as tour date.

 ODEON Magdalen Street / MGM / CANNON / ABC Magdalen Street / SUPER / OXFORD  Magdalen Street  Opened 1^st January 1924 – The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Architects: Frank Matcham (the office – he had died) & J. C. Leed. Prices, 9d, 1/3, 1/10, & 2/4d. 1,300 seats. 1928 organ: Spurden Rutt 2/8. WE sound January 1930 – Broadway Melody. To Union & re-named 1931. 1,195 seats. Closed July 1971. Luxury lounge treatment & re-named ABC July 1971. 860 seats. To Cannon. To MGM. To ABC until May 2001; conversion to two screens completed at that time by converting circle to luxury screen. Twinned: seats: 1:596 2:61.

ODEON George Street / ABC / MGM / CANNON / ABC / RITZ  George Street  Opened 20^th April 1936 – The Guv’nor + variety. Architect Robert Cromie. Organ: Compton 3/6+melotone with illuminated console on lift and phantom grand piano. 1,654 seats. Prices 9d. to 3s. Re-named c.1962. Stalls fire April 1963. Repaired, organ removed. re-opened October 1963. Closed August 1975. Tripled from November 1975 (screens 2& 3 in December). Re-named Odeon May 2001 converted to 6 screens. Seats: 1:260 2:260 3:111 4:140 5:239 6:129

OZONE Ozone Leisure Park, Genoble Park:  12 screens planned, only nine opened. 1:378 5:194 6:451 7:119 8:156 9:194 10:153 11:102 12:102 To Vue Cinemas autumn 2005.

PALACE CINEMA / EAST THEATRE / EAST OXFORD THEATRE / EMPIRE Cowley Road  Built as Assembly Room 1890. 1902 converted to Emp. Architect: Ward. Albany Ward’s first theatre. Albany Ward  (1906). Opened as East Oxford Th 1906. 1910 650 seats. 25^th March 1911 re-opened as E O Pic Th. 400 seats.1922 – Prop., Brayne & Morley. Res. Man., W. T. Brayne. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. 5d. Phone 102. To Union c.1932. To independent 1938. By 1940: (WE) – Con­tinuous. Prices 6d. to 2s. Phone 4022. Station, Oxford, G.W.R., or  Road Transport. Closed c.1940. Demolished 1982. Offices.

PHOENIX PICTURE HOUSE  / STUDIO 1 & 2 / SCALA / NORTH OXFORD KINEMA  58 Walton Street  Opened c.March 1913.  Prop., R. H. J. Bartlett. Cap. 500. May 1913 mgr. William Bex. Gaumont Chrono installed. 1918 to Pooles. 1922 – Prop., C. W. Poole’s Entertainments. Res. Man., F. G. Poole. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. 6d. Phone, Oxford 867. Station, Oxford, G.W.R. 2 screens 1: 220 2: 105. By 1939 prop. J. E. Poyntz. To Star circuit 1960s. twinned 1971. Re-opened as Studios – 236/140 seats. to Contemporary Films 1977. Re-named. 234/95 seats. By 1985 to City Cinemas Ltd. Re-furbished. Seats: 1:220 2:105

PICTURE HOUSE / OXFORD ELECTRIC Castle Street  Opened 1910. Cap. 300. 1922 as PH – Prop., Malcolm Hamlet. Res. Man., L. J. Belchman. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. 5d. Station, Oxford, G.W.R. Closed c.1924.

PLAYHOUSE  Beaumont Street  Opened 1938. Architect: Edward Maufe. SG46: Cap.: 800. Lesseeship in abeyance, January, 1946.

PREMIER PICTURE PALACE Middle Barton

REGAL  Cowley Road/Magdalen Road Cowley  (WE)  Opened 19^th April 1937. Architect: Robert Cromie. Prop., Union circuit. Organ: 3c/5+melotone with illuminated console on lift. 1,674 seats. To ABC October 1937. 1938 organ removed (to Keighley). By 1941 – Props., Union Cinemas, Ltd., Union House, 25 Regent Street, London, S.W.1. Phone Whitehall 8484. Continuous. Booked at H.O. Phone Oxford 4234. Station, Oxford, G.W.R. & L.M.S. Films by Road Transport. Fitted ‘Ardente’ Deaf Aids. Closed to film July 1970. Bingo. Listed Grade II. Closed 2004. Gala bingo relocated. Empty.

Town Hall and Corn Exchange The Curator  (1907) Early picture shows – Albany Ward & others.

ULTIMATE PICTURE PALACE / SECTION 6 CINEMA / PENULTIMATE PICTURE PALACE / NEW PICTURE PALACE  Jeune Street  Opened 1911. Prop., Oxford Picture Palace Ltd. Closed August 1914 by WWI call-up. Storage. Re-opened as Penult. 1976. Prop., Bill Heine & Pablo Butcher. Seats: 185. Closed 17^th March 1994. Listed building. To Picture House Co. Re-opened. Seats: 185.

 OXTED Surrey

SCREEN / PLAZA Station Road West  Opened 1929. 460 seats. 1936 balcony added. 600 seats. By 1941: (WE) – Gen. Manager, Richard Eggleton. Continuous. Booked at Hall. Phone Oxted 567. Films by Road Transport. Station, Oxted, Surrey, S.R. CinemaScope screen in front of orig, pros. 442 seats. To Mainline Cinemas 2002 & re-named Screen. Foyer enlarged by taking in adjacent shop. Closed 2004.

NAILSWORTH Glos

PUBLIC HAI.L CINEMA 1922 – Lessee, Beach & Vick. Four shows weekly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. 10d.

 By 1941: (Morrison) – Lessee, W. J. Beach. One show nightly. Two on Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices 6d. to 1s. Phone No. 69. Station, Nailsworth, L.M.S.

Subscription Rooms f., W. J. Pearse (1907)

 

NANTWICH Cheshire

COSY CINEMA / COSY SUPER CINEMA / NEW PICTUREDROME Castle Street  Opened 1912 – converted from Ebenezer chapel. Prop. Norton’s Pictures. Cosy 23^rd December 1920. Taken over by T. E. Markham. Pros width 16ft. 550 seats (TMC). 1928 4d, 6d, 1s. Booked @ Old Wyche by prop. Closed by 1937. Re-opened as Cosy Super Cinema by 1940. 6d to 1/6d. 400 seats. By 1941: Prop., T. E. Markham, Ye Olde Wyche Cinema, Nantwich. Prices 8d. to 1s. 6d. 400 seats. Booked at Nantwich. Phone 5338. Station, Nantwich, L.M.S. Nightclub. To Southan Morris circuit by 1948. Closed 1^st April 1950 – Yankee Fakir. To Essoldo 26^th August 1954 with Regal, but stayed closed. Now nightclub.

REGAL / YE OLDE WYCHE SUPER CINEMA / YE OLDE WYCHE THEATRE Churchyard side/Market Place  Opened Monday 11^th October 1920 – Broken Blossoms. (plaque above entrance gives 1919) Prop. T. E. Markham. Res. man. S. Weaver. Two shows nightly. 2 changes weekly. 5d – 1/6. Seating 1400. Licensed for music and dancing. Voltage 70. 1922 – Prop., T. E. Markham. Man., J. Weaver. Prices, 6d. to 2s. Station Nantwich L.N.W.R. 1924: Wyche. Markham prop & man 5d – 1/6. 1928: Bked @ hall. Pictures, variety & stage plays. Proscenium width: 25 ft., stage 20ft deep. Café attached. Tel 38. 4d to 1/6d. Installed B.T-H. sound system 1934: Continuous. 7d – 1/6d. Tel 5538. 1935 – 900 seats c.1936 sound changed to WE 6d to 1/6. 1937: 1,200 seats. Super Cinema by 1939 – Mrs. I. M. Lyons, manageress. By 1941: (WE) – Prop., T. E. Markham. 1,100 seats. Booked at Hall. Continuous. Prices 8d. to 1s. 9d. Proscenium width 25ft. Phone Nantwich 5338. Station, Nantwich, L.M.S. Circuit sold to W. Southan Morris circuit, renamed Regal c.1940. To Essoldo  26^th August 1954. Closed: Saturday 17^th September 1966 – Born Free. Auditorium demolished. Frontage and dressing rooms intact. Office & works.

TOWN HALL CINEMA / Town Hall High Street  f., S. Williamson (1907) Early picture shows. 1912 – Proprietors, Town Hall Co.; Manager, Mr. H. T. Johnson. Stage play, music and dancing, and kinematograph licences. Holding capacity : 850. Prices of admission : Various ; usually 6d., 1s., 2s. Moveable pro­scenium, with foot and headlights. Stage : 15ft. deep, 28ft. wide; proscenium : height 11ft. 6ins., width 23ft. Lighted by gas. Posting about 400 d.c. Terms for hiring: 35s.; pro­scenium extra. Other charges : Gas. Deposit required on booking : One-third. Has kine­matograph box. Telephone, 99. KYB 1920: Prop., T. E. Markham; res. man., J. Weaver. Two shows Mon & Sat: one on other days. Two changes weekly. Prices: 2½d – 11d. Seating 700. Licensed for music and dancing. Voltage 70. 1922 - Prop., T. E. Markham. Two shows nightly, Mon. and Sat., one rest of week. Two changes weekly. Prices., 2½d. to 11d. Station, Nantwich, L.N.W.R. Probably closed on opening of Old Wyche.

 

NELSON Lancs

ALHAMBRA THEATRE / ALHAMBRA CINEMA / ALHAMBRA PICTURE PALACE / Variety Hall / Brown’s North St Baths North Street  Opened 1886. Prop. Joseph Brown. Bath boarded over in winter to form hall. Opened to film 1906. Electrograph Animated Pictures. ‘Certified Operator– C. S. D. Dickinson’.  1908 – bath closed re-named Alham. Closed as cinema Saturday 2^nd January 1926. Cleaned & re-decorated. Re-opened as variety theatre Monday 11^th January 1926. Mgr Charles Gaston. Once nightly, twice on Sat. Prices 6d, 9d, 1s. Closed June 1926. Stage added, re-decorated. Re-opened as New Alham. 2^nd August 1926. C.P. & variety. 1937: (WE) Prop., Prop., R. H. Hartley. 500 seats. Phone 566. By 1941: Prop., Brown, Ltd. 600 seats. One show nightly. Three Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices 4d. to 6d. Proscenium width 20ft. Stage 14ft. deep; five dressing-rooms. Phone 950. Station, Nelson. Closed 5^th May 1957 – Ten Tall Men. Mgr. John Rushton. Leather works.

CAPITOL / TIVOLI THEATRE / CINEMA HOUSE / NEW CINEMA Seldon Street, Leeds Road  Opened Saturday 23^rd August 1913. Prop., Sam Lyons. January 1922 re-named. Prop. Victory Theatres Circuit (Arthur Peel). Closed 3^rd July 1926 – Boomerang Justice and A Cloudy Romance. Re-opened as Tiv. C.P. Th. 2^nd August 1926 – Autumn Follies. Once nightly, twice Sat. Prices, 6d, 9d, 1s. Rep. from December 1926. Talkies from 9^th November 1931 – Cinephone; 1932 WE. Re-named Cap. 7^th September 1935. 1937 as Tivoli: (WE) Prop., Tivoli Theatre Ltd. 545 seats. Phone 515. By 1941: (WE) – Prop., Tivoli Theatre (Nelson) Ltd. 600 seats. Booked at Victory Theatres, Ltd., Accrington. Once nightly. Three shows Sat. Prices 6d. to 10½d. Stage 25ft. deep. Three dressing-rooms. Phone 515. Station, Nelson, L.M.S. Marina May – September 1948. 1954: 427 seats. Closed 3^rd April 1955 – Clash by Night.

GRAND THEATRE of Varieties / GRAND THEATRE Nelson (later Market) Street  Opened 23^rd January 1888 – The Silver King. 1890 lessee John Barker. 1891, sold to Astley, lessee Croft. 1899 alterations. G. E. Mudd (1907) – Business mgr. Lessee Mrs T. Greenwood Croft. Closed 5^th June 1909. Altered. Re-opened 2^nd August  - Pics. & Var. Re-opened 17^th December1909 – W. C. Horner. WE Talkies Monday 10^th March 1930 – The Broadway Melody. To Herbert Hartley 1923, internally altered – gallery removed. Re-opened as Grand Cinema Saturday 19^th January 1924 – If Winter Comes. 6d, 9d & 1s. By 1941: (WE) Prop., Hartley Cinemas, Ltd., Palace Theatre, Leeds Road, Nelson. Phone 278. 1,502 seats. Booked at H.O. and Manchester. Once nightly. Twice nightly Sat. Daily Mat. Prices 8d. to 1s. 6d. Proscenium width 31ft. Phone Nelson, 566. Station, Nelson, L.M.S. 21-year lease to Star  1960. Mgr Lew Askew. 21-year lease to Star 1960. Mgr. Lew Askew. By 1964 mgr. R. Hellawell. Closed full-time Saturday 18^th May 1974 – Not Now Darling. Sunday Pakistani films. To Dennis Geldhard 28^th March 1981 – Moonraker. To Unit 4 later 1981. Closed October 1986 for a few months. Re-opened by Unit 4. To Apollo 1989. Closed 11^th January 1994 – Robin Hood – Men In Tights. Demolished 2001.

MAJESTIC THEATRE Scotland Road/ Russell Street   Opened Saturday 30^th November 1925 – The Arab and His Hour. Rebuilt from Electric. Architect: R. Jacques. Prices, 6d, 9d, 1s, 1/6d. 1,134 seats. Once nightly, twice on Sat. WE Talkies 19^th March 1930 – Hollywood Revue. 1937: (W.E.) Prop., Victor y Theatres Ltd. 1,090 seats. Phone 334.              1941: (WE) – Prop., Victory Theatres, Ltd. Booked at H.O. Edgar Street, Accrington. Phone Accrington 2,701. 1,100 seats. Three shows daily. Prices 8d. to 1s. 9d. Proscenium width 26ft. Phone Nelson 334, Station, Nelson, L.M.S. Closed Sunday 2^nd July 1961 – Cinderfella and The Paleface. Mgr. Harold Lister.  Victory Theatres Circuit wound up. Demolished for Marsden Building Soc. H.Q.

