The former Majestic has now been converted to – at the time of writing – unlet retail space with a possible separate live music venue in the basement. Most surviving internal features have been retained but additional windows have been punched through at ground floor level. Two photos from October 2012.
Not really registered before, but I have just noticed how the upright Union name hides the deco bas-relief panel above the central window. I assume that the two uploaded photos are fairly close to opening, judging from the traffic, so it is strange that a key part of the façade should be hidden, either from the start or very soon after.
I have not been able to find the closing date of the Stardust Bingo, but I suspect it was nearer 2010 than the start of the decade. There are an amazing number of businesses operating within the block, presumably below the auditorium, which perhaps bodes well for its survival. The entrance (behind the shutters), for such a large building, seems to have been surprisingly muted and on a minor road. The corner block, pictured here in 2012, was seemingly not part of the cinema behind.
Two interior photos from 2008 :–
SCREEN 1 – FORMER BALCONY
UPPER FOYER
Two more interior photos from 2003:–
CEILING
BALCONY
Seems there is a chance that the Empire might be restored in the near future, use uncertain.
Photo of the Capitol in 2003.
FAÇADE
The former Majestic has now been converted to – at the time of writing – unlet retail space with a possible separate live music venue in the basement. Most surviving internal features have been retained but additional windows have been punched through at ground floor level. Two photos from October 2012.
MAJESTIC CINEMA
MAJESTIC CINEMA
PS – can the name of this entry be changed back to Majestic now please?
Some photos from 2007 after closure but before alterations:–
EXTERIOR
REAR STALLS
PROSCENIUM
SIDE WALL DECOR
It has been split into (I think) four auditoria, with the 5th in the former Regency space.
Two interior shots from 1987 here:–
BALCONY TO REAR
SCREEN TABS
Not really registered before, but I have just noticed how the upright Union name hides the deco bas-relief panel above the central window. I assume that the two uploaded photos are fairly close to opening, judging from the traffic, so it is strange that a key part of the façade should be hidden, either from the start or very soon after.
Two photos of the Picture House here from 1990:–
PICTURE HOUSE
PICTURE HOUSE
Some photos dating from 1990.
EXTERIOR
FOYER
SCREEN IN FORMER CIRCLE
SCREEN IN FORMER FRONT STALLS
That is the one Mike. This was probably the best of Watfords cinemas, judging from photographs, as I never actually went in here.
I do remember going around Caters Supermarket which replaced it though!
1991 photo of ornate interior here:–
PALACE THEATRE BOXES
Exterior shot of the Reel (under the Cannon banner) in 1991:–
PLYMOUTH CANNON
Yes Simon, the Gaumont still stands.
Two recently found photos of the interior of the Drake here, both date from 1991.
DRAKE SCREEN CURTAINS
DRAKE AUDITORIUM TO REAR
Some more photos – taken shortly before the Council meet to decide the fate of the Cinema in August 2012 – largely of areas never seen by the public.
AUDITORIUM PANORAMA
1950’s LIGHTING BOARD
ROOF VOID OVER DOME
ROOF VOID OVER BALCONY
Some 2012 photos here:–
FULL EXTERIOR
ENTRANCE EXTERIOR
AUDITORIUM FROM BALCONY
AUDITORIUM TO REAR
Photo here:–
ELECTRIC THEATRE
Two views of the Noel Coward:–
EXTERIOR in 2012
AUDITORIUM in 2006
Some photos of the former theatre here (taken July 2012):–
FAÇADE
GALLERY
AUDITORIUM FROM STAGE
AUDITORIUM SIDE VIEW
AUDITORIUM STAGE VIEW
A 1991 view of the former Plaza, looking like Bingo had recently closed.
PLAZA CINEMA
I have not been able to find the closing date of the Stardust Bingo, but I suspect it was nearer 2010 than the start of the decade. There are an amazing number of businesses operating within the block, presumably below the auditorium, which perhaps bodes well for its survival. The entrance (behind the shutters), for such a large building, seems to have been surprisingly muted and on a minor road. The corner block, pictured here in 2012, was seemingly not part of the cinema behind.
County Cinema
More recent photos of the restoration process in this set:– HIPPODROME RESTORATION
Some 1990 photos of the Robert Cromie interior here:–
STALLS BAR
BALCONY
VIEW OF STAGE
STALLS
DETAIL OF DECOR
And for a comparison some interior shots from 1990, before restoration :–
FOYER
DETAIL OF BOX
VIEW OF STAGE
VIEW ACROSS AUDITORIUM
Two exterior shots from June 2012
CENTRAL FACADE
FRONT & SIDE VIEW