Photo uploaded of newspaper ad for the live show, ‘The Rolling Stones’ and ‘Peter and Gordon’.
The four ‘super cinemas’ in the town (ABC Ritz, Plaza, Essoldo, Davenport) all had stages and dressing rooms but it seems strange that an important show such as this played the Essoldo as opposed to the ABC which, at least upon opening, had 600 more seats.
In other towns where ABC and Essoldo had stage facilities , most notably Stockton and Huddersfield, ‘The Rolling Stones’ were always to be seen at the ABC.
Little reference is ever made to the fact that the Globe was a cinema first and foremost albeit with much theatrical use during its ownership by Associated British Cinemas.
Photo uploaded showing work in progress in screen 1. A friend is visiting this evening and hopes to take photos of the place as it now is – presumably with the screen brought forward and the front circle floored over with the old front stalls sealed off.
It is with great sadness that I report the passing of one of this site’s most committed and prolific contributors, James Bettley (‘Fanatical About Odeon’):–
I believe that his last post here was mainly to express his delight about Odeon’s change of heart at OLS regarding house tabs (curtains) and the fact that they had – somewhat belatedly – been fitted after many months absence. He , like many of us, considered these features to be synonymous with Cinema.
I know that at the time of his last contribution he was due to pay a visit to his beloved Odeon Theatre, Leicester Square. I do hope that this materialised and that he was indeed fortunate to see the new house curtains in use during a public performance. He would, I know, be most upset to learn that their use was very short lived and that AMC quickly reverted to just having the bare screen on show, albeit with the nonsensical ‘Odeon Luxe Leicester Square’ image – as if people need to be reminded of where they are.
Looking at the plan of screen 1 it would appear that the front circle has been completely lost and that there are 196 seats in the rear circle (which originally seated 438).
When entering the former circle now it will appear totally different with all the theatre’s original features obliterated.
If the brand new Vue Multiplex charges only £4.99 (for ALL performances?) I would imagine that most people will opt to go there. The only reason the old Theatre Royal/Regal/ABC/Cannon/ABC/Odeon has lasted so long is simply because the site it occupies has no commercial value otherwise it would have been sold decades ago……..
Whilst I was an Assistant manager for ABC in Yorkshire I saw two films here, both with underwater sea themes , viz: ‘Tentacles’ (poor although I should have guessed as it was first run) and ‘The Deep’ (good – 2nd run to the Odeon).
I viewed these from the pleasant little circle courtesy of the Manager, a nice old chap called Mr Thackray.
I thought that the Tower had a much nicer atmosphere than our own theatre, the ABC, Vicar Lane which had a cold feel to it especially after screen two was split into two awful ‘cock – eyed’ affairs; this was no doubt the brain child of some overpaid Golden Square idiot who would only ever have viewed films in the preview theatre there……..
I was Manager here from 1989 – 1995; it was not my favourite post as full Manager (Newcastle was by far the best followed by South shields whilst Chester was the most unhappy appointment ever ) and I was instrumental in having the place redecorated (expensively by ‘Cosmos’ of Glasgow) and re – seated, albeit with the best available second hand seats from two ‘Cannon disposals’, viz Newcastle and Manchester Deansgate.
The main auditorium (circle) had been reduced from 628 to 590 seats upon triple conversion in 1977 and , as a result of the front circle being fitted with Newcastle’s wider seats whilst I was there, this capacity was further reduced to 578.
Until Showcase arrived at nearby Stockton on Tees the cinemas were 75% full during the week and completely full at the weekends; I refer to the evening performances although the afternoons were respectable. Upon the emergence of Showcase, the business was hit considerably although the theatre remained profitable. I ‘pushed’ for the circle to be re-stepped and reduced in capacity to around 400 seats and actual plans were drawn up with this intention in mind although it never came to fruition.
I honestly thought that this building would have closed when Vue arrived in the town but, having spent its ‘9 lives’, it now appears to be starting a new cycle………
I assume that finally the circle will be re – stepped and its capacity will be reduced not to 400, as I recommended decades ago, but to somewhere in the region of 250 – 300? I am furthermore guessing that the screen will be brought forward from the proscenium and will, accordingly , be considerably wider than the 38 feet it was when I was ‘at the Regal’! Naturally, being AMC, there will be no tabs even though Odeon fitted brand new ones when they took over in 2001 (?). This will be a shame as they provide the ‘gift wrapping’ which, happily, continues in certain superior independent cinemas.