New ELECTRIC PALACE & CONCERT HALL Russell Street  Opened 17^th December 1910 – 1^st-floor hall. Prop. Herbert Hartley. Prices, 3d to 9d. To Arthur Peel November 1918. Closed May 1925. ‘Entirely gutted, remodelled, and enlarged’ as Majestic. 

PALACE Leeds Road/Holme Street  Opened 13^th December 1909. Architects: Matthew, Watson, Landless & Pearse. Prop. Nelson Palace & Hippodrome Co. Man. dir. William Benson, res. mgr. Willoughby Shaw. 1,730 seats. Cost £13,000. Saturday picture matinée. Renovated June 1926. Stage fire February 1927. Re-opened 11^th April. Foyer altered & house re-decorated 1937. 1937: (WE) Prop., A. J. O. Cinemas Ltd. 1,250 seats. Phone 278. 1941: (WE) Prop., The Hartley Cinemas, Palace Theatre, Leeds Road. Phone Nelson 278. 1,460 seats (exc. gall.). Booked at Hall. Twice nightly. Pictures and Variety. Prices 8d. to 1s. 2d. Proscenium width 35ft. Stage 25ft. deep; 12 dressing-rooms. Phone Nelson 278. Station, Nelson, L.M.S. Gallery (750 cap.) closed 1947. 21-year lease to Star 1960. Mgr. Lew Askew. Hse mgr Mrs Joyce Maley, projectionist Wallace Askew. Closed to film April 1963 – Foreign Intrigue and The Indian Fighter. Star bingo. Re-opened to film Boxing Day 1963 – Escape From Zahrain and The Durante Affair. Later, films Sun. to Wed., bingo Thurs. to Sat. Mgr. R. Hellawell. Film ceased Wednesday 19^th June 1964. Bingo. Back to pictures Sunday 12^th July. July 1966. Closed to film – Peter Pan and Emil and the Detectives for the week, and Sunday 17^th – Mam’selle Striptease and Five Against the House. Full-time bingo, except for Op. Soc. for October week till 1972.

QUEEN’S PICTURE THEATRE / Queen’s Hall Broad Street  J. Jackson (1907) Opened as cinema Saturday 13^th December 1913 – Caste. Architect: J. T. Harrison. Prop., Nelson Picture Theatres Ltd. To Herbert Hartley 1929. 1^st talkies in town 24^th February 1930 – home-made by Billy Graham. Removed. By 1941: (WE) – Prop., Hartley Cinemas, Ltd., Palace Theatre, Leeds Road. Phone Nelson 278. 827 seats. Booked at H.O. One show nightly. Twice nightly on Sat. Mats. Tues., Fri. and Sat. Prices 6d. to 1s. 3d. Pro­scenium width 22ft. Phone Nelson 465. Café attached. Station, Nelson, L.M.S. Closed 28^th May 1960 – The Flying Fontaines and 12 to the Moon. Demolished 1969.

REGENT PICTUREDROME Leeds Road  Opened 9^th October 1922 – Dangerous Lives and When A Girl Loves. Prop. Liptrot, Flory, & Middlebrook. Then Regent Picturedrome Co. Mgr Mr Morton, projectionist R. H. Hartley. 1923 mgr Sam Lyons. 5d, 9d, 1s, 1/3d. Two changes weekly. P’drome dropped August 1926. 1937: (WE) Prop., Regent Picturedrome Ltd. 857 seats. Phone 7. 1941: (WE) – Prop. Regent Picturedrome Co., Ltd. 845 seats. Booked at Manchester. Once nightly, twice Sat. Mats., Mon., Tues., Thurs. and Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices 8d. to 1s. 2d. Proscenium width 25ft. Phone Nelson 7. Station, Nelson, L.M.S. Closed 2^nd July 1960 – The Sabre and the Arrow and City of Fear. Bingo. Closed.

ROYAL PICTURE HALL Southfield Street  Opened c.1909 – conversion of mission hall. Props., Tom & Herbert Green. To Jack Wilde 1918. Closed 1922. religious use. Garage.

Salem School Hall Scotland Road

THEATRE de LUXE / de LUXE CINEMA Railway Street  Opened 29^th August 1910 – the ‘Tin Tabernacle’. Prop., East Lancashire Cinematograph Co. Mgr & lecturer Rupert Whittaker. Cap. 500. Once nightly 7.45, mat. & twice on Sat. Prices, 3d, 4d, 6d. Pianist to 1915 Ben Holden. 1937: (B.T.H.) Prop., R. C. Whittaker. 400 seats. 1940: (BTH) – Prop., Robert H. Greenwood, Cranbrook, Holcombe, Brookbury. Phone Tottington 160. 460 seats. Once nightly, twice Sat. Two changes weekly. Booked at Palace, Tottington. Prices 3d. to 6d. Station, Nelson, L.M.S. Licence refused & closed 13^th April 1940 – Confessions of a Nazi Spy. Demolished. Nursery school. 

Peter Sagar – Chronicles of Pendle Picture Palaces

 

NESTON and PARKGATE Cheshire

MAXWELL’S PICTUREDROME / The Institute Hinderton Road  From 1912 pictures 3 x week. Neston P’drome Co. Pictures & variety. Prices, 3d & 6d. closed during WWI – used as hospital.

ROYAL / NEW CINEMA Chester Road  Opened April 1921 – The Temporary Gentleman. (Cambriaphone) 1937: (Culkin) Maj. J. F. Burns & Mrs. Marie Clegg, proprs. 470 seats. Phone 190. By 1941 – Prop., Paramount Picture Theatres, Ltd., Chesterton, Bridgnorth. Phone Ackleton 224. 850 seats. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Prices 7d. to 1s. 6d. Phone Neston 190. Station, Neston L.M.S. or Neston & Park­gate, L.N.E.R. Closed April 1960. Modernised. Re-opened as Royal 13^th November 1961. Closed to film 1962. Later bingo. Closed. 1984 converted to shopping mall.

Town Hall  f., J. G. Lee (1907) Early film seasons & during WWI after Institute closed.

VUE at the Coliseum

 

NETHERFIELD Notts

COSY CINEMA / ALEXANDRA Wright Street  Opened Thursday 25^th July 1911. Re-named Thursday 30^th October 1930. 1937 as C Th: (Private) Prop., Joseph Wardle. 550 seats. 1941: (BTH) – Prop., Cosy Cinema (Netherfield) Ltd., Corridor Chambers, Market Place, Leicester. Booked by S. Graham, Oxford House, Oxford Street, Nottingham. Phone 58040. Station, Carlton, Notts., L.M.S. Closed Saturday 30^th April 1955.

 

NETHERFIELD Worcs

ALEXANDRA PALACE  1922 - Prop., C. Woodward.

PICTURELAND   1922 KYB

 

NETLEY Hants

ABBEY

 

NEW BRIGHTON Cheshire

Albert Hall W. G. Ellery; (1907)

Alex­ander Hall W. G. Ellery(1907)

Assembly Rooms (1907)

COLLINS’ PALACE CINEMA Virginia Road  1922 – Prop., P. Collins., Junr. Res. Man., T. E. Colverd. Continuous. Two changes. weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s. 3d. Phone, Wallasey 1612. Station, Lime Street, 199 miles.

COURT PICTURE HOUSE Victoria Road  1922 – Prop., Mersey Halls Ltd. Res. Man., G. Brimilow. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s. 3d. Station, Liverpool Termini. 1937: (B.A.) Court Pic Hse (New Brighton) Ltd. 405 seats. Phone Wallasey 11300.

GAIETY / PALACE   Opened 1881. C. Gray Smith (1907) Closed 1926. Demolished 1933.

Pier Pavilion  Opened c.1893. W. G. Sutton (1907) Closed 1923. Demolished 1927.

ROYAL PAVILION  1922 KYB

TIVOLI Tower Promenade   Opened 1914 – theatre and some pictures. 1922 KYB. Opened as full-time cinema 9^th February 1923. 636 seats. To PCT co. October 1928. To G-B February 1929. Theatre/cinema. Theatre July-Sept 1929 do 14.9.29. Cinema summer 1930. Theatre from c.3.32. Leased out. 1937: (B.A.) Prop. Alpha Varieties Ltd. 1,021 seats. Phone Wallasey 483. Closed April 1955. Demolished 1976 OR 78.

TOWER THEATRE / GRAND TOWER THEATRE A. Bulmer (1907)  1922 - Prop. , New Brighton Amuse­ments, Ltd. Res. Man., E. E. Goffin. Head office, Tower Theatre, New Brighton. Three shows daily in summer, two in winter. Two changes weekly. Prices, 9d. to 1s. 3d. Phone Wallasey 276 & 278. Station, Lime Street, Liverpool, L.N.W.R. Closed in 1937.

TROCADERO Victoria Road  Opened 1^st June 1922. To GTC March 1928 by GTC. Taken ov’er 5.28, part of GTC circuit. 886 seats. 1937: B.A. General Theatre Corporation Ltd. 916 seats. Phone Wallasey 1560. Closed 29^th September 1956. Supermarket on site.

VICTORIA GARDENS CINEMA   1922 – Prop. , P. Collins, Junr. Res. Man. , Bert Dillon. Two shows nightly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. 3d. Station, New Brighton.

WINTER GARDENS Atherton Street (WE)  Opened 27^th June 1931. Architects: T. Taliesin Rees & Richard Holt, 1,400 seats. To Luxor Cinemas Ltd (Southan Morris) 1936. Closed 1940. Re-opening as a cinema 1941. 1200 seats. Occasional theatre in 1950s. To Essoldo 26^th August 1954 by. Closed 3^rd January 1959. Bingo club. Warehouse. Demolished.

 

NEWARK Notts

BEAUMOND HALL 1922 – Prop., Beaumond Hall Pictures Co. Res. Man., C. Egglestone. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices. 5d. to 1s. Phone 152. Station, Newark, G.N.R.

Corn Exchange R. P. Almond (1907)

NEWARK KINEMA Balderton Gate  Architect: Alan Ruddle, P’boro’. 1922 – Prop., Newark Cinemas, Ltd. Res. Man., Jack Cann. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. 3d. Phone 40. Station, Newark, G.N.R. 1937: (BTH) Prop., Newark Kinemas Ltd. 750 seats. Phone 40.

OLLERTON PICTURE HOUSE New Ollerton (BTH)  - Prop., Ollerton Pictures, Ltd., 227, Boughton Road. 630 seats. Booked at H.O. Con­tinuous Mon. to Fri.; two shows on Sat. Prices 8d. to 1s. 2d. Phone New Ollerton 227. Station, Ollerton, L.N.E.R. Road Transport.

PALACE THEATRE Appleton Gate  1922 – Prop., Newark Cinemas, Ltd. Res. Man., J. W. Armstrong. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 9d. to 1s. Phone 199. 1937: (WE) Prop., Newark Kinemas Ltd. 1,250 seats. Phone 199. 1941: (WE) – Prop., Newark Cinemas, Ltd., National Provincial Bank Chambers, 11, York Street, Sheffield. Phone Sheffield. Central 27421. 1,123 seats. Booked at 37 Collegiate Crescent, Sheffield 10, by I. Graham. Continuous. Prices 8d. to 1s. 6d. Proscenium width 30ft. Stage 45ft.; 10 dressing-rooms. Phone 199. Station, Newark, L.N.E.R. & L.M.S. Closed. Bingo. Re-opened as theatre 1979.

PICTUREDROME Barnby Gate  1922 – Prop., Cinevars, Ltd. Res. Man., G. Meads. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. 3d. Phone 127. Station, Newark, G.N.R.

REEL London Road  5 screens; for Easter July 2007.

RITZ / NEWARK KINEMA  Baldertongate  (BTH) – Prop., Newark Cinemas, Ltd. 750 seats. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices 4d. to 9d. Phone 40. Station, Newark. Closed to film 1958.

SAVOY Middlegate  1937: Prop., K. Howitt .Closed 1984.

Town Hall  H. Wragg (1907)

 

NEWBIGGIN-by-the-SEA Northumb

WALLAW PICTURE HOUSE Front Street  1922 - Prop., Lawson &  Carter. Res. Man., W. Carter. One show nightly. Two changes weekly. Station, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, N.E.R. 1937: (B.T.H.) Prop., Wallaw Picture Hall Ltd. seats. Phone 24. 1941: (BTH) -Prop., Lawson & Carter. 700 seats. One show nightly. Two changes weekly. Station, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, L.N.E.R.

 

NEWBRIDGE Mon

GRAND  1937: (BA) Prop., S. W. Attwood Theatres Ltd. 600 seats. Phone 58. 1941: (BA) – Prop., Attwood Theatres. 600 seats. Booked at Cardiff. Once nightly. Station, Newhridge, G.W.R.

MEMORIAL HALL  1937: (RCA) Prop., Memorial Hall Committee. 1,000 seats. 1941: (RCA) – Prop., Celynan Collieries Workmen. 808 seats. Booked at Cardiff. Once nightly, twice on Sat. Prices 6d. to 1s. Large Stagefour dressing-rooms. Dance Hall attached. Phone Newbridge 52. Station, Newbridge, G.W.R. Closed. Television fame in 2005 for ‘Restoration’ programme.

PUBLIC HALL  1922 – Prop., H. V. Davies.

 

NEWBOLD VERDON Leics

CINEMA Main Street  Opened 1920 – timber building. Prop., Thomas Chesterton. 1932 to Maurice Chesterton. Closed 1934. Equipment to Enderby. Demolished. House on site.

 

NEWBURN Northumb

IMPERIAL PICTURE HOUSE / IMPERIAL ELECTRIC THEATRE Station Road  Opened 18^th October 1911 (licensing date). Architect: Thomas R. Eltringham, Throckley Colliery. Capacity: 550 initially, 720 in 1913. 1922 – Prop., Thos Naughan. Res., Man., W. Wainwright. Station, Newland-on-Tyne, N.E.R. By 1941: (BTH) – Props., Maurice Cinemas, Ltd., Station Road, Newburn. 700 seats. Continuous. Prices 6d. to 10d. Booked at Newcastle. Phone 74412. Station, Newburn, L.N.E.R. Closing date: ?13^th May 1961. Present use: offices.

PICTUREDROME and VARIETY PALACE  Spencer Road/Westmacott Street  Opened October 1910. Architect & builder: E. Tweddle, West Hartlepool. Capacity:         Unknown. Closed 1911. Building moved to Throckley.

 

NEWBURY Berks

APOLLO Market Street 6 screens; plans confirmed March 2006 for 2007.

