The Summerland Complex was badly affected by RAAC (concrete cancer) and was scheduled to close at the end of 2003 - an ABBA tribute concert was the closing event on New Year’s Eve. Earlier, in October 2002, concrete blocks from the original complex were dislodged, and the Piazza Level was closed immediately as a safety precaution - a preview and subsequent run of “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” suddenly cancelled. After monitoring and movement indicators were put in place, the Piazza reopened for the final season in May 2003 (some other parts of Summerland had opened in December 2002). A delay in the refurbishment of Villa Marina, meant that Summerland was briefly put back into use in the February 2004 half-term for transferred events - I have not found any evidence, and think it’s unlikely, that the cinema was reused during this week.
Internal stripping was started in 2005, but actual demolition (a few rear parts remain) took place January-March 2006.
I came across the remains of the Olympia Theatre recently, and this should not be recorded as “demolished”. Woolworths converted the store with minimal alteration, later they demolished (circa 1970) the facade and foyer to put a modern entrance onto the store, as can be seen in the CT photos.
However, the auditorium, stage and dressing rooms survive, which can be seen by looking at google earth and my images here:-
Talking to the manager - I was not allowed up - the warehouse at former balcony level retains the theatre ceiling and “some statues”, and what might be the balcony stepping.
The ‘last ever pantomime at the Tivoli’ (Snow White) took place in January 2019, and the theatre was demolished very soon after. It has been replaced by Tivoli Square, a mixed housing / retail development, but there does not appear to be a replacement theatre.
The 1954 Kinematograph Yearbook, shows the Palace (renamed Mayfair Junior) operating with 600 seats and a 28ft wide screen. I believe that the new Mayfair, designed by Joseph Gomersall, opened in June 1956, and this is when the ‘Junior’ - ex Palace - would have closed.
The cinema did not open in 1947, I have recently learned, but on the 5th June 1956 according to a newspaper report, supported by the 1954 Kinematograph Yearbook which lists as open, the Mayfair Junior (former Palace Cinema) which had been reopened following the original Mayfair’s destruction by fire in 1941. Rebuilding under wartime restrictions would probably not have been achievable by 1947. It closed (according to the same report) on 29th September 1994, having been twinned seemingly between 1974 and 1976.
Appears in 2023 to have been disused for several years. The facade is covered by scaffolding, with some restoration (?) work done, but nothing looks recent.
It would appear in 2023 that the majority of the auditorium has been demolished and the residential / retail plans for the remainder are well advanced.
Since the closure of the Odeon, The RBC Film Theatre has been the only regular cinema in the town, although the Loreburn Hall (a former drill hall, now an adaptable arts centre) sometimes screens films. Live transmissions also feature in the programming. It is often styled ‘Scotland’s smallest cinema’, and is an intimate & welcoming venue.
It is somewhat surprising to learn that the cinema is contained in a grade 2 listed building. 1 Finsbury Avenue was built as Speculative offices in 1982-4 by Arup Associates, Group 2 (Peter Foggo) for Rosehaugh Greycoat Estates Ltd. They were amongst the first of the post war development of this area and were listed in 2015. Unusually, there are areas specifically excluded, including:-
* Aside from the essential structure, all internal fixtures and fittings are excluded from the listing.
* Basement levels (where the cinemas are located), including the garage are excluded from the listing.
No this one was definitely by Leslie H Kemp - there are records of him talking about the process of working with Shipman & King. Plasterwork and interior design were by Mollo & Egan.
The Alhambra reopened in 2016 as a live music venue, hosting festivals and community events. Only the former stalls floor was restored after the 1970 fire, the upper levels have been abandoned, though the stage and tower were largely undamaged in the fire. There are no flat conversion plans at present.
In August 2022 Austringer Capital was granted permission to convert the building at Festival Leisure Park into four food and drink units and family entertainment centre. Odeon are expected to terminate their lease when the Hounds Hill multiplex opens in 2023.