Amazingly, Darlington will retain its two oldest theatrical venues with the Hippodrome and here (which, of course, is the reconstructed Theatre Royal) in addition to the town’s first Odeon which has reverted to its original name, the Majestic.
The roof has been removed in preparation for the ‘wrecking ball’. It appears that two good matching still frames have been left on the front of house. Thompsons Enterprises of Middlesbrough, upon closure of the Empire, transferred their cinema operation to the nearby Carlton which had been on bingo for a while.
When I learned that ‘Once Upon A Time…’ was only being shown here in 35mm I assumed that Quentin Tarantino must have run out of 70mm stock. Given, however, that such is not the case one would have thought that a 70mm copy could have been found for this theatre; ‘The Hateful Eight’, after all, was thus presented (albeit before AMC’s act of desecration)….
In relation to presentation, once a precedent has been set (ie no tabs at all when the venue was relaunched) things are never quite the same again and it is evident that there is not the political will on the part of AMC to run the place properly.
Once upon a time , people responsible for running Village Halls would have regarded any comparison with the Odeon Theatre Leicester Square as the greatest compliment but not, I suspect, these days,sadly….
It’s just too bad if you make ‘typos’ or other errors in this section as there is no editing facility. I should have credited Steve (next pic) with having taken the photo and I should have mentioned Mary Cobb after the Lady Mayoress…..
Photo uploaded taken from the stalls facing stage with organ console raised.
1966 photo of FOH uploaded when one of the last films at the ‘old’ Odeon was showing.
Three photos uploaded going back to the ‘heyday’ of the wonderful ABC Theatre – long before its very sad subdivision….
Photo uploaded of newspaper ad for the live show, ‘The Rolling Stones’ and ‘Peter and Gordon’.
The four ‘super cinemas’ in the town (ABC Ritz, Plaza, Essoldo, Davenport) all had stages and dressing rooms but it seems strange that an important show such as this played the Essoldo as opposed to the ABC which, at least upon opening, had 600 more seats.
In other towns where ABC and Essoldo had stage facilities , most notably Stockton and Huddersfield, ‘The Rolling Stones’ were always to be seen at the ABC.
Late 1940’s shot uploaded of queue for Universal double bill of ‘Frankenstein’ and ‘Dracula’.
Photo uploaded of FOH prior to change of name to Gaumont circa 1950.
1950’s shot uploaded of the then busy thoroughfare, Claypath showing the Palladium’s small and neat (but attractive) front of house on the right.
Little reference is ever made to the fact that the Globe was a cinema first and foremost albeit with much theatrical use during its ownership by Associated British Cinemas.
Teesside Gazette 1963 renters ad uploaded.
Photo uploaded showing work in progress in screen 1. A friend is visiting this evening and hopes to take photos of the place as it now is – presumably with the screen brought forward and the front circle floored over with the old front stalls sealed off.
More articles re next year’s reopening :–
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-49700275
https://www.tvms.org.uk/news/the-globe-to-open-in-late-2020/
It is with great sadness that I report the passing of one of this site’s most committed and prolific contributors, James Bettley (‘Fanatical About Odeon’):–
https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/announcements/deaths/deaths/17984020.JAMES_BETTLEY/
I believe that his last post here was mainly to express his delight about Odeon’s change of heart at OLS regarding house tabs (curtains) and the fact that they had – somewhat belatedly – been fitted after many months absence. He , like many of us, considered these features to be synonymous with Cinema.
I know that at the time of his last contribution he was due to pay a visit to his beloved Odeon Theatre, Leicester Square. I do hope that this materialised and that he was indeed fortunate to see the new house curtains in use during a public performance. He would, I know, be most upset to learn that their use was very short lived and that AMC quickly reverted to just having the bare screen on show, albeit with the nonsensical ‘Odeon Luxe Leicester Square’ image – as if people need to be reminded of where they are.
R.I.P., James.
Looking at the plan of screen 1 it would appear that the front circle has been completely lost and that there are 196 seats in the rear circle (which originally seated 438).
When entering the former circle now it will appear totally different with all the theatre’s original features obliterated.
If the brand new Vue Multiplex charges only £4.99 (for ALL performances?) I would imagine that most people will opt to go there. The only reason the old Theatre Royal/Regal/ABC/Cannon/ABC/Odeon has lasted so long is simply because the site it occupies has no commercial value otherwise it would have been sold decades ago……..