CARLTON / CENTRAL Cheap Street  Opened mid-November 1910 – brewery conversion. Prop., Tudor, Phillips & Tufnall. Mgr. James Tufnall. 300 seats. To James Tunall. 1911 mgr. A. J. Lewis. 1922  - Prop., T. Tufnall. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 10d. Station, Newbury, G.W.R. WE Sound. 1931 – rebuilt as Carlton. Prop. Carlton Cinema (Newbury) Ltd. 730 seats. To Union 1933. To ABC 1937. 560 seats. By 1941: (WE) – Props., Union Cinemas, Ltd., Union House, 15 Regent Street, London, S.W.1. Phone Whitehall 8484. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Phone Newbury 91. Films by Road Transport. Burned down 29^th May 1950. Demolished. Site part of shopping centre.

Corn Exchange f., H. Pratt (1907)

ROBINS / CANNON / ABC / FORUM Park Way (WE)  Opened September 1939 – Props., Forum (Newbury) Ltd., 89 Cornwall Street, Birmingham. Phone Central 7145. 1,114 seats. Prices 1s. to 3s. Continuous daily from 2 p.m. Two shows on Sun from 5 p.m. Booked by V. J. Oliver, 687 Stratford Road, Sparkhill, Birmingham. Phone. Newbury 1291. Station, Newbury, G.W.R. Fitted ‘Ardente’ Deaf Aids. To Mayfair circuit c.1941. To ABC with most of circuit 1943. 1,114 seats. CinemaScope. 1,061 seats. Noel Briggs mgr. Re-named ABC 1964. Bingo/cinema split 1972. 484 seats. RCA sound. To Cannon & re-named 1986. Bingo closed c.1988. To Robins. Closed 20^th April 1995.

NEWBURY PICTURE PALACE Northbrook Street  Opened early 1911. Purpose-built. Prop., Newbury Picture Palace Ltd. – . Salkeld & C. M. Love. 1922: Prop., Newbury Picture Palace Ltd. Res. man., Albin White. Two shows nightly. Two mats. weekly. Two changes weekly. Prices 5d. to 1s. 3d. Station, Newbury, G.W.R. By late 1920 Albin White director & sevretary. Closed – silent – 1931.

Oddfellows’ Hall H. Pratt (1907)

PLAZA CINEMA  Market Street (Picturetone)  Opened c.1930. To Union 1933. Closed. 

REGAL CINEMA Bartholomew Street (WE)  Opened 1931. Architect: Harold S. Scott. 1,290 seats. Prices 6d. to 2/4d. To Union 1933. 1,603 seats. To ABC 1937. By 1941: Props., Union Cinemas, Ltd., Union House, 15 Regent Street, London, S.W.1. Phone Whitehall 8484. Booked at H.O. Contin­uous. Café attached. Phone Newbury 410. Station, Newbury, G.W.R. Closed 20^th April 1963. Demolished. Offices.

Town Hall  f., C. Munday (1907)

 

NEWCASTLE-under-LYME Staffs

Lecture Hall  T. P. Heath  (1907)

Municipal Hall Borough Accountant  (1907)

REX / PAVILION High Street  Opened 6^th November 1922 – The Sign on the Door. Conversion of flour mill. Prop. Robert Berrisford. 1,000 seats. Closed & re-opened December 1926. WE sound 15^th April 1929 – 1^st in N Staffs. By 1941: (WE) – Prop., Beresford Cinemas, Ltd., 49 High Street. 1,055 seats. Booked at 49 High Street. Continuous. Prices 6d. to 1s. 6d. Proscenium width 25ft. Phone 67341. Station. Newcastle-under-­Lyme, L.M.S. To Southan Morris. Renamed Rex October 1946. To Essoldo 17^th OR 26^th August 1954. CinemaScope 16^th may 1955 – The Long Gray Line. Closed 24^th October 1971 – structural defects (see Regal) – The Gay Deceivers. To Classic 2^nd April 1972. Re-opened 17^th August 1972. Closed 21^st July 1973 – Black Sabbath. Demolished March/April 1976.

RIO / REGAL  High Street/Pepper Street (WE)  Opened 15^th June 1931 – next to Pavilion, using same entrance. Prices 6d. to 1s. c.1937 Mirrophonic sound. By 1941: (WE) – Prop., Beresford Cinemas, Ltd., 49 High Street. 1,044 Seats. Continuous. Booked at H.O. Prices 7d. to 1s.6d. Proscenium width 27ft. Phone 67341. Station, Newcastle-under-Lyme, L.M.S. To Southan Morris & re-named Rio October 1946. To Essoldo 26 August 1954. CinemaScope Monday 14^th February 1955 – The Sign of the Pagan. Closed Sunday 24^th October 1971 by roof collapse – Le Mans. To Classic 2^nd April 1972. Stayed closed. Demolished with Rex March/April 1976.

ROXY / PLAZA / CINEMA THEATRE Nelson Square  Opened Monday 14^th May 1910 – ex-Theatre Royal. Frontage altered & re-built internally. Mgr. T. Tinsley. Prices, 3d and 6d. 550 seats. 1922 as Cinema – Prop., Cinema House, Ltd. Res. Man., Mrs Brenda Olohan. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s. 3d. Station, Newcastle, N.S.R. By 1929 to M & M Cinemas, Paddington. Renamed Plaza 1930. Melotone – later Picturetone – sound. To Robert Beresford 1934. By 1941: (BTP) – Prop., Plaza (Newcastle-under-Lyme)Ltd., 49, High Street. 650 seats. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Prices 7d. to 1s. 6d. Proscenium width 18ft. Phone Newcastle-under-Lyme 66637. Sta­tion, Newcastle, Staffs, L.M.S. To Southan Morris. Renamed Roxy October 1946. To Essoldo with circuit. Closed 23^rd November 1957 – The Creature Walks Among Us. Demolished 1963. Offices.

SAVOY CINEMA / KING’S THEATRE / KING’S HALL PICTUREDROME High Street  Opened Monday 10^th February 1913 – The Count of Monte Cristo. Prop., F. W. Pendleton. 1,000 seats. 1922 – Prop., Norton’s Cinema Theatres, Ltd. Res. Man., J. Mervyn Yardley. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s. Phone 4. Station, Newcastle, N.S.R. Stage Play licence. To A. S. Hines. Re-opened re-named Savoy 28^th February 1927. No Stage Play licence. 1929 to H. Cotton. BTH sound 1931. To ABC c.1932. Façade block re-built at some time. By 1941 (BTH) – Prop., Associated British Cinemas, Ltd., 30-31 Golden Square W1. 1,150 seats. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Phone 6565. CinemaScope Monday 14^th March 1955 – Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Closed 11^th April 1964 – Goliath and the Barbarians. Bingo. Circle split 4^th December 1975 – The Towering Inferno. 200 seats. Bingo closed. Cinema closed March 1986. Re-opened by Mr Dimond. Closed February 1991. Downstairs health club & snooker.

TEMPERANCE HALL PICTURE PALACE / Temper­ance Hall Bridge Street  Godwin (1907)  Early film show. Licensed June 1910. Lessees W. L. Glover & Son. Cap. 350. Closed to film by December 1915. Salvation Army Citadel on site.

THEATRE ROYAL Coleman Davies  (1907)  opened 1787. Closed by 1910. To London Cinematograph Co 12^th February 1910. Converted to Cinema Theatre.

TIVOLI / OXFORD PICTURE PALACE / A1 PICTURE PALACE / Talbot Hall Talbot Hotel, Church Street  opened under licence March 1911. By 1914 A1 Pic Pal, lessee Glanville Osmond. 1916 – Oxford. 1919 – A1, lesseee M. H. Machin. 1920 to Harrison & Rbt. Berrisford as Tiv. 1922 – Prop., E. Olohan. Res. Man., F. C. Harrison. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 7d. Station, Newcastle, N.S.R. Closed by/in 1923. Reverted to ballroom & general use.

Town Hall Town Clerk  (1907) Used as cinema from 1910.

VUE The Square, Market Arcade:  8 screens

 

NEWCASTLE-upon-TYNE Northumb

ABC / HAYMARKET CINEMA Percy Street/Haymarket Lane (WE)  Opened: 21^st December 1933. Prop., Dixon Scott & co. Architect: George Bell (Dixon and Bell), decorator: M Alexander & Son., Newcastle. Capacity: 1,280 (902 stalls, 378 circle) 1936 auditorium rebuilt. 1802 seats (1096 stalls, 706 circle). 1935 to ABC. 1936 enlarged. Architect: Dixon & Bell. 1937: (WE) Prop., A.B.C. Ltd. 2,200 seats. Phone 23345. 1941: Prop., Associated British Cinemas, Ltd., 30-31 Golden Square, London W.1. Phone Gerrard 7887. 1,280 seats. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Café attached. Pros.width, 34ft. 9 in. Phone Newcastle 23345. Station, Central, L.N.E.R. Re-named August 1972. Closed 20^th September 1984. Demolished. Car park.

ADELAIDE PICTURE HALL  385 Ellwick Road, Benwell  Opened 17^th October 1910. Architect: Charles S. Errington. 640 seats. 1922 - Prop., J. E. Faith. Res. Man., F. E. Faith. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 9d. Phone, Central 4967. Station, Newcastle, N.E.R. To Union 1928. 1937: (WE) Prop., Benwell Theatre Co. Ltd. 795 seats. Phone 33267. 1941:  (WE) – Props., Union Cinemas, Ltd., Union House, 15 Regent Street, London, S.W.1. Phone Whitehall 8484. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Phone Newcastle 33267. Station, Newcastle (Central) L.N.E.R. Closed 1^st February 1943. Woolworth. Now motor parts.

APOLLO / STAR Prudhoe Street  Opened 13^th April 1908. Architect: W. H. Knowles, Newcastle (for conversion). Capacity: c.700. Closing date: 1914. Demolished.

APOLLO ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE / APOLLO SUPER CINEMA Shields Road Byker (WE) Opened 28^th December 1933. Architect: Pascal J. Stienlet. Prop., Tyne Picture House, Ltd. (James McHarg circuit), Central Buildings, Station Road, Wallsend-on-Tyne. Phone Wallsend 63566. 1,640 seats. 1937: (WE) Prop., Tyne Picture Houses Ltd. 1,650 seats. Phone 55830. 1941: Booked at H.O. Twice nightly, daily Mat. Phone Apollo 35830. Station, Heaton. L.N.E.R. Bombed 6^th May 1941. New Apollo (on original foundations) opened 16^th March 1956. Architect: Pascal J. Stienlet & Son. Closed 17^th September 1962. Bingo. Last chief projectionist, Mannie Moorhouse. Taken over by Arnold Sheckman. Reopened as cinema 2^nd August 1964 – The Nutty Professor. To Sydney Shurman.  To Classic Group January 1972 and closed. Tripled. Cinema 1 (former circle) opened 30 December – Mary, Queen of Scots. 2 and 3 in stalls. Seating: 534, 180 and 169 + licensed bar. 5 February 1973 fourth screen (87 seats) added in stalls waiting area. Closed 1^st October 1983; Cinema 1 – Friday 13th Part 111. Garage workshop. Demolished December 2001.

Assembly Rooms  Carnegie & Co. (1907)

BAMBORO’ ELECTRIC THEATRE  / BAMBOROUGH PICTURE HALL Union Road, Byker Opened July 1913. Architect: Newcombe & Newcombe. 750 seats. 1922 – Prop., J. Renwick & Son. Res. Man., B. Renwick. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Phone, Central 1619. Station, Newcastle, N.E.R. 1937 as BET: (WE) Prop., B. & L. Renwick. 857 seats. Phone 55619.   1941: (WE) – Prop., Bamborough Pictures, Ltd. Booked at Hall. Two shows nightly. Prices 5d. to 9d. Phone 55619. Station, Newcastle-on-Tyne. L.N.E.R. Closed 11^th April 1959. Demolished.

BIJOU NEWS THEATRE Grey Street  1937: (RCA) Prop., Harridix Ltd. 412 seats.

BRIGHTON ELECTRIC THEATRE Brighton Grove, Westgate Road  Opened 10^th July 1911. Architect: Marshall & Tweedy. 1,085 seats. 1922 - Prop., Newcastle Entertainments, Ltd. Res. Man., J. Coverdale Bell. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s. Phone, Central 462. Station, Newcastle, N.E.R. 1937: (WE) Prop., Newcastle Entertainments Ltd. 1,117 seats. Phone 34462. 1941: (WE) – Prop., Newcastle Entertainments, Ltd., Westgate Road. 1,040 seats. Contin­uous Mon, Wed, and Sat. from 2p.m; Tues., Thurs. and Fri., from 5 p.m. Dance Hall and Café attached. Prices 8d. to 1s.9d. Proscenium width 20ft. by 16ft. Phone Central 34462. Station, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Closed 20^th April 1963. 10-pin bowling alley.

BRINKBURN PICTURE THEATRE  Brinkburn Street, Byker  Opened 25^th February 1910. Architect: J. Newton Fatkin. James McHarg’s first picture hall. 922 seats. 1922 - Prop., James McHarg. Res. Man., G. T. Edminson. Two shows nightly. Mat., Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices, 4d. to 9d. Phone, Central 2487. Station, Newcastle, N.E.R.             1937: (BTP) Prop., Tyne Picture Theatre Ltd. 600 seats. Phone 52691. 1941: (BTP) – Prop., Tyne Picture Houses, Ltd., Central Buildings, Station Road, Wallsend-on-Tyne. 658 seats. Booked at H.O. Two shows nightly. Prices 5d. to 9d. Phone 56291. Station, Heaton, L.N.E.R. Closed 2^nd July 1960. Cash & Carry warehouse. Demolished early 1985 for new road project.

Cambridge Drill Hall Carnegie & Co. (1907)

CANNON / ABC / CLASSIC / ESSOLDO  Westgate Road/Thornton Street  (WE) Opened 29^th August 1938 – The Hurricane. Architect: William Stockdale, decorator Alexander & Son. Hammond 2m electronic with surround. Prop., Essoldo Theatre (Newcastle) Ltd., Sol Sheckman, 11 Bath Lane, Newcastle. Phone 28082. Booked at Bath Lane. 2,109 seats. Films and Variety. Prices 6d. to 2s. Continuous. Stage. Phone 23232. Station, Newcastle Central. Organ removed 1969. Twinned 1971. To Classic 2^nd April 1972. To ABC 31^st March 1974. To Cannon 1986. Closed 11^th January 1990. Demolished 1991.

