The Warner multiplex opened in December 1989 so the fact that the Jesmond lasted until October 1993 was quite a feat. This was more than can be said for that useless lot, Cannon (who acquired the ABC Circuit via underhand methods) who decided to close their city centre cinema (which still operated at a handsome profit) as soon as they became aware of Warner Bros' intention to open in Newcastle………
When the roadshow era began a false proscenium was constructed forward of the original. Following closure for Cinerama conversion in 1963 (‘Lawrence of Arabia’, which was showing for a season, transferred to the Pavilion) nothing was retained but the four walls and even the roof was raised by 10'!
These and other tabs at the Essoldo were ‘travellers’. The house and screen sets were motorised but there were also manual ones used for variety shows.
When 70mm was introduced a large concave screen was installed slightly forward of the proscenium together with ‘sweep round’ draw curtains.
Upon twinning in 1971 the screen was returned to its original position and new silver tabs were lit by ‘T6’ spots from the splay walls; ABC later removed these and fitted footlit gold tabs.
Cinema and theatre curtains are now very much things of the past but,in my opinion,their absence further diminishes that all important ‘sense of occasion’………
I used to live near the former Regal and , when passing, I always thought that the building had at some time been cut – probably to less than half its original length.
During the cinema’s final modernisation prior to ‘twinning’ a huge concave screen and tabs were installed in front of the proscenium. After conversion the screen was returned to within the pros and whilst 70mm was retained the ‘sheet size’ was by no means as large as that of the single auditorium. It was still impressive, however and the 6 track magnetic sound could not be heard to better effect elsewhere.
The power that Warner Bros had over ABC is in evidence here.
Although ‘A Fever in the Blood’ (1961) is the new film on offer in this shot it was obviously considered not strong enough to play on its own (with only a short supporting programme) as Hitchcock’s ‘Strangers on a Train’ (1951) is given equal billing.
What a good programme and far superior to most of today’s output on offer in the soulless multiplexes…….
Does the auditorium actually survive? I read some years ago that the Scala had been demolished; obviously the Front of House is extant as an Estate Agents.
I remember this cinema closing in the Summer of 1971 with a week of Disney classics including ‘Swiss Family Robinson’ and ‘In Search of the Castaways’. The reviewer in the ‘Northern Echo’ at the time commented: “The old Scala bows out with a week of Disney movies – what a pity that the children who go to see these won’t have a cinema any more”……
Herewith link to adverts for the Scala and sister cinemas, the Victoria Hall and the Wycliffe :–
I remember the building being the Co-operative Butchers' Society (at least the front part of the ground floor was) and I believe that the Empire was on the first floor of this long building which I guess will be long demolished.
There was another silent cinema called the Cosy on Main Street which became Moody’s Sale Rooms and was demolished in the 1970’s.
The Rex was enlarged at some stage via the addition of a circle when the capacity was increased to 450.
I believe that the cinema closed in 1958 and for a while it was a dance hall (it was neither large nor grand enough to be classed as a ballroom). In about 1964 it became a ‘prize bingo’ using only the stalls (the cash equivalent had already been operating at the Hippodrome since 1962).
Being a curious young lad, I ventured inside in its latter incarnation and it was apparent that there was very little under-hang below the balcony. The projection box was downstairs although the ports, whilst boarded over, were still in evidence.
I understand that Middlesbrough based Thompsons' Enterprises briefly ran the place (as the Magnet) before they acquired the Hippodrome from Gaumont British. For the record, Thompsons, in turn, also sold a number of cinemas to GB including the huge Middlesbrough Hippodrome.
According to an old Kine Year Book (1956?) to which I at one time had access the capacity given was 450, the proscenium width 18'(!)and the proprietors were Mincom (or similar) of Clayton Street, Newcastle.
I am unsure if CinemaScope was ever installed as quite a number of small cinemas which closed in the 1950’s were not thus equipped and I suspect that this may have been the case with the Rex. The locals said that the screen tabs had a ‘rising sun’ design on them although neither the pros nor the curtains remained in situ when I visited the building in the 1960’s……
One distinctive feature of the building was the large neon vertical ‘REX’ sign on the apex of the roof. One stormy night the ‘E’ was blown down and the sign remained like that for the rest of its days. Perhaps it was not to be outdone by the Essoldo at the other side of the railway footbridge where the sign often had letters unilluminated (sometimes the last three thereby suggesting from a distance that it was a petrol station).
Shildonians certainly had an inspiring choice of film venues in that part of town………
A 1977 photo of a goods train passing the old cinema (on the Stockton & Darlington line) uploaded to photos section.
The Warner multiplex opened in December 1989 so the fact that the Jesmond lasted until October 1993 was quite a feat. This was more than can be said for that useless lot, Cannon (who acquired the ABC Circuit via underhand methods) who decided to close their city centre cinema (which still operated at a handsome profit) as soon as they became aware of Warner Bros' intention to open in Newcastle………
When the roadshow era began a false proscenium was constructed forward of the original. Following closure for Cinerama conversion in 1963 (‘Lawrence of Arabia’, which was showing for a season, transferred to the Pavilion) nothing was retained but the four walls and even the roof was raised by 10'!
