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 Capitol closed for alterations which separated the circle into a 630 seat cinema, whilst the former stalls accommodated 1,400 bingo players. A wall was constructed at the front of the balcony with a new screen surrounded by a swagged pelmet and fronted by new curtains. The architects involved were Eric Neve and Associates, the contractors were F Shepherd & Son Ltd, the cost was claimed to be £30,000. The Cinema re-opened 11th March 1968 with “Smashing Time” starring Rita Tushingham.
This followed a months closure the previous year when from 7th May 1967 to the 5th June the Capitol was closed for alterations and redecoration in the hands of Mecca. From this point the films were shown once nightly, seen from seats in the circle, whilst bingo was played in the stalls afternoons and early evening. This was reported as costing £60,000.
The cinema did not last very long and after it had closed the balcony sub-division was removed to restore the Capitol to its original appearance for bingo throughout. The usual staircase at one side of the balcony to the stalls was installed.
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
In February 2012 the Odeon survives empty amidst all the redeveloped area. Externally at least it still looks in good condition. Photos:–
ODEON EXTERIOR
ODEON FACADE
Newly found information:–
The Capitol closed for alterations which separated the circle into a 630 seat cinema, whilst the former stalls accommodated 1,400 bingo players. A wall was constructed at the front of the balcony with a new screen surrounded by a swagged pelmet and fronted by new curtains. The architects involved were Eric Neve and Associates, the contractors were F Shepherd & Son Ltd, the cost was claimed to be £30,000. The Cinema re-opened 11th March 1968 with “Smashing Time” starring Rita Tushingham.
This followed a months closure the previous year when from 7th May 1967 to the 5th June the Capitol was closed for alterations and redecoration in the hands of Mecca. From this point the films were shown once nightly, seen from seats in the circle, whilst bingo was played in the stalls afternoons and early evening. This was reported as costing £60,000.
The cinema did not last very long and after it had closed the balcony sub-division was removed to restore the Capitol to its original appearance for bingo throughout. The usual staircase at one side of the balcony to the stalls was installed.
Source Evening News 11/3/1968 – includes photo.
A photo of the Palace after The Litten Tree had closed here:– http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4473153208/lightbox/
Interior pictures of the former Capitol here:–
AUDITORIUM REAR TO FRONT
AUDITORIUM SIDE VIEW
DETAIL OF PROSCENIUM
AUDITORIUM FRONT TO REAR
Photo of the previously mentioned side staircases in the foyer as they were in 1989:–
CASTLE FOYER
More photos of the Embassy here:–
VIEW ACROSS THE ROOF TOWARDS THE STAGE TOWER
STAGE TOWER AND DRESSING ROOMS
FORMER MAIN ENTRANCE