The Washington Cinema was built to the side of the hotel, which remained open, on the former tennis courts. The hotel can be seen in the architect’s original drawing of 1936 to the left of the cinema.
Westbury Museum give the opening as being November 1920, one of the first films shown in a double bill was Charlie Chaplin in Roustabout. Also boasting a cafe lounge, the venue also presented plays, concerts, fundraising events and even the annual crowning of the town’s Carnival Queen. Vista Court, a block of flats, now stand on the site.
The later cinema (The Globe) was located near to the church in a different location to the earlier cinema. Sadly, neither cinema has survived major reconstruction work on Bulford Camp in latter years.
The Christie was ordered on 02/07/1935 (order number 2959), and opened by Reginald New on 14/10/1935, so a slightly earlier opening date than that shown above!
The straight organ was installed in 1928, manufactured new by Bedwell & Son. It had a 2 manual keyboard with 7 stops. It was removed after just 6 months due to vermin damage and later installed into the Masonic Hall, Poole in 1930.
It’s still crass that such a beautiful building was demolished for a typical glass/steel/concrete carbuncle… no doubt the business rates in a 5* boutique hotel is far higher than a mere cinema… money talks…
Built by a syndicate led by Joseph R. Collins, the architect was J. J. Hill. Original plans had a billiards hall in the basement with 8 tables, but these were later dropped from the final plans. The manager was fined in 1912 and 1913 for overcrowding. The Globe was taken over by Sidney Bamford in February 1915. General Theatres Corporation, who were to shortly be taken over by Gaumont, owned the cinema from December 1928, who introduced talkies from April 1930. Sold to the E. J. Hinge circuit in 1935 who already co-owned the Gosforth Cinema on the High Street, the cinema was redecorated in 1958. After closure as a cinema, the bingo operation lasted here until 1990.
The Washington Cinema was built to the side of the hotel, which remained open, on the former tennis courts. The hotel can be seen in the architect’s original drawing of 1936 to the left of the cinema.
Westbury Museum give the opening as being November 1920, one of the first films shown in a double bill was Charlie Chaplin in Roustabout. Also boasting a cafe lounge, the venue also presented plays, concerts, fundraising events and even the annual crowning of the town’s Carnival Queen. Vista Court, a block of flats, now stand on the site.
Date of opening was 14 November 1912 as reported the next day in the Heywood Advertiser.
From Cinema News and Property Gazette 1912, the cinema was being offered for sale at the time.
Photo courtesy of www.leatherheadhistory.org from a newspaper cutting.
Not listed in the 1966 KYB either.
It should be noted that this is a photo of the later dance hall, and not the early cinema venue!
Opened Boxing Day 1912, picture of advertisement uploaded, from the Friern Barnet History website.
Map of cinema location added, it was mid-way along Wood Street.
The later cinema (The Globe) was located near to the church in a different location to the earlier cinema. Sadly, neither cinema has survived major reconstruction work on Bulford Camp in latter years.
Postcode is PO1 4BT
A 2 Manual Christie was ordered on 27/09/1927, job number 2690 but later cancelled. Presumably the Compton was installed instead!
The Christie was removed c1972.
The Christie was ordered on 02/07/1935 (order number 2959), and opened by Reginald New on 14/10/1935, so a slightly earlier opening date than that shown above!
Postcode is SW10 9QZ.
Wurlitzer removed January 1958.
The Wurlitzer Opus list has a model 108 as being despatched from the factory for this theatre on 20/06/1925, Opus number 1087.
The straight organ was installed in 1928, manufactured new by Bedwell & Son. It had a 2 manual keyboard with 7 stops. It was removed after just 6 months due to vermin damage and later installed into the Masonic Hall, Poole in 1930.
It’s still crass that such a beautiful building was demolished for a typical glass/steel/concrete carbuncle… no doubt the business rates in a 5* boutique hotel is far higher than a mere cinema… money talks…
Camp Road saw a large development of housing being built in the mid 80’s, and sadly, this cinema was swept away back then.
It became a confectionery warehouse in 1965, demolition came in 1968.
Bingo ceased in April 1977.
Built by a syndicate led by Joseph R. Collins, the architect was J. J. Hill. Original plans had a billiards hall in the basement with 8 tables, but these were later dropped from the final plans. The manager was fined in 1912 and 1913 for overcrowding. The Globe was taken over by Sidney Bamford in February 1915. General Theatres Corporation, who were to shortly be taken over by Gaumont, owned the cinema from December 1928, who introduced talkies from April 1930. Sold to the E. J. Hinge circuit in 1935 who already co-owned the Gosforth Cinema on the High Street, the cinema was redecorated in 1958. After closure as a cinema, the bingo operation lasted here until 1990.
Built for Albert Burglass, who already operated the Bensham Picture House.
This is the 1937 interior when converted into a News Theatre. The refurbishment was by Marshall & Tweedy.