These and other tabs at the Essoldo were ‘travellers’. The house and screen sets were motorised but there were also manual ones used for variety shows.
When 70mm was introduced a large concave screen was installed slightly forward of the proscenium together with ‘sweep round’ draw curtains.
Upon twinning in 1971 the screen was returned to its original position and new silver tabs were lit by ‘T6’ spots from the splay walls; ABC later removed these and fitted footlit gold tabs.
Cinema and theatre curtains are now very much things of the past but,in my opinion,their absence further diminishes that all important ‘sense of occasion’………
Photo of the cinema as the ‘Bijou News Theatre’ upoaded.
Photo of original auditorium uploaded.
Photo uploaded.
I used to live near the former Regal and , when passing, I always thought that the building had at some time been cut – probably to less than half its original length.
During the cinema’s final modernisation prior to ‘twinning’ a huge concave screen and tabs were installed in front of the proscenium. After conversion the screen was returned to within the pros and whilst 70mm was retained the ‘sheet size’ was by no means as large as that of the single auditorium. It was still impressive, however and the 6 track magnetic sound could not be heard to better effect elsewhere.
Photo uploaded.
Photo uploaded.
Another shot of the original auditorium uploaded.
Photo uploaded.
Image uploaded.
Lyric auditorium photo uploaded.
Photo uploaded.
The power that Warner Bros had over ABC is in evidence here.
Although ‘A Fever in the Blood’ (1961) is the new film on offer in this shot it was obviously considered not strong enough to play on its own (with only a short supporting programme) as Hitchcock’s ‘Strangers on a Train’ (1951) is given equal billing.
What a good programme and far superior to most of today’s output on offer in the soulless multiplexes…….
Does the auditorium actually survive? I read some years ago that the Scala had been demolished; obviously the Front of House is extant as an Estate Agents.
I remember this cinema closing in the Summer of 1971 with a week of Disney classics including ‘Swiss Family Robinson’ and ‘In Search of the Castaways’. The reviewer in the ‘Northern Echo’ at the time commented: “The old Scala bows out with a week of Disney movies – what a pity that the children who go to see these won’t have a cinema any more”……
Herewith link to adverts for the Scala and sister cinemas, the Victoria Hall and the Wycliffe :–
http://teesdalemercuryarchive.org/pdf/1931/October-14/October-14-1931-09.pdf
http://teesdalemercuryarchive.org/pdf/1941/March-12/March-12-1941-05.pdf
http://teesdalemercuryarchive.org/pdf/1941/October-22/October-22-1941-04.pdf
http://teesdalemercuryarchive.org/pdf/1943/May-19/May-19-1943-04.pdf
4 images uploaded.
3 images uploaded
I remember the building being the Co-operative Butchers' Society (at least the front part of the ground floor was) and I believe that the Empire was on the first floor of this long building which I guess will be long demolished.
There was another silent cinema called the Cosy on Main Street which became Moody’s Sale Rooms and was demolished in the 1970’s.
The Rex was enlarged at some stage via the addition of a circle when the capacity was increased to 450.
I believe that the cinema closed in 1958 and for a while it was a dance hall (it was neither large nor grand enough to be classed as a ballroom). In about 1964 it became a ‘prize bingo’ using only the stalls (the cash equivalent had already been operating at the Hippodrome since 1962).
Being a curious young lad, I ventured inside in its latter incarnation and it was apparent that there was very little under-hang below the balcony. The projection box was downstairs although the ports, whilst boarded over, were still in evidence.
I understand that Middlesbrough based Thompsons' Enterprises briefly ran the place (as the Magnet) before they acquired the Hippodrome from Gaumont British. For the record, Thompsons, in turn, also sold a number of cinemas to GB including the huge Middlesbrough Hippodrome.
According to an old Kine Year Book (1956?) to which I at one time had access the capacity given was 450, the proscenium width 18'(!)and the proprietors were Mincom (or similar) of Clayton Street, Newcastle.
I am unsure if CinemaScope was ever installed as quite a number of small cinemas which closed in the 1950’s were not thus equipped and I suspect that this may have been the case with the Rex. The locals said that the screen tabs had a ‘rising sun’ design on them although neither the pros nor the curtains remained in situ when I visited the building in the 1960’s……
One distinctive feature of the building was the large neon vertical ‘REX’ sign on the apex of the roof. One stormy night the ‘E’ was blown down and the sign remained like that for the rest of its days. Perhaps it was not to be outdone by the Essoldo at the other side of the railway footbridge where the sign often had letters unilluminated (sometimes the last three thereby suggesting from a distance that it was a petrol station).
Shildonians certainly had an inspiring choice of film venues in that part of town………
Photo taken during the Stockton & Darlington Railway 150th Anniversary 1975 uploaded.
The opening of Europe’s first triple cinema, the ABC Edinburgh 1969:–
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/new-abc-cinema/query/ABC+Edinburgh
The opening of the ABC Coliseum Cinerama in 1963:–
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/welcome-to-cinerama
At 90' this was the widest Cinerama screen in the UK