Article re the expensive stage drapes at the Hippodrome:–
https://www.jcjoel.com/case-studies/darlington-hippodrome-england/
Willmott Dixon who restored nearby Darlington Hippodrome to refurbish the Globe:–
http://www.constructionmanagermagazine.com/news/willmott-dixon-wins-2675m-art-deco-theatre-restora/
Whilst I was an Assistant manager for ABC in Yorkshire I saw two films here, both with underwater sea themes , viz: ‘Tentacles’ (poor although I should have guessed as it was first run) and ‘The Deep’ (good – 2nd run to the Odeon).
I viewed these from the pleasant little circle courtesy of the Manager, a nice old chap called Mr Thackray.
I thought that the Tower had a much nicer atmosphere than our own theatre, the ABC, Vicar Lane which had a cold feel to it especially after screen two was split into two awful ‘cock – eyed’ affairs; this was no doubt the brain child of some overpaid Golden Square idiot who would only ever have viewed films in the preview theatre there……..
I was Manager here from 1989 – 1995; it was not my favourite post as full Manager (Newcastle was by far the best followed by South shields whilst Chester was the most unhappy appointment ever ) and I was instrumental in having the place redecorated (expensively by ‘Cosmos’ of Glasgow) and re – seated, albeit with the best available second hand seats from two ‘Cannon disposals’, viz Newcastle and Manchester Deansgate.
The main auditorium (circle) had been reduced from 628 to 590 seats upon triple conversion in 1977 and , as a result of the front circle being fitted with Newcastle’s wider seats whilst I was there, this capacity was further reduced to 578.
Until Showcase arrived at nearby Stockton on Tees the cinemas were 75% full during the week and completely full at the weekends; I refer to the evening performances although the afternoons were respectable. Upon the emergence of Showcase, the business was hit considerably although the theatre remained profitable. I ‘pushed’ for the circle to be re-stepped and reduced in capacity to around 400 seats and actual plans were drawn up with this intention in mind although it never came to fruition.
I honestly thought that this building would have closed when Vue arrived in the town but, having spent its ‘9 lives’, it now appears to be starting a new cycle………
I assume that finally the circle will be re – stepped and its capacity will be reduced not to 400, as I recommended decades ago, but to somewhere in the region of 250 – 300? I am furthermore guessing that the screen will be brought forward from the proscenium and will, accordingly , be considerably wider than the 38 feet it was when I was ‘at the Regal’! Naturally, being AMC, there will be no tabs even though Odeon fitted brand new ones when they took over in 2001 (?). This will be a shame as they provide the ‘gift wrapping’ which, happily, continues in certain superior independent cinemas.
Amazingly, Darlington will retain its two oldest theatrical venues with the Hippodrome and here (which, of course, is the reconstructed Theatre Royal) in addition to the town’s first Odeon which has reverted to its original name, the Majestic.
Photos uploaded
Photo uploaded
Photo uploaded
“Preview peek at how a former music hall will be converted” : The press never get anything right – at least where cinemas are concerned…….
Photo uploaded.
The roof has been removed in preparation for the ‘wrecking ball’. It appears that two good matching still frames have been left on the front of house. Thompsons Enterprises of Middlesbrough, upon closure of the Empire, transferred their cinema operation to the nearby Carlton which had been on bingo for a while.
When I learned that ‘Once Upon A Time…’ was only being shown here in 35mm I assumed that Quentin Tarantino must have run out of 70mm stock. Given, however, that such is not the case one would have thought that a 70mm copy could have been found for this theatre; ‘The Hateful Eight’, after all, was thus presented (albeit before AMC’s act of desecration)….
In relation to presentation, once a precedent has been set (ie no tabs at all when the venue was relaunched) things are never quite the same again and it is evident that there is not the political will on the part of AMC to run the place properly.
Once upon a time , people responsible for running Village Halls would have regarded any comparison with the Odeon Theatre Leicester Square as the greatest compliment but not, I suspect, these days,sadly….
It’s just too bad if you make ‘typos’ or other errors in this section as there is no editing facility. I should have credited Steve (next pic) with having taken the photo and I should have mentioned Mary Cobb after the Lady Mayoress…..
Photo uploaded.
1971 pic uploaded.