Central Hall R. L. Hay  (1907)

Circus Pitch  (1907) 

Cordwainers’ Hall  J. Snowdon  (1907)

COSY PICTURE HOUSE Swalwell  1937: Prop., J. Ritson                         

CROWN ELECTRIC THEATRE  818-830 Scotswood Road Elswick  Opened 24^th December 1910. Architect: White & Stephenson. Prop., Crown Electric Theatre Ltd. 1,190 later 1,041 seats. 1922 - Prop., J. Dobson. Res. Man., W. E. Finch. Two shows nightly. Mat., Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices, 4d, to 9d. Phone, Central 2871. Station, Newcastle, N.E.R. 1937: (BTH) Prop., Crown Electric Theatre Ltd. 1,200 seats. Phone 33392. 1941: (BTH) – Prop., Crown Electric Theatre Co., Ltd., Newcastle-on-Tyne. 1,200 seats. Twice nightly, Mon., Fri. and Sat. Continuous Tues., Wed, and Thurs. Two changes weekly. Prices 6d. to 10d. Booked by E. J. Hinge, Tatler Chambers, 147/149 Northumberland Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne 1. Proscenium width 26ft. Phone Dial 33891. Station, Newcastle-on-Tyne, L.N.E.R. Leased to Sol Sheckman (Essoldo) February 1945. Closed to film  24^th November 1962. Bingo. Closed by fire and demolished 1971.

ELECTRA Denton Road Scotswood  Opened pre-8^th December 1910. Conversion of building. Closed c.12 January 1911. Demolished. 

ELSWICK PICTURE PALACE / QUEEN’S THEATRE / New Tyne Circus Opened as Queen’s 12^th November 1900 Opened as Elswick 14^th December 1908. Cap., 1,200 – 2,000. Closed 16^th January 1909. Demolished c.1910.

EMBASSY Thorntree Drive, Denton (RCA)  Opened 6^th September 1937. Prop., J. W. Longstaff & J. Bain. Architect: Robert Burke, decorator Fred. A. Foster. 988 stadium seats. Closed 25^th June 1960. Bingo.

EMPIRE CINEMA 10-12 Grainger Street  Opened 2^nd April 1913. Architect: W. & T. R. Milburn, decorator F de Jong. 614 seats. 1922 - Prop., Moss Empires, Ltd. Res. Man., G. Brown. Con­tinuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 9d. to 1s. 3d. Phone, Central 1445. Station, Newcastle-on-Tyne, N.E.R. To Favourite Cinemas. To ABC. Closed 11^th November 1933. 1937:           900 seats. (Closed) Furniture shop. Demolished. Site now entrance to shopping centre.

EMPIRE PALACE of VARIETIES (1) Opened 1^st December 1890. Architects: Oliver & Leeson. 1st venture by Moss & Thornton. Above Royal Scotch Arms. Moss Empires Ltd. (1907)

EMPIRE THEATRE / EMPIRE PALACE of VARIETIES (2) Newgate Street  Prop. : Moss Empires, Ltd., Cranbourn Mansions, Cranbourn Street, London W.C.2. Bookings: By above. 1937: (Legit.) Prop., Moss Empires Ltd. 1,800 seats. Phone 24444. SG46: Cap. : Stalls 360, P. stalls 433, D. circle 316, U. circle 362, gallery 523. Barring clause : Variety artistes in accordance with Arbitrator’s Award and Produc­tions, 20 miles. Once nightly 6.30. Matinées Wednesday and Saturday 2. Twice nightly 5.20 and 7.35. Matinée Saturday. Variety. Stage : Prosc. 34ft. 6 in., height 25ft., min. depth from setting line 34ft. 6 in. approx., height under fly galleries 20ft., width between fly galleries 40ft., grid to stage 50ft. No counterweight gear. 56 lines. Elec. equip. : 240 v. A.C., 50 cycles. Footlights, four circuits with ind. dimmers. Five battens, each with four circuits with ind. dimmers. Four dips switch controlled. Two spots on stands. Six floods on stands. Three f-o-h following limes. Dressing rooms : 11 single, two chorus, acc. 20 each approx. Band room. Orchestra: Acc. 26. Resident 13 with M.D. Amplifying equip. : Two turn-table re­producer. F-o-h only. Microphone.

EMPIRE / ODEON The Gate, Newgate Street  12 screens / 2,800 seats [Odeon until November 2005 when sold as part of OFT requirement following Odeon/UCI merger]

ESSOLDO CINEMA Westgate WE) Opened Monday 22^nd August 1938. Props., Essoldo Theatre Newcastle Ltd., 11, Bath Lane, Newcastle. 2,018 seats. Prices 9d. to 2s. 3d. Pictures and Variety. Continuous. Booked at 11, Bath Lane. Proscenium width 40ft. Stage 25ft. deep, six dressing rooms. Café. Phone 23232. Station, Newcastle Central. Fitted ‘Ardente’ Deaf Aids.

FLORA ROBSON / PLAYHOUSE Jesmond SG46: Prop.: Playhouse (Newcastle) Ltd., Newcastle-on-Tyne. Cap.:  Stalls 363, back 182, 2nd stalls 179 Once nightly, Monday to Friday. Twice nightly, Saturday. Plays. Stage: Pros 27ft., height 20ft., width between fly galleries 19ft., height of grid from stage 19ft. No counterweight gear. Elec equip.: A.C., 60 cycles. Footlights three circuits with ind. dimmers. Three battens, each with three circuits with ind. dimmers. Spot bar with eight spots, each ind. dimmer controlled. Ten dips with dimmers. Two dips switch controlled. Two 1,000 w. spots on stands. Four floods on stands (two 1,000w., two 500w.). One 500 w. flood in centre of batten No. 1, ind. dimmer controlled. Dressing rooms: Six single, one chorus, acc. 20. Orchestra: Acc. 18. No resident orchestra. Amplifying equip.: Two turn-table reproducer. F-o-h or stage. Micro­phone.

GAIETY CINEMA / GAIETY VARIETY THEATRE / New Tyne Concert Hall / Lecture Room 12 Nelson Street Opened as Gaiety Cinema 29^th March 1911. Architect: Percy L. Browne. 875 seats. Prop., Stanley Rogers 1912. 1922 as GT- Prop., Baker Bros. Res. Man., H. C. Jones. Continuous. Mat., Mon.&  Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 9d. Phone, Central 1150. Station, Newcastle, N.E.R. 1937: (BTP) Prop., S. Rogers Cinemas Ltd. Phone 21131. 1941: (BTP) E. J. Hinge Circuit, 147/149, Northumberland Street, Newcastle. 900 seats. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Prices 6d. to 10d. Phone Central 21131. Station, Newcastle Central. Closed 26^th February 1949. Demolished except for façade.

GAUMONT / WESTGATE / New WESTGATE PICTURE HOUSE / Mission Hall  Westgate Road/Clayton Street  Opened as Pic Hse 12^th February 1912. Architect: Arthur Stockwell. 830 seats. New Westgate 31^st October 1927 – rebuilt and new Westgate façade. Architect:  Percy L. Browne & Son. Capacity: 1,870 (1145 stalls, 725 circle). To G-B March 1928 – £72,500. 1930 organ: Wurlitzer 2/6. Re-named Westgate 1937. 1937 as New W: (RCA) Prop., Denman Picture Houses Ltd. 1,870 seats. Phone 24982. 1941: (RCA) – Prop, Denman Picture Houses, Ltd., Denman Street. W. 1,865 seats. Booked at H.O. Continuous. One change weekly. Prices 9d. to 1s. 6d. Proscenium width 30ft. Phone 24981. Café, Station, Newcastle-on’ Tyne. L.N.E.R. Fitted ‘Ardente’ Deaf Aids. Re-named Gaumont 10^th July 1950. Closed 29^th November 1958. Organ scrapped 1959. Became Rank Majestic Ballroom. Bingo club from c.1964. Converted to Academy live venue 2005.

GEM 115 Elswick Road Opening date: 6^th April 1911. Architect: Barnes & Burton, Newcastle (for conversion). Capacity: 350 Closed c.1912. Demolished.

GEM Tindal Street Opening date: 8^th January 1934. Architect: Edwin M Lawson, Chester-le-Street (for conversion) Capacity: 630. By 1941: (BTH) – 500 seats. Closed 29^th August 1960. Demolished.

GLOBE Salters Road, Gosforth Opened 19^th December 1910. Architect: J. J. Hill, Newcastle. Capacity: 883. September 1927 to Gosforth Pictures Ltd. (George II & Edward Black.) Capital £6,000. to E J Hinge, 1935. Closed to film 25^th November 1961. Restaurant and shops.

GLORIA CINEMA  St. Anthony’s Road, Walker  Opened: 11^th April 1938. Architect: Albert Fennel, Gateshead. Decorator: Webster Davidson & Co., Sunderland (plasterwork). Capacity: 1,184 (762 stalls, 422 balcony). By 1941: (RCA) – Props., The Bensham Picture House (1923) Ltd., Bensham Road, Gateshead. Phone 72441. 1,117 seats. Prices 4d. to 9d. Con­tinuous. Booked at Bensham Picture House. Proscenium width 30ft. Phone 55677. Station, Newcastle Central. Closed 4 March 1962. Demolished

Grand Assembly Rooms  C. E. Barkas  (1907)

GRAND CINEMA PALACE  3 Condercum Road Benwell  Opened 7^th August 1911. Architect: Gibson & Stienlet, North Shields, decorator: Anderson’s, South Shields (plasterwork). Capacity: 666 (448 stalls, 192 circle, 26 boxes; stadium plan). 1922 -  Prop., J. Grantham. Res. Man., J. Curry. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 9d. Phone, Central 918. Station, Newcastle, N.E.R. 1937: (BTP) Prop., E. J. H. Theatres Ltd. 450 seats. Phone 33918. 1941: (BTP) – E, J. Hinge Circuit, Stanley Rogers Cinemas, Ltd., 147/149 Northumberland Street, Newcastle. Phone 20317. 670 seats. Pictures booked at H.O. Newcastle-on-Tyne. Continuous. Prices 6d. to 9d. Proscenium width 20ft. Stage 25ft. deep. Five dressing-rooms. Phone 33918. Closed 26^th September 1956. Demolished.

GRAND THEATRE  Wilfred Street Byker  (No 2)  Opened 27^th July 1896. Architect: William Hope, Newcastle, decorator: Dean, Birmingham. Cap. 2,500. Sydney Bacon  (1907) Capacity: 1272.To film 1910 – Stanley Rogers. To Black circuit 1913. Pictures & variety. 1922 - Prop., Thompson & Collies. Rev. Man., E. Robertson. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s. 6d. Phone, Central 544. Station, Newcastle, N.E.R. 1937: (BA) Prop., E. J. H. Theatres Ltd. 1,539 seats. Phone 559342.  1941: (BTP) Prop., Gaumont British Pictures Corporation, Ltd., 123 Regent Street, London W.1. Phone Regent 6641. 650 seats. Booked at H.O. Two shows nightly, Two Mats. Prices 3d. to 9d. Phone 55934. Stage36ft. deep ; 10 dressing-rooms. Proscenium width 30ft. Station, Heaton, Newcastle, L.N.E.R. SG46: Prop. : Stanley Rogers Cinemas, Ltd., 147-9, Northumber­land Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Bookings: Premier Vaudeville Agency, Newcastle & London. Cap. : O. stalls 183, stalls 114, P. stalls 288, circle 296, gallery 400. Once nightly 6.45. No Matinées. Twice nightly Saturdays only. Revue and variety, Stage : Pros. 28ft., height 22ft., min. depth from setting line 8ft., height under fly galleries 22ft., width between fly galleries 40ft. No counterweight gear. Elec. equip. : 240 v. A.C., 50 cycles. Footlights, four circuits with ind. dimmers. Three battens, each with four circuits with nd. dimmers. Four dips with ind. limmers, Four dips switch controlled. Two spots on stands. Two floods on stands. Three f-o-h following limes. Dressing rooms : Seven single, one chorus, acc. 12. Orchestra : Acc. nine. Resident even (piano, two violins, trombone, trumpet, bass, drums). Amplifying equip.: Microphone. Closed: 27^th August 1954. Demolished

GRAINGER PICTURE HOUSE (1)  26-28 Grainger Street  Opened 1^st December 1913. Shop conversion. Architect: Percy L. Browne & Glover, Newcastle. Capacity: 775 (566 stalls, 209 circle) Collins cinema. 1922 – Prop., Grainger Picture House Co., Ltd. Res. Man., C. E. Linney. Continuous. Prices, 6d. to 1s. 3d. Phone, City 758. Station, Newcastle, N.E.R. November 1923 Bernicia, Ltd. (George Black II + James McHarg & Sidney Bamford – Tyne Picture Houses circuit. To ABC 1930. Closed 31^st July 1937.  To MacHarg circuit, 1937. Grainger (2) built on site.

GRAINGER CINEMA / GRAINGER NEWS THEATRE (2)  26-28 Grainger Street (WE)  Opened: 2^nd December 1937. Prop., Lyric (Newcastle) Cinema Co., Ltd., 47, Pilgrim Street, Newcastle – part of  Tyne Picture Houses, Ltd. Architect: Marshall & Tweedy, Newcastle, decorator: R. W. Smiles, Newcastle (plasterwork). Phone 25791. Capacity: 733 (515 stalls, 218 circle). Booked at Tyne Picture Houses, Wallsend. Continuous from 1.30 p.m. Prices 1s. to 1s. 6d. Phone 22504. Station, New­castle, L.N.E.R. 1938 name shortened & feature films. Closed 26^th March 1960. Demolished for shops.

GREY STREET PICTURE HOUSE / NEWCASTLE PICTURE HOUSE / VICTORIA music hall and Billiard Saloon 10-12 Grey Street  Opened as cinema 6^th May 1914. Architect: White & Stephenson. Prop. PCT. Capacity: 927 (719 stalls, 208 circle) 1922 – Prop., Provincial Cinematograph Theatres, Ltd. Res. Man., C. M. Fraser. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 1s. to 2s. Phone, City 421. Station, Newcastle, N.E.R. Re-named Grey St Pic Hse 5^th June 1922. To George Black & brothers August 1927. To GTC March 1928, then GTC May. Closed 14^th May 1932. Now foyer as Bank, auditorium as restaurant.

