The Theatre Royal had a foyer extension built in 1967, designed by Patrick Gwynne, in a starkly modern yet complimentary style to the Gothic theatre. It is located behind what appeared to be a garage on the left of the photo above, whilst the ground floor has been opened up and is part of the pedestrian thoroughfare of St Leonard’s Place. More recently a studio theatre was added.
The Google image here is way out – go west along Halifax Road until the junction with Burnley road is visible. The Hippodrome is on the North side of Halifax Road, near the junction about where the A646 number is on the map.
Film shows are continuing at the Hippodrome, under the “Electric Palace” banner, using a digital projector. Meanwhile stage shows continue unabated, flooding in the Upper Calder Valley permitting – the theatre (and town) has now been flooded three times, but a new defence plan has just been announced.
The former Palace is now The Showbar after Brannigans closed. A fair amount of the theatre survives, mostly hidden away behind false floors and ceilings. The lower nightclub extends over the stage, but above this the stripped-out flytower survives.
The building remains “for sale”, no asking price published, just “offers invited for the freehold” in May 2013. The building still looks in very good repair.
Although, with the exception of Muswell Hill (surrounded by a much larger catchment area) and York almost all of the triplings resulted in further sub-division or closure in the 1990’s – and Odeon have tried on several occasions to destroy the impact of MH and exited York. The large balcony and front stalls auditorium could not have survived in Scarborough and the mini’s in the rear stalls would have been small and unsatisfactory.
Though I completely agree that this was one of the finest of the Odeon interiors and a sad loss when it was converted.
Photos taken in 1998 when it was operating as a Walkers Bingo Club – despite the very derelict look on one of the pictures! I am not sure if the auditorium was at 1st & 2nd floor level – the entrance was at the other end from this photo and there seems to be substantial ground floor shops. Can anyone clarify?
Now in use as a storage facility (July 2013). Worryingly the interior was said to be stripped and re-plastered.
FULL FACADE
DETAIL OF ARCH
CLOSE-UP OF FACE
Photos from July 2013 here
EXTERIOR
SCREEN 3
FORMER STALLS BAR
MAIN SCREEN TOWARDS REAR
MAIN SCREEN TOWARDS FRONT
A photo from circa 1974 here:–
PAVILION THEATRE
A scanned slide of the theatre taken around 1979 – some work seems to be being done to the façade.
WHITE ROCK PAVILION
“ .. the brick exterior was rather plain”
Masterful understatement Ken!
TONBRIDGE RITZ
Photographed circa 1990 as the Bejam supermarket.
The Theatre Royal had a foyer extension built in 1967, designed by Patrick Gwynne, in a starkly modern yet complimentary style to the Gothic theatre. It is located behind what appeared to be a garage on the left of the photo above, whilst the ground floor has been opened up and is part of the pedestrian thoroughfare of St Leonard’s Place. More recently a studio theatre was added.
THEATRE ROYAL FOYER
The Theatre Royal is grade 2* listed.
Current auditorium view here:–
THEATRE ROYAL AUDITORIUM
Some photos from 1993 here:–
EXTERIOR
FOYER
AUDITORIUM & STAGE
AUDITORIUM SIDE BOXES
In 2013 the building is still derelict.
BACUP REGAL
It was Club Ice when the google imaging vehicle went past – it is Saint’s Bar now (2013).
Photo from June 2013 here:–
REGAL ST IVES
The Google image here is way out – go west along Halifax Road until the junction with Burnley road is visible. The Hippodrome is on the North side of Halifax Road, near the junction about where the A646 number is on the map.
Film shows are continuing at the Hippodrome, under the “Electric Palace” banner, using a digital projector. Meanwhile stage shows continue unabated, flooding in the Upper Calder Valley permitting – the theatre (and town) has now been flooded three times, but a new defence plan has just been announced.
Photos from June 2013 here: ENTRANCE
AUDITORIUM FROM STAGE
AUDITORIUM FROM REAR BALCONY
The Olympia appears to have been demolished and replaced by a Morrisons Supermarket on a much enlarged site.
This cinema has now been demolished.
A photo from 1976 here:–
PAVILION THEATRE
A 1986 photo as an amusement arcade here:–
QUEENS HALL
Some 1986 photos of the cinema here:–
EXTERIOR INCLUDING LEGS
INTERIOR TOWARDS SCREEN
INTERIOR TOWARDS REAR
1986 shot of the art deco auditorium which bears a passing similarity to the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham
AUDITORIUM
The former Palace is now The Showbar after Brannigans closed. A fair amount of the theatre survives, mostly hidden away behind false floors and ceilings. The lower nightclub extends over the stage, but above this the stripped-out flytower survives.
Some photos from May 2013 here:– EXTERIOR
PROJECTION ROOM
TOP OF PROSCENIUM
A few more photos taken in May 2013 here:–
EXTERIOR
LIGHTING / MASKING / CURTAINS CONTROL
AUDITORIUM and STAGE
As of May 2013 the Scala is gone, demolished possibly as long as six months ago. The site shows no signs of re-use and the empty space is fenced-off.
A photo when still operating as a bingo hall here:– SCALA RUNCORN
The building remains “for sale”, no asking price published, just “offers invited for the freehold” in May 2013. The building still looks in very good repair.
ABC WARRINGTON
ABC WARRINGTON
Although, with the exception of Muswell Hill (surrounded by a much larger catchment area) and York almost all of the triplings resulted in further sub-division or closure in the 1990’s – and Odeon have tried on several occasions to destroy the impact of MH and exited York. The large balcony and front stalls auditorium could not have survived in Scarborough and the mini’s in the rear stalls would have been small and unsatisfactory.
Though I completely agree that this was one of the finest of the Odeon interiors and a sad loss when it was converted.
And don’t start me on the local council ……!
An older photo (1998), before the foyer was extended can be seen here:–
EMPIRE THEATRE
Photos taken in 1998 when it was operating as a Walkers Bingo Club – despite the very derelict look on one of the pictures! I am not sure if the auditorium was at 1st & 2nd floor level – the entrance was at the other end from this photo and there seems to be substantial ground floor shops. Can anyone clarify?
PLAZA CONSETT
PLAZA CONSETT
As always I now wish I had made more of an effort to get inside!
Photos of the auditorium here:–
EMPIRE THEATRE – side view 1994
EMPIRE THEATRE – balconies 1992
EMPIRE THEATRE – from stage as a nightclub 2008