The stalls area became a live concert venue called the M Club. The cinema originally had a full stage with a notably high fly tower. The plans were to replace with a Sainsbury’s store.
The Cinema was actually a conversion of the 1883 Grosvenor Hall in 1913, although the hall had been used for films on occasions before. The frontage was designed by F Edward Jones in 1936 in order to “modernise” the cinema after the Radio Centre / Classic / Cannon began construction.
I think that may be my mistake.
http://www.newmarketlhs.org.uk/nlhscorrespondence7.htm states :_
“Newmarket has been home to a number of cinemas over the years. The Doric, now Millionaires bar and nightclub, in High Street, ran between March 1937 and July 1964. Innocence, the nightclub across the road, was once the Kingsway Cinema, while Boots, the former Carlton Hotel, was the Victoria Cinema. There was also once a cinema in Black Bear Lane.
Newmarket has a cinematograph history and you can read about one of the earliest public performances on our website, under ‘Local Fire Tragedies’ this occurred in what is now Ann Furbank’s fashion shop on Rutland Hill (then the Town Hall) and resulted in serious loss of life and many injuries.
Yes, the Kingsway and the Doric flourished betwen the nineteen twenties and the fifties, the golden age of cinema popularity. The Doric opened in 1937 and the first film shown was Will Hay in ‘Good Morning Boys’.
Particularly during WW II it was usual to see long queues along the High Street for the evening and Saturday afternoon performances. With the advent of television, cinemas slowly declined.
As the Journal article points out both the buildings now serve as Night Clubs.”
Confusingly the address of the Kingsway Cinema was listed as being Kingsway, leading me to identify this photo as the Victoria. I’ll amend the flickr caption. All three cinemas seem to have been on the High Street.
The stalls area became a live concert venue called the M Club. The cinema originally had a full stage with a notably high fly tower. The plans were to replace with a Sainsbury’s store.
Photographed in April 2011:–
PLAZA CREWE FRONT
PLAZA CREWE REAR
Photo’s from circa 1989:–
SAVOY EXTERIOR
SAVOY INTERIOR
Image now changed to correct building – very quick! :–)
The above image (Google) is not the theatre.
Images from 2011 here:– EXTERIOR
STAGE FROM BALCONY
BALCONY
PROSCENIUM DETAIL
The Cinema was actually a conversion of the 1883 Grosvenor Hall in 1913, although the hall had been used for films on occasions before. The frontage was designed by F Edward Jones in 1936 in order to “modernise” the cinema after the Radio Centre / Classic / Cannon began construction.
A slightly more recent photo of the façade of the former cinema here:–
WHITEHALL CINEMA
Some photos of the the Theatre Royal here:–
FACADE 1988
AUDITORIUM BLOCK
SIDE VIEW
A photo from circa 1985 of the closed building here:–
BRADFORD ROYAL
I think that may be my mistake. http://www.newmarketlhs.org.uk/nlhscorrespondence7.htm states :_ “Newmarket has been home to a number of cinemas over the years. The Doric, now Millionaires bar and nightclub, in High Street, ran between March 1937 and July 1964. Innocence, the nightclub across the road, was once the Kingsway Cinema, while Boots, the former Carlton Hotel, was the Victoria Cinema. There was also once a cinema in Black Bear Lane. Newmarket has a cinematograph history and you can read about one of the earliest public performances on our website, under ‘Local Fire Tragedies’ this occurred in what is now Ann Furbank’s fashion shop on Rutland Hill (then the Town Hall) and resulted in serious loss of life and many injuries. Yes, the Kingsway and the Doric flourished betwen the nineteen twenties and the fifties, the golden age of cinema popularity. The Doric opened in 1937 and the first film shown was Will Hay in ‘Good Morning Boys’. Particularly during WW II it was usual to see long queues along the High Street for the evening and Saturday afternoon performances. With the advent of television, cinemas slowly declined. As the Journal article points out both the buildings now serve as Night Clubs.”
Confusingly the address of the Kingsway Cinema was listed as being Kingsway, leading me to identify this photo as the Victoria. I’ll amend the flickr caption. All three cinemas seem to have been on the High Street.
The former Gaumont was demolished several years ago, and in June 2009 the site was still vacant.
WHITLEY BAY EMPIRE
A 1993 shot as the MGM cinema here :– GLASGOW ABC
A 2009 photo of the façade of the Coliseum, at which time the housing development on the site of the auditorium had not been started.
COLISEUM
A photo of the building in 1996 GRAND THEATRE
A 2012 view
EMPIRE
Demolition of the auditorium is now underway.
EXIT DOOR PAVILION
Some more photos of the Watford Palace here:–
EXTERIOR IN 1980
INTERIOR FROM STAGE IN 2010
INTERIOR TO STAGE IN 2001
The modern lighting fixture is hugely controversial!
Two further images from shortly before demolition, although I thought this was after 1989 … :–
REGAL
REGAL
Photographs of the Park & Dare as it prepares for next years Centenary celebrations in 2013:–
EXTERIOR
AUDITORIUM FROM STAGE
AUDITORIUM
STAGE
FLY FLOOR
Some 2012 photos
PLAZA
PLAZA LETTERING
PLAZA SHOP
The entrance bears no resemblance to the cinema
REGENT FACADE
Photos from March 2012
EXTERIOR
BOX DETAIL
PROSCENIUM
AUDITORIUM TO REAR
STAGE GRID
March 2012 picture. The disintegration of the rendering is revealing the original stone façade
ALBERT HALL
In a very poor state a year later
PALACE THEATRE
Still there in March 2012.
FACADE
AUDITORIUM EXTERIOR
Some 2012 photos of the Art here:–
EXTERIOR
AUDITORIUM TO REAR
AUDITORIUM SIDE VIEW
AUDITORIUM TO STAGE