HEATON / HEATON ELECTRIC PALACE North View, Heaton Opened 21^st November 1910. Architect: White & Stephenson, Newcastle, decorator: Ferguson & Co., Newcastle (plasterwork). Capacity: 825 (390 stalls,223 pit, 312 circle; stadium plan). 1922 -  Prop., Heaton Assembly Hall Co., Ltd. Res. Man., J. H. Fenwick. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 4d. to 1s. 3d. Phone, Central 3000. Station, Heaton, N.E.R. El Pal H.: (WE) Prop., Heaton Assembly Hall Co. Ltd. 854 seats. Phone 55400. By 1941:  (WE) – Prop., The Heaton Assembly Hall Co., Ltd., 45, Heaton Road, Heaton, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Booked at Hall by F. Tabrah. Con­tinuous nightly, two afternoon shows. Two changes weekly. Prices 6d. to 1s. Phone Central 55400. Café, Dance Halls and Billiards Room attached. Station, Heaton, L.N.E.R. Closed 17^th June 1961. Bingo club.

HIPPODROME (1) / Ginnett’s Circus Northumberland Road  Opened 18 May 1908; 1 March 1909. Architect & Builder: Thomas V. Woodhouse, Nottingham. Decorator: Mortimer Bros., York. Capacity: c.2,000 Closing date: 18 June 1908; ?16 March 1909 Demolished, 1909

HIPPODROME (2) Northumberland Road  Operated as live theatre by GTC. 2433 seats. Taken over 5.28, part of GTC circuit, No apparent film use. Closed 20^th May 1933: (Legit.) Prop., General Theatre Corporation Ltd. 3,000 seats.

IMPERIAL PICTURE HALL / MINERVA 127 Byker Bank, Byker  Opened ?15^th August 1910. Architect: A. P. Farthing. Capacity: 437 (300 stalls, 137 circle). 1922 as Imp – ­Prop., J. H. Dawe. Res. Man., S. Dawe. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Phone, Central 480. Station, Heaton, N.E.R. 1937 as Imp: (BTP) Prop., Dawe Bros. Ltd. 434 seats. Phone 55940. 1941: (WE) – Props., Dawe Bros., Ltd., Gibb Chambers, Westgate Road, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Phone Newcastle 25505. 500 seats. Two shows nightly. Booked at Reg. Office. Phone 55940. Station, Heaton. Closed 24^th August 1963 Demolished, 1985.

JESMOND PICTURE HOUSE Lyndhurst Avenue, West Jesmond  Opened 2^nd May 1921. Architect: White & Stephenson, Newcastle. Capacity:               998 (486 stalls, 269 pit, 243 circle). Closed January 1922. Sold. Re-opened 4^th December 1922 – booked by MacHarg circuit. 1937: (WE) Prop., Jesmond Picture House Co. Ltd. 992 seats. Phone Jesmond 526. 1941: (WE) – Prop., Jesmond Picture House Co. (1922) Ltd., 47, Pilgrim Street, Newcastle. Phone 25701. 956 seats. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices 9d. to 1s. Pro­cenium width 26ft. Phone Jesmond 526. Station, West Jesmond, L.N.E.R. Jesmond. To Arnold Sheckman (Dorlyn Entertainments). Part-time bingo. July 1975 to Top Flight Leisure. January 1977 to Prem Khanna. Closed 1^st October 1993. Unknown (building standing) Building for sale in 2004. Bought 2006. For sale in October 2006

KING’S HALL / Drysdale Hall Marlborough Crescent Architect: James E Parsons, Newcastle (original building). Opened as King’s C. 31^st December 1908. Props., Collins Bros. Capacity: 900. Closed by fire 5^th September 1931. Demolished

KING’S HALL Cattle Market  1922 – Prop., James Lowes. Res. Man., J W. Davies. Two shows nightly. Three changes weekly. Prices, 2d. to 4d. Station, Newcastle-on-Tyne, N.E.R.

Louvaine Hall H. Shaw  (1907)

LYRIC Stephenson Road, Heaton (WE)  Opened 6^th January 1936. Architects: Marshall & Tweedy. Decorator: R. J. Richardson, Newcastle. Capacity: 1,594. 1937: (WE) Prop., Lyric Heaton Cinema Co. Ltd. 2,650 seats. 1941 – Prop., Lyric (Newcastle) Cinema, Ltd., 47, Pilgrim Street, Newcastle­-on-Tyne. Phone 15791. Booked by James MacHarg, Jun., The Poplars, The Green, Wallsend-on-Tyne. Continuous. 1,596 seats. Prices 6d. to 1s. 3d. Proscenium width 38ft. Stage 10ft. deep. Café attached. Phone 55463. Station, Heaton, L.N.E.R. Closed 20^th June 1959. Became People’s Theatre (2) q,v.

MAJESTIC Condercum Road, Benwell  Opened 3^rd October 1927 as theatre, with unused projection equipment. Architect: Dixon & Bell. 1,400 seats. Cinema from 4^th August 1930. To Union. 1937: (WE) Prop., Benwell Theatre Co. Ltd. 1,891 seats. Phone 33202. 1941: (WE) – Props., Union Cinemas, Ltd., Union House, 15 Regent Street, London, S.W.1. Phone Whitehall 8484. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Prices 5d. to 9d. Phone Newcastle 33202. Station, Newcastle (Cent.). Closed 20^th May 1961. Bingo. Derelict. Demolished.

MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE Walker  1922 – Lessee &  Res. Man., J. Scott. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 4d. to 9d. Station, Walker, N.E.R.

NORTHERN STAGE / NEWCASTLE PLAYHOUSE / UNIVERSITY THEATRE Re-built & re-named Northern Stage 2006.

Northumberland Hall  T. Greenwell  (1907)

ODEON Byker / BLACK’S REGAL Shields Road Byker (WE)  Opened 3^rd September 1934. Architect: Edwin M. Lawson. Prop. Black’s Byker Theatre Ltd. Capital £25,000. (Directors: Alfred and Edward Black, Roland Jennings & Ronald Sutcliffe) 1,645 OR  1,722 seats. Organ: Compton 3c/6 with surround on lift, single chamber. By 1941 – Prop., Black’s Theatres, 115, Shaftesbury Avenue, London W.C.2. Phone Temple Bar 9324. 1,800 seats. Booked at H.O. Proscenium width 40ft. Stage 30ft. deep, Phone Newcastle 55407. Station, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Central. Sold to Rank 1955. 1969 organ removed to preservation. Closed 1^st November 1972. Demolished.

ODEON (1) / PARAMOUNT Pilgrim Street (WE)  Opened 7^th September 1931. Architect: Frank Verity & Samuel Beverley, London Decorator: Charles Fox, Hollywood (‘art director’) Prop., Paramount, Newcastle Theatre, Ltd. Wurlitzer 3/19 on lift – pipework divided. Capacity: 2,602 (stalls 922, orchestra stalls 452, circle 1228). 1937 as Para: (WE) Prop., Paramount Theatres Ltd. 2,608 seats. Phone 23248. 1941: (WE) – Prop., Odeon Theatres, Ltd., Old County Cinema, Marlow, Bucks. Phone Marlow 695-9. Booked at Moor Hall, Cookham, Berks. Continuous. Pictures and Variety. Prices 1s. to 3s. 6d. Proscenium width 54ft. Stage 21ft. deep ; seven dressing-rooms. Café. Phone New­castle 23248. Station, Newcastle Central. 1964 organ removed to preservation. Closed 26^th November 2002. Empty.

ODEON (2) The Gate, Newgate  Street Opened 27^th November, 2002 Capacity: 2,569

OLYMPIA (1) Northumberland Road Moss & Thornton From Sept 1903 as ‘Empire at Olympia’. Leased to Ralph Pringle’s Pictures when new Empire opened. Burned down 1907.

OLYMPIA (2) Northumberland Road  Opened 20^th December 1909. Rebuilt in brick. Architect: J. Shaw, Newcastle, decorator: W. T. Gibson, Gosforth. Capacity: 1,100 (352 stalls, 400 pit, circle 348). Taken by Sidney Bacon. Cap., 1,500. 1922 - Prop., Sydney Bacon’s Pictures, Ltd. Res. Man., H. Chadwick. Continuous. Mat., Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices, 4d. to 1s. Phone, Central 4583. Station, Central, N.E.R. 1937: (WE) Prop., Union Cinemas, Ltd. 1,450 seats. Phone 24223. 1941 – (WE) Con­trolled by Associated British Cinemas. Ltd., Union House, 15 Regent Street, London, S.W.1. Phone Whitehall 8484. 1,112 seats. Booked at H.O. Continuous from 2 p.m. Two changes weekly. Phone. 24223. Station, Central. Closed 8^th April 1961. Demolished 1971.

PALACE THEATRE Haymarket T. W. Rowe (No 2)  (1907) 1937: (Legit.) Prop., E. J. H. Theatres Ltd. 1,800 seats. Phone 21336.

SG46: Prop. : The Palace Co. (Newcastle) Ltd., Palace Theatre. Book­ings : Syd Royce, Russell Chambers, King Street, Nottingham. Cap. : Stalls 253, S. stalls 174, P. stalls 489, D. circle 334, U. circle 234, gallery 500. Barring clause : Six miles radius. Twice nightly 5.45 and 7.45. Pantomime : Once nightly 6.30. Matinées daily 2. Pantomime, revue, variety. Stage : Pros. 32ft., height 21ft., min. depth from setting line lift., height under fly galleries 19ft. Elec. equip. : 110 v. A.C. Footlights, three circuits with ind. dimmers. Four battens, each with three circuits with ind. dimmers. Eight stage dips with ind. dimmers. One dip switch controlled. One spot on stand. Four floods on stands. Three f-o-h following limes. Two floods in footlights, ind. switches. Dressing rooms : Five single, five chorus, acc. eight in each. Band room. Orchestra : Acc. 14. Resident 12 (conductor, piano, two violins, ‘cello, bass, two trumpets, trombone, drums. Doubles : Three saxes, two flutes.) Ampli­fying equip.: Two microphones.

PALLADIUM / ROYAL PICTURE HALL 17-19 Groat Market  Opened 15^th June 1908. Architect: F. M. Dryden, Newcastle (for conversion). Capacity: 963 (261 stalls, 305 pit, 397 circle). 1937: (BTP) Prop., S. Rogers Cinemas Ltd. Phone 20384. Closed 30^th September 1939. Demolished.

PAVILION CINEMA / PAVILION THEATRE Westgate Road  Opened 28^th December 1903. Architect: Wylson and Long, London. Decorator: F. de Jong, London. Builder: Jacob Parkinson & Sons, Ltd., Newcastle. Capacity: 1585 (stalls 723, circle 246, boxes 16, gallery 600). Prop: Thomas Barrasford. Ciné-variety from 17^th November 1913. Variety from 1915 to 30^th June 1917. New Pav Cinema from 10^th December 1917. 1,600 seats. Organ (no date) 2m straight tubular pneumatic action. 1922 as New Pav – Prop. (Newcastle) Scala, Ltd. Res. Man., G. Harcourt. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 7d. to 3s. 6d. Station, New­castle, N.E.R. To Thompson & Collins circuit. as Pav. To G-B March 1928. 1937 as New Pav: (RCA) Prop., Denman Picture Houses Ltd. 1,575 seats. Phone 203762. 1941: (RCA) – Prop., Denman Picture Houses, Ltd., 123 Regent Street, London W.1. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Prices 6d. to 1s. 6d. Phone New­castle 203761. Station, Central, L.N.E.R. Modernised 1961 & 1968. Closed 29^th November 1975. Auditorium demolished 1990, frontage block 1992. Flats on site.

PEOPLE’S THEATRE (1) SG46: Prop.: Tyneside Citizen’s Theatre, Ltd., P.O. Box 67, Rye Hill, Newcastle 1. Cap. : Stalls 205, D. circle 97. Once nightly 6.30. First quality plays only. (All plays normally exempt from entertainments duty). Stage: Prosc. 27ft., height 13ft., height under fly galleries 8ft., only one gallery. Grid to stage 23ft. Six lines. Elec. equip:. 240 v. D.C. Footlights, two circuits with ind. dimmers. Four battens, each with three circuits with ind. dimmers. Spot bar with three spots with ind. dimmers. Top lighting with two floods coupled to two dimmers. Pit lighting with two circuits ind. dimmed. Two dips with ind. dimmers. Three spot on stands. Three f-o-h pre-set spots with ind. dimmers. Two f-o-h following limes. Acting areas between compartments of battens : Two pre-set, dimmer controlled. Dressing rooms: Two chorus rooms, acc 30. Amplifying equip.: Two turn-table reproducer. F-o-h or stage. Microphone.

PEOPLE’S THEATRE (2)  former Lyric Cinema

PICTUREDROME 36 Gibson Street/Buxton Street  Opened 30^th July 1910. Architect: Hope & Tasker, Newcastle. Builder: Millar & Besford, Whitley Bay. Decorator: J. Thorne, Newcastle. Capacity: 280 (209 stalls, 71 circle) 1922 - Prop. &  Res. Man., H. Millar. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 4d. to 6d. Station, Newcastle-on-Tyne, N.E.R. 1937: (BTH) Prop., H. Millar. 375 seats. Phone 24739. 1941: (BTH)  - Prop. & Res. Man., H. Millar. 375 seats. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices 3d. to 6d. Phone 24739. Station, Newcastle­-on-Tyne, L.N.E.R. Closed 20^th August 1960. Demolished

PLAZA Picture House  Westgate Road/Gowland Avenue Opened 6^th February 1928. Architect: S. J. Stephenson, Newcastle. Builder: H. T. & W. A. Smelt, Newcastle. Capacity: 1247 (778 stalls, 469 circle). Organ: Blackett & Howden 2m 18s straight. 1937: (BA) Prop., Plaza (Newcastle-on-Tyne) Ltd. 1,300 seats. Phone 33342. 1941: (BA) – Prop., Plaza (Newcastle-on-Tyne) Ltd. 1,300 seats. Booked at 125 Westgate Road. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices 8d. to 1s. 2d. Proscenium width 30ft. Phone 33341. Stage18ft. deep. Six dress­ing-rooms. Closed 31^st December 1960. Later bingo. 2000 Wetherspoons converted to pub. Foyer coffee lounge. The stage is still there with curtains; ceiling and proscenium art deco designs. Balcony still intact – closed off to public.