Oxford Picture Theatre, Barton upon Humber. Built in the mid-Victorian era as a malt kiln, the building was adapted by 1909 as a roller skating rink. At some point, the date seems debatable, it was converted into the Oxford Picture Theatre and Theatre of Varieties - this was certainly in existence by 1920. The theatre seated 540 in stalls and a small balcony, by 1964 this had been reduced to 399, and it had attractive art deco decoration, possibly only achieved with paint. There was a small stage, used for variety and amateur shows, the projection room was at the rear of the stalls - the windows at the front were the back of the balcony and were shuttered. Bingo was introduced on a part-time basis in the 1960s, and the final film is again uncertain, but no later than 1979 (but probably a decade earlier). The auditorium was used as a warehouse before being comprehensively altered into squash courts and a gym, seemingly destroying every aspect of the former decor. The Sports centre also closed some years ago and the building is currently being converted into eight town houses, with an additional floor on top - the facade on Newport will be the only recognisable feature left.
Electric Picture Theatre, Barton upon Humber. Built as the Oddfellows Hall in 1864 in the Italian Renaissance palazzo style. By 1911 it was at least part-time showing films and from 1916-20 was known as Canty’s Picture Palace - the Electric Picture House being its name more usually used. Around 1925 it became a theatre called the New Theatre (Queen Street was formerly named New Road), but by the outbreak of the 2ndWW was in use as a dance hall. The space was always at first floor level, and seated about 400, the ground floor contained meeting rooms and offices (and was converted to flats a long time ago). In March 1930 it was the first of the three cinemas in town to present sound films.
The former auditorium has been derelict for many years now and has planning permission to convert it to 5 flats, with an additional recessed floor built on top. It is grade 2 listed.
Some photos, taken in September 2023 at the Open City event, of the cinema as the Zoroastrian Centre
EXTERIOR
FOYER
AUDITORIUM
CEILING
The Summerland Complex was badly affected by RAAC (concrete cancer) and was scheduled to close at the end of 2003 - an ABBA tribute concert was the closing event on New Year’s Eve. Earlier, in October 2002, concrete blocks from the original complex were dislodged, and the Piazza Level was closed immediately as a safety precaution - a preview and subsequent run of “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” suddenly cancelled. After monitoring and movement indicators were put in place, the Piazza reopened for the final season in May 2003 (some other parts of Summerland had opened in December 2002). A delay in the refurbishment of Villa Marina, meant that Summerland was briefly put back into use in the February 2004 half-term for transferred events - I have not found any evidence, and think it’s unlikely, that the cinema was reused during this week. Internal stripping was started in 2005, but actual demolition (a few rear parts remain) took place January-March 2006.
Summerland ruins 2023
I came across the remains of the Olympia Theatre recently, and this should not be recorded as “demolished”. Woolworths converted the store with minimal alteration, later they demolished (circa 1970) the facade and foyer to put a modern entrance onto the store, as can be seen in the CT photos.
However, the auditorium, stage and dressing rooms survive, which can be seen by looking at google earth and my images here:-
side wall - old brickwork, former exit, upto stage
former dressing rooms and stage (altered to accommodate goods lift)
Talking to the manager - I was not allowed up - the warehouse at former balcony level retains the theatre ceiling and “some statues”, and what might be the balcony stepping.
Still going strong in 2023:-
PALACE CINEMA - exterior
PALACE CINEMA - Screen 1 auditorium
PALACE CINEMA - Screen 1 screen
PALACE CINEMA - Screen 2
Empire Cinemas went into administration on 6th July 2023, so the prospect of this cinema reopening any time soon are now remote
The ‘last ever pantomime at the Tivoli’ (Snow White) took place in January 2019, and the theatre was demolished very soon after. It has been replaced by Tivoli Square, a mixed housing / retail development, but there does not appear to be a replacement theatre.
The 1954 Kinematograph Yearbook, shows the Palace (renamed Mayfair Junior) operating with 600 seats and a 28ft wide screen. I believe that the new Mayfair, designed by Joseph Gomersall, opened in June 1956, and this is when the ‘Junior’ - ex Palace - would have closed.
The cinema did not open in 1947, I have recently learned, but on the 5th June 1956 according to a newspaper report, supported by the 1954 Kinematograph Yearbook which lists as open, the Mayfair Junior (former Palace Cinema) which had been reopened following the original Mayfair’s destruction by fire in 1941. Rebuilding under wartime restrictions would probably not have been achievable by 1947. It closed (according to the same report) on 29th September 1994, having been twinned seemingly between 1974 and 1976.
