The ground layout on a gentle slope, plus the exit on the first implies a balcony possibly as well as a raked auditorium floor, in which case, it was a good sized capacity venue.
The Jackson Withers Circuit was bought by Rank in November 1976, this included the Cornwall cinemas run by them, however, Rank quickly disposed of them to independents. This particular venue was bought by WTW Cornish Cinemas as they are now known, operating as Capitol Bingo alongside WTW’s Capitol Bingo club in St. Austell, which is still open.
I remember watching the 1987 film The Running Man with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the lead part in this cinema. It was in Screen 2, in the former circle foyer area I think it was, seating around 40-50.
If this building was transported to a ‘hip’ location in London, they’d be clambering to have it re-opened for films or as a cultural centre. Alas, Lincolnshire is a cultural backwater I fear….
Initially converted into an Alpha Bingo Club before Mecca took over. Mike Blakemore’s image shows BINGO on the canopy, still with the neon ABC triangle on the building.
Apparently rioters targeted the furniture emporium, as those on benefits received grants in the form of vouchers to be spent at this store only. The prices for the second-hand furniture was very high for what it was, so the vouchers bought less than was perhaps anticipated, hence being targeted….
Cover photo clearly how’s the van advertising the Alpha Bingo Club here, later operating as a Gala Club, and now the independent Ritz Bingo Club. Mecca have never operated this venue.
The gallery photo shows the bingo operating as EMI Bingo, this seams to follow a pattern, as other sites initially have Star Bingo which later changed to EMI Bingo, another example being the Savoy/ABC Exeter.
Final bingo operators were an independent called Kings.
Yet another broken link
The ground layout on a gentle slope, plus the exit on the first implies a balcony possibly as well as a raked auditorium floor, in which case, it was a good sized capacity venue.
Final bingo operators were EMI Bingo.
Last operated by Top Ten Bingo.
And importantly, Dave has added a picture showing the venue was used as the Boulevard Bingo Club after closure as a cinema.
The bingo operation transferred to the Regal Cinema, retaining the Mayfair Bingo name.
The clear advantage of a live-in projectionist, look how pristine and clean everything is!
The Jackson Withers Circuit was bought by Rank in November 1976, this included the Cornwall cinemas run by them, however, Rank quickly disposed of them to independents. This particular venue was bought by WTW Cornish Cinemas as they are now known, operating as Capitol Bingo alongside WTW’s Capitol Bingo club in St. Austell, which is still open.
Operated as Johnnys Bingo.
Street number was 18 by the look of the photograph.
Although the Empire name was kept on the facade, in the final years the bingo operator was Top Ten Bingo.
I remember watching the 1987 film The Running Man with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the lead part in this cinema. It was in Screen 2, in the former circle foyer area I think it was, seating around 40-50.
If this building was transported to a ‘hip’ location in London, they’d be clambering to have it re-opened for films or as a cultural centre. Alas, Lincolnshire is a cultural backwater I fear….
The bingo club operated under the name of Burnage Bingo.
The photo belongs to Philip Mayer.
Initial conversion to bingo was as part of the Wild Bingo group, then passing to Stratton and finally Cascade Bingo before conversion to the eatery.
Mecca disposed of several bingo clubs to Jasmine Bingo, this was one of them, and they were the final bingo operators here.
Last operated by Beacon Bingo, they were the ones who floodlit the frontage at night, in a lovely purple i seam to remember.
Robboehm- it was called Studio 5-6-7-8 as Star operated Studio 1-2-3-4 on Oxford Street at the same time as here.
Initially converted into an Alpha Bingo Club before Mecca took over. Mike Blakemore’s image shows BINGO on the canopy, still with the neon ABC triangle on the building.
Apparently rioters targeted the furniture emporium, as those on benefits received grants in the form of vouchers to be spent at this store only. The prices for the second-hand furniture was very high for what it was, so the vouchers bought less than was perhaps anticipated, hence being targeted….
Address should be 1179…
Cover photo clearly how’s the van advertising the Alpha Bingo Club here, later operating as a Gala Club, and now the independent Ritz Bingo Club. Mecca have never operated this venue.
The gallery photo shows the bingo operating as EMI Bingo, this seams to follow a pattern, as other sites initially have Star Bingo which later changed to EMI Bingo, another example being the Savoy/ABC Exeter.