QUEEN’S CINERAMA THEATRE / QUEEN’S HALL  Northumberland Street Opening date: 9^th September 1913 (public). Architect: Marshall & Tweedy, Newcastle. Capacity: 1413 (1047 stalls, 366 circle). March 1920 to Geo. Black II co. control – organ: H S Vincent 3m 29s straight – pipework divided. 1922 - Prop. Black Bros. Res. Man., D. Hardie. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 1s. to 2s. Phone, Central 88. Station, Newcastle, N.E.R. To GTC March 1928 and G-B May. Refurbished 23^rd July 1928. 1937 as QH: (WE) Prop., General Theatre Corporation Ltd. 1,393 seats. Phone 278881. 1941: (WE) – Prop., General Theatre Corporation, Ltd., 123 Regent Street, London W1. 1,400 seats. Phone Regent 6641. Booked at H.O. Con­tinuous. Prices 1s. 2d. to 1s. 6d. Phone 27888. Station, Newcastle (Central) L.N.E.R. Fitted ‘Ardente’ Deaf Aids. 1955 organ broken down by David Clegg. Closed 15^th June 1963. Converted to Cinerama Theatre. Opened 9^th November 1963. Architect: Unknown. Builder: Stephen Easten, Newcastle. Decorator: Decorative Plaster Co., Newcastle. Capacity: 972 (613 stalls, 359 circle). Closed 16^th February 1980. Demolished for shop arcade.

RABY GRAND CINEMA Commercial Road/Oban Road, Byker  Opened 17^th January 1910. Architect: White & Stephenson, Newcastle. Capacity: 825 (195 stalls, 450 pit, 178 circle). 1922 – Prop., J. R. Marshall &  J. Broughton. Res. Man., A. M. Moffatt. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s. Station, Newcastle-on-Tyne, N.E.R. 1937: (BTP) Prop., Castle Cinema Co. Ltd. 380 seats. Phone 55880. 1941: (BTP) – Prop., Castle Cinema Co., Ltd., 178, Westgate Road, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Phone 27451. 800 seats. Booked at H.O. by V. R. Marshall. Two shows nightly. Mid-weekly change. Prices 6d. and 8d. Phone Central 55880. Station, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Closed 7^th March 1959. Demolished

REGAL Church Street  (BTP) – Prop., Mrs. R. A. Davenport, 14 Rosewood Gardens, Sheriff Hill Gateshead. Phone Low Fall 76354. 600 seats. Booked at Newcastle. Continu­ous. Prices 4d. to 6d. Proscenium width 22ft. Phone Wallsend 63428. Station, Walker.

REGAL CINEMA  Two Ball Lonnen, Fen­ham (BTP)  Opened 8^th November 1933. Architect: J. H. Morton, South Shields. Builder: Hastie Burton Ltd., North Shields. Decorator: Fred A Foster Ltd., Nottingham. Capacity: 1226 ( 818 stalls, 408 circle). 1937: Prop., Suburban Cinemas (N’castle) Ltd. 1,250 seats. Phone 33773. 1941:  (BTP) – Prop., Suburban Cinemas (Newcastle) Ltd. E. J. Hinge Circuit, 147/149 Northum­berland Street, Newcastle. Phone 20317. Booked at H.O. Continuous from 6.30. 1,207 seats. Prices 8d. to 1s. 2d. Café. Phone Newcastle-on-Tyne 33773. Station, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Closed 30^th April 1960. Present use: Offices

REGENT Bridge Crescent, Scotswood Opened 29^th December 1938 (licensing date) – replaced Scotswood. Architect: Robert Burke, Newcastle. Capacity: 536 stadium – 332 stalls, 204circle. Closed 6^th July 1957. Demolished, 1964

RENO CINEMA  Wideopen (Knightofone)  Opened 1939 – Prop., Reno Cinemas, Ltd., 2 Prudhoe Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Continuous from 6 p.m. Prices 7d. to 1s. 2d. Phone Wideopen 53. No Sunday show. Children’s Saturday afternoon matinée. Programmes six days. c.500 seatsinc. small balcony. Closed to film mid-1960s. Bingo. Cooperative store by late 1960s.

REX Ferguson’s Lane, Benwell Village  (WE) Opened 8^th December 1938. Architect: S. J. Stephenson & Gillis, Newcastle. Builder: H. T. Smelt. Decorator: M Alexander and Sons., Newcastle. Props., Rex Cinema (New­castle-on-Tyne) Ltd. Capacity: 1,012 (634 stalls, 378 balcony) Prices 8d. to 1s. 2d. Booked at H.O., 125 Westgate Road, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Phone 33097.

Closed 10^th August 1968. Present use: Social club

RIALTO Armstrong Road, Benwell  Opened 10^th May 1937. Architect: Percy L Browne, Son & Harding, Newcastle. Builder: Walter Wilson, Ltd., Newcastle. Decorator: M Alexander & Sons, Newcastle. Capacity:  1,026 (668 stalls, 358 balcony). 1937: (BTP) Prop., E. J. Hinge Cinemas Ltd. 1,050 seats. 1941: (BTP) – Prop., Hinge Circuit, 147/149, Northumberland Street. New­castle-on-Tyne. Phone 20317. 1,050 seats. Continuous from 5.30 p.m. Mat., Mon. Prices 6d. to 1s. 2d. Booked at H.O. Pros.width, 26ft. Stage20ft. deep, 50ft. wide ; five dressing rooms. Phone Newcastle-on-Tyne 34259. Station, New­castle Central, L.N.E.R. & Film Transport. Closed 25^th June 1961. Demolished

ROYAL ELECTRIC THEATRE Groat Market  1922 – Prop., J. Henderson. Res. Man., G. Hender­son. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 4d. to 1s. 3d. Station, Newcastle-on-­Tyne, N.E.R.

ROYALTY High Street, Gosforth  Opened 17^th October 1934. Architect: Marshall & Tweedy, Newcastle. Builder: William Hall, Ltd., Gateshead. Decorator: R. J. Richardson, Newcastle. Capacity: 1,156 (790 stalls, 366 circle). Closed 30^th December 1981. Demolished.

St. George’s Drill Hall  Carnegie & Co. (1907)

SAVOY CINEMA Westmorland Road/Beech Grove Road, Benwell (BTP)  Opened 12^th December 1932 – Sunny Side Up. (chapel conversion) Prop., Savoy (Newcastle-on-Tyne) 125, Westgate Road, Newcastle-on-Tyne (Smelt circuit. Phone 27887). Architect: S. J. Stephenson, Newcastle. Builder: H. T. Smelt. Decorator: Fred A Foster Ltd., Nottingham. 791 seats. Booked at H.O. Con­tinuous. Prices 8d. to 1s. 2d. Phone 33645. To Essoldo November 1948. Closed by fire 29^th May 1966. October 1969 repaired & re-opened as bingo club. Burnt down May 1997. Demolished.

SCALA  Chillingham Road/Tosson Terrace, Heaton  Opened 10^th March 1913. Architect: Percy L Browne, Newcastle. prop. Armstrong Electric Theatres, Ltd. Builder: W. Thompson, Newcastle. Organ (no date) H S Vincent 2m straight. Capacity: 1051 (560 stalls, 312 pit, 163 circle, 16 dress circle). 1922 - Prop., Armstrong Electric Theatre Co., Ltd. Res. Man., W. M. Patterson. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 4d. to 9d. Phone, City 484. Station, Heaton, N.E.R. George Black II acquired an interest. 986 seats. To GTC/G-B 1928. 1937: (BA) Prop., General Theatre Corporation Ltd. 1,057 seats. Phone 554841. To Sol Sheckman – Essoldo 1936. By 1941: (BA) – Prop, Sol Sheckman Theatres, Ltd., 11, Bath Lane, Newcastle- on-Tyne. Phone Newcastle 28082-3. 1,036 seats. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Prices 6d. to 1s. 3d. Phone Newcastle-on-Tyne 554841. Station, Heaton, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Closed 1^st July 1961. Demolished.

SCOTSWOOD Bridge Crescent, Scotswood Opened 1^st April 1926. Architect: F. M. Dryden, Newcastle (for conversion). Capacity: 290. Closed end 1938  Demolished for Regent.

SIDE CINEMA  Opened 2001.

STANHOPE GRAND / IMPERIAL  Worley Street/Longley Street Opened 10^th August 1908 Architect: Austin & Johnson, Newcastle (original building). Capacity: 604 (520 stalls, 84 circle). 1922 as SG - ­Prop., W. R. Marshall &  J. Broughton. Res. Man., W. R. Marshall. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices,  4d. to 7d. Station, Newcastle-on-Tyne, N.E.R.

Closed pre February 1931. Demolished.

STAR PICTURE HALL / KOSY PICTURE HALL Worley St. Tantobie, Opened 1908. Renamed Star by Dec 1909. 1929: R. Fisher, mgr. Closed 1932.

STUDIOS 1-4  Waterloo Street  Opened 13^th December 1973. Seats: 1: 85; 2: 112; 3: 105; 4: 142. Closed 26^th March 1983. Converted to apartments.

SUN HALL Long Row, Byker Hill, Shields Road  Opened 29^th November 1909 Architect: W. R. Storey, Gateshead (for conversion). Capacity: 350 (250 stalls, 100 balcony). 1922 - Prop., H. Spoor. Res. Man., B. Spoor. Two show nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 4d. to 7d. Station, Newcastle, N.E.R. Closed after 2 February 1934. Demolished.

TATLER News Theatre 149 Northumberland Street (BTP)  Opened 16^th December 1937. Architect: J. Newton Fatkin, Newcastle. Decorator: Fred A. Foster Ltd., Nottingham. 437 stadium seats. Prop., Stanley Rogers Cinemas, Ltd., 147-149, Northumberland Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Phone 20317. 500 seats. Continuous. Price, 8d. Booked at H.O. Café Restaurant attached. Phone 26841. Station, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Closed 24^th August 1980. Auditorium demolished, frontage remains.

THEATRE ROYAL (No 1) Robert Arthur (1907)  1937: (Legit.) Prop., Robert Arthur Theatres Ltd. seats. Phone 22062. SG46: Prop.: Howard & Wyndham, Ltd., King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, 3. Bookings: Stewart Cruikshank, Director, Howard & Wynd­ham Ltd., 2-5, Old Bond Street, London W.1. Cap.: Stalls 622, boxes 34, D. circle 271, U. circle 308, Amphitheatre 165, Gallery 450. Barring clause: Radius 20 prior to and one month after, including Sundays. Includes artists. No broadcasts, talking film or television, prior to engagement. Once nightly 6.30 or 7. Subject to variation. Matinées Wednesday Saturday. Pantomime, musicals, ballet, opera, plays, drama. Stage: Pros. 29ft. 6 in., height 31ft. 2 in., to pelmet 24ft. 2 in., max. depth from setting line 36ft., height under fly galleries 24ft. 5 in., width between fly galleries 39ft., height of grid from stage 58ft. No counterweight gear.               80 lines. Elec. equip.: 240/480 v. A.C., 50 cycles. Footlights, 4-colour circuits with with ind. dimmers. Six battens, each with four colour circuits with ind. dimmers. (Red and blue : 24, 60 w. each. White and amber : 10, 100 w. each, 14, 60w. in series.) Ten 4-colour dips with ind. dimmers, each colour switch controlled. Two spots on stands. Eight floods on  stands. Two f-o-h following limes. One acting area barrel with four acting area lanterns, each with dimmer. Perches : 1,000 w. spot lanterns (one each side) dimmer and switch. Two 15 amp. arc points (one each side). Pros. (2) : 4 colour circuits each with dimmer and switch. Plugs: Two arc stage plugs (one each side) off rectifier. Fittings: Six hanging lengths, seven lamps each. Four branch lights with seven lamps each. Dressing rooms: Nine single, eight chorus, acc. 70. Band room. Orchestra: Acc. 22. Resident four (leader, 1st violin, ‘cello, piano). Amplifying equip.: Two turn-table reproducer. F-o-h or stage. Microphone.

TIVOLI Walker Road/Raby Street  Opened pre-18 July 1908. Capacity c.250. Closed c.1912. Demolished

Town Hall  City Treasurer  (1907)

TYNE THEATRE & OPERA HOUSE / STOLL PICTURE THEATRE / TYNE THEATRE Westgate Road  Howard & Wyndham (No 1) (1907) Opened as Stoll 2^nd June 1919. Architect: W B Parnell, Newcastle; (for conversion) F Matcham, London. Builder: J & W Lowery, Newcastle. Decorator: J. Richardson and Co., Newcastle. Capacity: 1,370. 1922 – Lessee, Sir Oswald Stoll. Res. Man., W. H. Lindon Travers. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 8d. to 2s. Phone, Central 1555. Station, Newcastle, N.E.R. Organ: Nicholson & Lord 2m 11s straight.1928, rebuilt by Blackett & Howden.                Talkies: 11^th May 1929 – The Singing Fool. 1937: (WE) Prop., Stoll Theatre Corporation Ltd. Cap.2,572. Phone 22552. 1941 (WE) Westgate Road -Lessee & Licensee, Sir Oswald Stoll, Coliseum Buildings, Charing Cross, London W.C. Phone Temple Bar 1500. 1,389 seats. Res. Man., A. Blake. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Café attached. Prices 6d. to 3s. Proscenium width 29ft. Stage60ft. 11 dressing-rooms. Phone Newcastle 21551. Station, Central, L.N.E.R. Organ removed 1942. Closed 23^rd March 1974. Present use: Theatre/Opera house

TYNESIDE CINEMA / NEWS THEATRE Pilgrim Street (RCA)  Opened 1^st February 1937. Architect: George Bell (Dixon & Bell). Builder: Thomas Clements and Son., Newcastle.412 seats (252 stalls, 160 circle). Prop., Haridix Ltd., The Newe House, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Phone Newcastle 11387. 402 seats. Continuous from 10.30 a.m. daily. Prices 7d. to 1s. 2d. Booked at Hall. Station, Newcastle-on­-Tyne, L.N.E.R. Closed March 1968 (as News Theatre). Re-opened as regional Film theatre. Seats: Classic: 268 Electra: 100 Digital: 35-60 [Plans announced April/May 2005 to add one or two further screens within a year; £3.5m lottery grant at end of year for main auditorium refurbishment] Re-opened 2008.

VAUDEVILLE Picture House Church Street Walker  Opened 23 November 1908 as theatre. Architect:           White and Stephenson, Newcastle. 1910 opened as picture hall. Architect: J. Johnson, Hebburn. Builder: T. M. Miller. 390 stadium seats. 1922 - Prop., Baker &  Rocke. Res. Man., S. H. Taylor. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 4d. to 9d. Station, Walker, N.E.R. 1937: (BTH) Prop., Vaudeville Cinema Co. Ltd.             450 seats. Phone 63357. 1941: (BTH) – Prop., C. L. & C. R. H. Baker, ‘Ingleside,’ Esplanade Avenue, Whitley Bay. Phone Whitley Bay 192. 500 seats. Booked at Whitley Bay. Continuous. Twice nightly Sats. Two changes weekly. Prices 4d. to 6d. Phone Wallsend 63357. Station, Walker, L.N.E.R. Closed 2^nd August 1958. Demolished.

WARNER Manors Opened 8^th December 1989. Architect: Ira Stiegler, Howard & Unick. Builder: P Whelan. Seats 1: 404; 2: 398; 3: 236; 4: 244; 5: 290; 6: 659;          7: 509; 8: 398; 9: 248. Closed.

WELBECK CINEMA and PLAYHOUSE Scrogg Road/Byker Street, Walker  Opened 4^th November 1929. Prop., Welbeck Cinema & Playhouse Co., Ltd. Architect: J. Newton Fatkin. Capacity: 965 (360 stalls, 290 pit, 315 circle). (RCA)  Stage 30ft. deep, 6 dressing rooms under. 1937: (RCA) Prop., Welbeck Cinema & Playhouse Co. Ltd. Phone 55377. 1941: Booked at Hall. Continuous Mon. to Fri.; twice nightly Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices 5d. to 1s. Proscenium width 29ft. Phone Newcastle 55377. Station, Walker Gate, L.N.E.R.  Closed after 6 December 1968. Bingo club.

West End Assembly Rooms  (1907)

WESTERHOPE PICTURE HOUSE (Mellophone)- Prop., P. Longhorn & Son. Phone New­castle-on-Tyne 69182. 450 seats. Con­tinuous from 5.30 Mon. to Fri.; two shows on Sat. Prices 6d. to 1s. Booked at Newcastle. Station, Newcastle-on-Tyne.

WESTGATE / WESTGATE ROAD PICTURE HOUSE / PICTURE HOUSE Westgate Road/Clayton Street  Opened 12^th February 1912 – rebuild of mission hall. Architect: Arthur Stockwell. 850 seats. Enlarged to 1,021 seats 1913. Re-named 1914. 1922 – Prop., Con­solidated Kinematograph Theatres Co., Ltd. Res. Man., J. A. Sandilands. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 9d. to 1s. 6d. Phone, Central 4981. Station, Newcastle, N.E.R. Closed 5^th March 1927. Re-built as New Westgate (see Gaumont).

Additional information from Frank Manders’ The Cinemas of Newcastle

 

NEW FERRY nr Birkenhead Cheshire

LYCEUM  Opened 30^th August 1913. Architects Nagington & Shennan, 1176 seats. 1922 – Prop., Lyceum Picture House Co., Ltd. Head office, Lyceum, New Ferry. Res. Man., Louis Best. Two shows nightly. Twice weekly. Prices, 8d. to 1s. 3d. Station, Bebington & New Ferry, L.N.W.R., 194 miles. To Luxor Cinemas (Southan Morris) by 1937. 1,167 seats. By 1941: (WE) – Prop., S. M. Super Cinemas, Ltd., 37/38 Golden Square W1. 1,176 seats. Two shows nightly. Twice weekly. Prices 6d. to 1s. 6d. To Essoldo 26^th August 1954 by. Closed March 1962. Demolished. Supermarket.

 

NEWFIELD Pelton Fell Co. Durham

GRAND CINEMA / GRAND ELECTRIC THEATRE  1922 – Prop., & Res. Man., C. Buckton. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 3d. to 9d. Station, Pelton, N.E.R. 1937: (B.T.H.) Prop., C. Buckton. By 1941: (BTH) – Prop. Christopher R. Buckton, South View, West Pelton, nr Beamish. 500 seats. Booked at Newcastle. Twice nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices 3d. to 6d. and 8d.

 

NEWHAVEN Sussex

REX / CINEMA de LUXE High Street  1922 as de L.- Prop.  &  Man., C. Cook. Two shows nightly. Mat. Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices, 4d. to 9d. Station, Newhaven, L.B.S.C.R. By 1941: (WE) – Prop., Mrs. R. L. Cooke, Sussex Lodge, Newhaven. 494 seats. Continuous. Booked at Hall. Two changes weekly. Prices 7d. to 1s. 6d. Phone 37. Station, Newhaven, S.R. Closed 1970, demolished.

Drill Hall  f., Sergt.-Major Sheppard.

KINEMA  1922 – Prop., H. Ellis. Gen. Man., H. H. Levenston. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 4d. to 1s. 1d. Phone, Newhaven 76. Station, Newhaven Town, L.B.S.C.R. By 1941: (WE) – Props., Newhaven Cinema De Luxe, Ltd., High Street, Newhaven. 500 seats. Booked at Hall. Continuous. Prices. 6d.               to 1s. Phone 37. Station, Newhaven Town, S.R.

 

NEW HERRINGTON Co. Durham

TIVOLI Herrington Burn  1922 – Prop., Fencehouses Palace, Ltd. Res. Man., Mrs. L. Winsley. One show nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s. Station, Penshaw, N.E.R. 1929: Fence Houses Palace Co. Ltd; Mrs. Lizzie Winsley, manageress. 1937: Prop., Fencehouses Palace Ltd. 826 seats. Phone H’ton-le- Spring 143. By 1941: (WE) – Prop., Fencehouses Palace, Ltd. Once nightly Sun. to Thurs. Twice nightly Fri. and Sat. Prices 4d. to 9d. Proscenium width 21ft. Phone Houghton 143. Station, Penshaw, L.N.E.R.

 

NEWLYN Cornwall

GAIETY Opened 1921. Architect: Cowell, Drewitt & Wheatley, Penzance. Prop., Reginald Hennessey. Reversed auditorium. By mid 1930s to Robert Thomas, Penzance. By 1941: (BTH) – Props. A. J. Carle, ‘Beulah,’ Newlyn. 357 seats. Prices 7d. to 1s. 9d. Continuous. Booked at Cardiff. Pictures and Variety. Proscenium width 24ft. Stage 8ft. deep. Phone Penzance 757. Station, Penzance G.W.R. To Harry Herbert Flower, Newlyn. By late 1950’s screen 17’ by 10’ 4”; RCA sound. Closed c.1970. Now restaurant.

 

NEW MALDEN Surrey

PLAZA / NEW MALDEN CINEMA 1922 – Prop., New Malden Cinema Co. Res. Man., G. H. Frome. Con­tinuous. Mat. Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. Station, New Maiden, L.S.W. R. Re-named. Destroyed by fire Sunday 27^th December 1936. Not rebuilt.

ODEON THEATRE Shannon Corner  Opened 7^th November 1938 – Gold is where you find it. Architect: George Coles. Seats: 961 +650 = 1,611. By 1941: Props., Odeon (New Malden) Ltd., Old County Cinema, Marlow, Bucks. Phone Marlow 695-9. Continuous. Prices 9d. to 3s. Booked at Moor Hall, Cookham, Berks. Phone New Malden 2992. Closed 2^nd January 1960 – The Five Pennies and The Ama Girls. Demolished.

 

NEWMARKET Cambs

DORIC CINEMA  High Street  (BTH) Opened Monday 1^st March 1937 – Good Morning Boys. Props., Norton Cinemas (Newmarket) Ltd., The Doric Cinema. Mgr. Ralph Wolsey. 1,124 seats. Prices 7d. to 2s.4d. Continuous from 2 p.m. Pictures and Variety. Booked at Hall. Pros. width, 30ft. Stage 30ft. deep by 50ft. wide. Six dressing-rooms. Café attached. Phone Newmarket 700. Station, Newmarket, L.N.E.R. Films by Transport. CinemaScope January 1955. Closed 27^th July 1964 – Dead Image and Secret Door. Mgr F. V. Morris. Empty.  Re-opened February 1980 as Newmarket Variety & Cabaret Club.

KING’S THEATRE  Fitzroy Street.

KINGSWAY High Street  Opened December 1926. By 1941: (BTP) – Prop., Kingsway (Newmarket) Ltd. 850 seats. Booked at Hall. Twice nightly. Prices 8d. to 2s. 6d. Phone Newmarket 406. Station, Newmarket L.N.E.R. & Road Transport. CinemaScope January 1955. Closed to film 28^th May 1977. Coronet Social Club. Nightclub.

KOZEY KINEMA Grafton Street 1922 -  Prop,  &  Res. Man., Barrington Lynham. Two shows nightly. Mat. Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s. 3d. Station, Newmarket, G.E.R.

PALACE / KOSY CINEMA / BIOSCOPE PICTURE HALL Grafton Street. Opened 1908/9. Props., Cook & Evans. !910: props. H. & C. Adams, mgr Cyril Adams.

VICTORIA / VICTORIA CINEMA-de-LUXE / Victoria Hall / CINEMATOGRAPH HALL / BIJOU THEATRE High Street  f., Frank Phillips (1907) 1912 prop. Barrington Lynham. Ballroom conversion. 1922 as Vic C de L – Prop., Barrington Lynham. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. . Prices, 8d. do 1s. 9d. Phone 70. By 1941: (Imperial) -Prop., Kingsway (Newmarket) Ltd. 550 seats. Pictures and occasional Variety. Booked at Hall. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices 8d. to 1s. 6d. Stage 15½ft. deep. Two dressing rooms. Ballroom attached. Phone Newmarket 229. Station, Newmarket L.N.E.R. Closed 1950s. demolished with hotel 1977.

Town Hall Clerk to the Council (1907)

 

NEW MILLS nr Stockport Derbys

ART THEATRE / ART PICTURE PLAYHOUSE / EMPIRE & HIPPODROME Jodrell Street  Opened 24^th June 1911. Architects: John & J. B. Fraser. Prop. New Mills Cinematograph & Entertainment Co. Ltd. Lessee David Taylor. Once nightly, twice Sat., mats. Wed. & Sat. 6d to 1/3d. To Walters & Law November 1920. 1921 as Emp Th – Prop. & Res. Man., D. Taylor. One show nightly, two on Sat. Mat., Wed. & Sat. Three changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s. 3d. Phone, Newmills 63. Station, Newmills, G.C.R. Closed 9^th April 1921. Re-constructed, redecorated & re-opened as Art Pic Play 29^th August 1921. Architect: Albert Winstanley. To New Mills Co March 1930. 1937: (B.T.H.) Prop., Art Playhouses Ltd. 905 seats. By 1941: (BTH) – Prop., New Mills Cinema (Sheffield) Ltd., 45, West Street, Sheffield. Phone Sheffield 26002. 600 seats. Booked at H.O. Occasional Variety. Booked at Hall. Twice nightly. Prices 6d. to 1s. 6d. Proscenium width 22ft. Stage 22ft. Five dressing-rooms. No fly tower. Phone New Mills 2230. SG46: Suitable for plays. Closed March 1950. Other use. Bought by amateurs c.1955. Re-opened 1959 as amateur theatre. 511 seats. Still in use.

CINEMA  Union Road  Opened October 1922. Props as in 1941. WE Sound early 1930. 760 seats. By 1941: (WE) – Prop., New Mills Cinema (Sheffield) Ltd., 45 West Street, Sheffield. Phone Central 26002. 720 seats. Booked at H.O. Once nightly Mon., to Fri. ; Mats., Wed., and Fri. Three shows on Sat. Prices 7d. to 1s. 2d. Phone New Mills, 3212. Station, New Mills L.M.S. Closed September 1949. re-opened April 1950. Closed to film mid-60s. Bingo to 1990s. Nightclub. Ruinous.

PAVILION  Market Street fl. 1915. Closed by fire. Site later market.

PICTUREDROME Crown Hotel  Opened 14^th February 1911 – conversion of assembly/ballroom? Lessee Stratton Wells. ?Closed during WWI.

 

NEW MILTON Hants

SCALA CINEMA Station Road  1922 – Prop., Wencote & Wilkinson. Res. Man., J. C. Wilkinson. One show nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s. 7d. Phone, New Milton 48. Station, New Milton, L.S.W.R.

WAVERLEY CINEMA Station Road 1931: Edwin Haywood, propr. (BTH) 1937: (B.T.H.) C. Haywood. 602 seats. Phone 342.

 

NEWPORT  I. of W.

APOLLO THEATRE Refurbished 2006.

CINEWORLD Coppins Bridge: 11 screens / 1,805 seats

Circus Pitch Wells (1907)

GRAND THEATRE Lugley Street  1931: Arth. Hill, propr. By 1941: (BA) – Prop., Isle of Wight Theatres, Ltd., Theatre Royal Ryde. Phone Ryde 2387. 526 seats. Booked at Theatre Royal, Ryde. Continuous from 2.30 p.m. Pros.width, 28ft. Prices 8d. to 1s. 10d. Phone Newport 2300. Station, Newport (I.o.W.) S.R.

MEDINA CINEMA / Medina Hall Cinema / Medina Hall 23 High Street  f., A. J. Salter (1907) 1922 as Med H - Prop., A. J. Salter. Res. Man., A. C. Salter. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Station, Newport, I.W.R. 1931: Albt. Jas. Salter, propr. 1937: (W.E.) Prop., Britten & Manning. 900 seats. Phone 291. 1941: (WE) – Prop., Medina Cinema, Ltd., 36 Kingsway, W.C.2. Phone Holborn 3283. 1,000 seats. Booked at Hall. Continuous daily from 2.30. Café attached. Prices 6d. to 2s. Phone Newport 2691. Station, Newport (I.o.W.) S.R. Closed.

RINK PICTURE PALACE Hearn Street – Prop., J. H. Cole & H. W. Parnell. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices 5d. to 1s. 3d. Station, Newport, I.W.R.

SAVOY / ODEON THEATRE Town Lane Corner/Pyle Street (BTH)  Opened 17^th October 1936 – East Meets West. Architect: Andrew Mather. 1,228 seats. 1941 – Props., Odeon (Newport, I.o.W.) Ltd., Old County Cinema, Marlow, Bucks. Phone Marlow 695-9. Booked at Moor Hall, Cookham, Berks. Continuous. Stage. Prices 9d. to 3s. 4d. Phone Newport 2515. Became Savoy 1^st January 1961. Closed 18^th December 1982 – Scum and The Long Good Friday. Demolished.

 

NEWPORT Mon

CANNON / ABC Bridge Street  Opened 28^th November 1968 – Half A Sixpence. On site of Lyceum. Architect: C. J. Foster & Alan Morgan. 1,320 stadium seats. Mgr. Terence C. Buttle. Prices, 5s to 7/6d, pensioners 1/3d to 4pm. Tripled 1980. To Cannon 1986 & re-named.

CANNON / STUDIOS 1 & 2 / COLISEUM Clarence Place, Corporation Street  Opened 22^nd June 1911. Prop., Biocolour circuit. 1922 – Prop., Biocolour Theatres, Ltd. Res. Man., W. H. Govier. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s. 6d. Phone, Newport 3776. To G-B March 1927. 1937: (R.C.A.) Prop., Gaumont British Picture Corp. Ltd. 814 seats. Phone 3776. 1941: (RCA) – Prop., Gaumont-British Picture Corpn., Ltd., 223 Regent Street, London W.1. Phone Regent 6642. 1,000 seats. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices 9d. to 1s. 10d. Proscenium width 26ft. Phone Newport 377611. Station, Newport, G.W.R. Closed 15.th April 1967. To Star circuit – re­opened 26^th September 1970. Closed 31^st December 1970. Twinned. Studios 1 & 2 1^st March 1971. 339 & 140 seats. To Cannon & renamed. Closed 19^th March 1987. Empty. Demolished post-1995.

CAPITOL Dock Street  1937: (BA) Prop., Gwent Theatres Ltd. 852 seats. Phone 3648. 1941: (BA) – Prop., Western Theatres, Ltd. 1,000 seats. Continuous. Prices 6d. to 1s. 6d. Phone Newport 3648. Station, Newport.

CITY CINEMA / METRO/ ABC Bridge Street  Opened 1968.

Drill Hall  f., Capt. Howard (1907)

EMPIRE THEATRE Charles Street  Moss Empires. Ltd. (1907)  1937: Prop.,Terence Bryon Theatres Ltd. 1,400 seats. Phone 2908. (Legit.) Bombed in 1940.

GEM CINEMA 144 Commercial Road  Opened 1913. 1937: (B.T.H.) Prop., F. H. Sutton. 1941: (BA) – Prop., H. Clayton-Gill, 33, Somerton Road, Newport. 300 seats. Booked at Hall. Continuous. Prices 4d. to 7d. Proscenium width 35ft. Closed 1950s. Demolished.

LITTLE THEATRE SG46: Cap.: Stalls 310, balcony 130. Once nightly 7. Matinées Thursdays and Saturdays. Plays and concerts. Stage: Prosc. 28ft., heightft., depth 23ft., height of grid 22ft. Elec. equip.: 230 v. D.C. Footlights, three. Three battens, one with four and two with three circuits. Spot bar with five spots. Four floods coupled to four dimmers. ft lighting with three circuits. Three dips., Five dips switch controlled. One spot on stand. Two floods on stands. Three f-o-h pre-set spots. Dressing rooms: two double, two single, two chorus rooms.

LYCEUM THEATRE Bridge Street  Sidney Cooper (1907) 1937: (W.E.) Prop., Lyceum (Newport) Ltd. 1,207 seats. Phone 2906. 1941: (WE) – Prop., Mr. & Mrs. S. Cooper. The Meadows, Glaswllch Lane, Newport. Lessees, Lyceum, Newport, Ltd. 1,350 seats. Booked at Theatre. Continuous. Prices 8d. to 1s. 10d. Occasional Variety. Proscenium width 27ft. Stage12 dressing rooms. Phone 2906. Station, Newport, G.W.R. SG46: Lyceum (adapted as a cinema). Closed 1961. Demolished – site used for ABC.

MAINDEE  158 Chepstow Road  Opened 1939. Closed 1961. Bingo. Now Wetherspoon’s.

ODEON THEATRE Clarence Place/East Usk Road (BTH)  Opened 12^th March 1938 – Young and Innocent. Architect: Arthur J. Price (Harry Weedon). 1,546 seats. By 1941 – Prop., Odeon (Newport) Ltd., Old County Cinema, Marlow, Bucks. Phone Marlow 695-9. Booked at Moor Hall, Cookham, Berks. Prices 9d. to 1s. 10d. Stage Phone Newport 5344. Closed 30^th May 1981 – The Last Flight of Noah’s Ark. Derelict. Snooker hall 1986-c.1991. Nightclub. Building listed. Closed. Now Newport City Live Arena.

OLYMPIA Cwmbran (BA) – 500 seats

OLYMPIA Skinner Street  Opened 14^th May 1913. 1,000 seats. Enlarged c.1915. 1922 -Prop., Tilney’s Kinemas L td.

To ABC 1929. 1937: (W.E.) Prop., A.B.C. Ltd. 1,307 seats. Phone 2259. 1941: (WE) – Lessees, Associated British Cinemas, Ltd., 30-31 Golden Square, London W.1. Phone Gerrard 7887. 1,570 Seats. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Proscenium width 36ft. Phone Newport 2259. Station, Newport, Mon., G.W.R. Closed September 1964. Demolished.

PALLADIUM / REGAL  1922 as Pall – Prop., Welsh Electric Theatres, Ltd. Res. Man., M. Whittle. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 9d. to 2s. Phone, Newport 2963. Closed 1937. Demolished for Odeon.

PAVILION Stow Hill  1937: (R.C.A.) Prop., Stow Properties Ltd. 1,650 seats. Phone 2906. 

PILL PALACE 100, Commercial Road  1937: (B.T.H.) Prop., Mrs. A. Averbuck. 450 seats.

PLAZA (BTH) – Prop., The Plaza (Newport) Ltd., 100, Commercial Road. 850 seats. Booked at Hall. Continuous. Prices 5d. to 1s. Proscenium width 25ft. Station, Newport, G.W.R. Fitted ‘Ardente’ Deaf Aids

RIALTO THEATRE Station Approach  1922 – Prop., Newport Electric Theatres, Ltd. Res. Man., Harry Salter. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 9d. to 1s. Phone, Newport 3028. Station, Newport, G.W.R.

SOUTH WALES ELECTRIC PALACE  1922 – Prop., H. Willstead. Res. Man., W. Ash. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 3d. to 8d. Station, Newport, G.W.R.

Town Hall A. A. Newman (1907)

TREDEGAR PICTURE HOUSE  / TREDEGAR HALL PICTURE HOUSE / Trede­gar Hall Stow Hill  J. K. Stone (1907) Opened as full-time cinema October 1922 – Prop. A. Freedman, I. Harris, & A. Cohen. Res. Man., A.. Feathers. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Phone, Newport 2031. Station, Newport, G.W.R. To London & Southern c.1929. To Odeon with circuit 1939. 1.019 seats. 1937 as TPH: (W.E.) Prop.,  Odeon Theatres Ltd. 1,091 seats. Phone 2031. 1941: (WE) Props., London & Southern Super Cinemas, Ltd., Old County Cinema, Marlow, Bucks. Phone Marlow 695-9. 1,019 seats. Booked at Moor Hall, Cookham, Berks. Con­tinuous. Prices 9d. to 1s. 10d. Phone 2031. Station, Newport, G.W.R. Closed December 1945. Repairs. Re-opened 7^th April 1946. Closed 29^th March 1958. Became Rank Majestic Ballroom. Bar/nightclub by 2001.

UGC Seven Styles Avenue: 13 screens

 

NEWPORT Salop

PICTURE HOUSE / Town Hall  f., Manager (1907) By 1941: (WE) – Props., Wright’s Picture House (Newport) Ltd. 450 seats. Booked at Hall. Prices 7d. to 1s. 6d. Proscenium width 20ft. Stage10ft. Phone Newport 58. Station, Newport, L.M.S.

 

NEWPORT PAGNELL Bucks

ELECTRA / ELECTRIC THEATRE  St. John Street  Opened 1912 – hall built on to rear of existing Georgian house. Prop. Alex Salmon. 1922 – Prop., G.. Salmons, L. Salmons, & A. Ballard. One show nightly. Thurs., Fri.. and Sat, One change weekly.. Prices, 4d. to 1s. Phone, Newport Pagnell 29. 1937: (B.A.) Prop., L. Salmonds & Co. Ltd. 585 seats. Phone 29. By 1941: (BA) – Props., Electra (Newport Pagnell) Ltd. 500 seats. One show nightly and Mats. One change weekly. Prices 8d. to 1s. 6d. Booked at Hall. Phone 146. Station, Newport Pagnell, L.M.S., or Film Transport Road Service. Closed 1991, now shops. Auditorium demolished, façade restored.

Masonic Hall  f., G. H. Sampson (1907)

Town Hall  f., M. Warren (1907) 

 

NEW ROMNEY Kent

PAVILION High Street  KYB 1922

 

NEW SILKSWORTH Co. Durham

HIPPODROME (The)  1922 – Prop., Stanley Rogers & R. G. Elder. Res. Man., J. French. Phone, Ryhope 12. Station, Ryhope, N.E.R. 1929: Stanley Rogers & Robert G. Elder, proprs. 1937: (B.T.P.) Prop., S. Rogers Cinemas Ltd. 700 seats. Phone Ryhope 231. By 1941: (BTP) – E. J. Hinge Circuit. Phone Newcastle 20317. 638 seats. Booked at 72 Grey Street, Newcastle. Twice nightly. Prices 5d. to 8d. Phone Ryhope 231. Station, Sunderland, L.N.E.R.

REX

 

NEWQUAY Cornwall

ASTOR / NEW THEATRE Narrowcliff  (BTP)  Opened 2^nd October 1939. Prop. Enid Hosking OR Newquay Entertainments Ltd. 611 stadium seats. Proscenium width 36’, stage 19’ 6” deep stage; 6 dressing rooms. Café. Modernised 1955. Late 1950s leased to Duchy Cinemas Ltd. re-named Astor. CinemaScope. Closed to film 1978. 2^nd storey added, furniture store. Closed. 2006 – boarded-up. Demolished January 2007.

CAMELOT  The Crescent  Opened 1970 – on site of Pavilion, but flank towers original. (Left-hand one, looking at the building from the front, had a metal ladder down the inside, plus a winch at the top to haul the film cans up and down. Still the original ones from when the Pavilion was built! – Darron Keeling) Prop., Council. 812 seats. CinemaScope, 70mm – Cinemechanica Victoria 6s/DTS stereo sound. To Garfield Daniels by 1980. Stage built in house – 5 rows/100 seats lost. Closed 1994, reopened Blue Juice première. Closed November 1987. 2002 Australian theme bar, cladding hides much of structure.

Drill Hall (1907) 

PAVILION THEATRE / The Pavilion and Shelter  The Crescent  Opened 1912. Prop., Newquay Urban District Council/ Cornish Riviera Entertainments Ltd. Lounge and tea rooms at rear. 1922 – Prop., Pavilion, Ltd. Res. Man., W. Ellis Slack. One show nightly. Two. mats, weekly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 8d. to 1s. 10d. By 1932 to Prance & Mumford (Sound & Movement Cinemas Ltd) Proscenium width 30’. 750 seats. RCA Photophone sound. By 1941: (RCA) – Operated by Sound & Movement Cinemas, Ltd., 14, Portland Square, Plymouth. 750 seats. Booked at H.O. Three shows daily. Two changes weekly. Prices 9d. to 2s. 6d. Proscenium width 30ft. Phone Newquay 149. Station, New­quay G.W.R. To Albert Jackson Withers 1942. To Rank with circuit. Gutted by fire June 1968. Camelot built on site.

PICTURE HOUSE / PICTURE THEATRE / Oddfellows’ Hall Marcus Hill  Built 1878. R. K. Lukes (1907) Opened as Pic Th 1912. 1922 – Prop., Newquay Picture Theatre, Ltd. Res. Man., H. James. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 8d. to 1s. 3d.  Re-named Pic Hse. Prop./lessee Newquay Picture Theatre Ltd. 180 seats. To W. Ellis Slack. Closed 1930.

ROXY East Street November 1944 Architect: F. E. Bromige. Stalls 978, 540 circle = 1518. Large stage,2 dressing rooms. Ballroom under circle. Scheme not realised.

Victoria Hall f., W. Huxtable (1907) 

VICTORIA THEATRE / Victoria Hall Wesley Hill  (BTH)  Opened 1930. Prop., A. H. Chapman, St Columb Major. Lessees: Anderton & Arthur Rowland, Plymouth. Upper storey hall above shop. Seats 412, inc. balcony 93. Proscenium width 20’; 2 dressing rooms. To Prance & Mumford 14^th August 1934. By 1941: (BTH) Oper­ated by Sound & Movement Cinemas, Ltd., 14 Portland Square, Plymouth. Phone Plymouth 4981. 450 seats. Prices 9d. to 1s.10d. Booked at H.O. Phone Newquay 3341. Station, Newquay G.W.R. To Albert Jackson Withers circuit 1942. CinemaScope c.1958. Closed to film 1974. Bingo. Open in 1999.

Extra info. from Clive Polden & Darron Keeling

 

NEWSHAM Northumb

KINO HALL  1922 -  Prop. &  Res. Man., W. Ritson. One show nightly. Two changes weekly. Station, Newsham, N.E.R. 1937: Prop., J. Ritson.   1941: (AWH) – Prop., M. Bice, 34 Barra Avenue, Plessey Road, Blyth. Phone Blyth 281. 600 seats. Booked at Newcastle. One show nightly, Tues. to Fri. Two shows Mon. and Sat. Three changes weekly. Prices 3d. to 1s. Proscenium width 18ft. Station Newsham, L.N.E.R.

PLAZA  Cramlington Terrace, Newcastle Road  1937: Prop., C. & T. Cinemas Ltd seats. 1941: (AWH) – Prop., Mrs. M. Bice, Ewesley, Plessey Road, Blyth. 450 seats. Prices 3d. to 10d. Once nightly, Sun. to Fri. Twice, Sat. Booked at New­castle-on-Tyne. Proscenium width 30ft. Phone Blyth 281. Station, Newsham. Now methodist chapel.

 

NEWTON Derbys