The exterior still looks good - online images of the interior would seem to indicate that nothing remains from its cinema days
Portsmouth Astoria (former Palace)
Sainsbury’s have gone, and it is now Minutka - a Polish deli - the building is in a very sorry state
former Odeon North End
Appears in 2023 to have been disused for several years. The facade is covered by scaffolding, with some restoration (?) work done, but nothing looks recent.
former Majestic facade
It would appear in 2023 that the majority of the auditorium has been demolished and the residential / retail plans for the remainder are well advanced.
former Shaftesbury Cinema facade
Since the closure of the Odeon, The RBC Film Theatre has been the only regular cinema in the town, although the Loreburn Hall (a former drill hall, now an adaptable arts centre) sometimes screens films. Live transmissions also feature in the programming. It is often styled ‘Scotland’s smallest cinema’, and is an intimate & welcoming venue.
Some photos from 2023-:
RBC FILM THEATRE - Exterior (Mill Street)
RBC FILM THEATRE - Exterior (Riverside)
RBC FILM THEATRE - Auditorium to rear
RBC FILM THEATRE - Auditorium to screen
It is somewhat surprising to learn that the cinema is contained in a grade 2 listed building. 1 Finsbury Avenue was built as Speculative offices in 1982-4 by Arup Associates, Group 2 (Peter Foggo) for Rosehaugh Greycoat Estates Ltd. They were amongst the first of the post war development of this area and were listed in 2015. Unusually, there are areas specifically excluded, including:- * Aside from the essential structure, all internal fixtures and fittings are excluded from the listing. * Basement levels (where the cinemas are located), including the garage are excluded from the listing.
Photos from 2023:-
EVERYMAN CINEMA - Exterior
EVERYMAN CINEMA - Foyer
In January 2023 a large extension opened, increasing the size of the café, adding a gallery interlinked with the screening room, a large roof terrace, and two addition cinema auditoria, each seating 65 and numbered 3 & 4. This gives the complex 4 permanent cinemas plus an adaptable multi-use screening room. The two original cinemas remain as built.
Photographs from April 2023:- EXTENSION EXTERIOR
SCREEN 3
CAFE
REVAMPED ENTRANCE
No this one was definitely by Leslie H Kemp - there are records of him talking about the process of working with Shipman & King. Plasterwork and interior design were by Mollo & Egan.
Is this the theater used for the Veterans Reunion scene in the 2022 film “Amsterdam”?
The Alhambra reopened in 2016 as a live music venue, hosting festivals and community events. Only the former stalls floor was restored after the 1970 fire, the upper levels have been abandoned, though the stage and tower were largely undamaged in the fire. There are no flat conversion plans at present.
Some photos from September 2022:-
ALHAMBRA THEATRE - Exterior
ALHAMBRA THEATRE - Main bar
ALHAMBRA THEATRE - former balcony
ALHAMBRA THEATRE - former stalls floor / nightclub
Some photos taken in September 2022 :-
REGAL GRIMSBY - foyer
REGAL GRIMSBY - auditorium
REGAL GRIMSBY - foyer
REGAL GRIMSBY - exterior
Photos from September 2022:-
CAXTON THEATRE - Exterior
CAXTON THEATRE - Circle foyer
CAXTON THEATRE - Auditorium
CAXTON THEATRE - Projection Room
In August 2022 Austringer Capital was granted permission to convert the building at Festival Leisure Park into four food and drink units and family entertainment centre. Odeon are expected to terminate their lease when the Hounds Hill multiplex opens in 2023.
Some internal photos taken on a CTA visit in August 2022:-
GAUMONT STATE - Auditorium panorama
GAUMONT STATE - Auditorium from stage
GAUMONT STATE - Auditorium stage from balcony
GAUMONT STATE - Foyer staircase
Oxford Picture Theatre, Barton upon Humber. Built in the mid-Victorian era as a malt kiln, the building was adapted by 1909 as a roller skating rink. At some point, the date seems debatable, it was converted into the Oxford Picture Theatre and Theatre of Varieties - this was certainly in existence by 1920. The theatre seated 540 in stalls and a small balcony, by 1964 this had been reduced to 399, and it had attractive art deco decoration, possibly only achieved with paint. There was a small stage, used for variety and amateur shows, the projection room was at the rear of the stalls - the windows at the front were the back of the balcony and were shuttered. Bingo was introduced on a part-time basis in the 1960s, and the final film is again uncertain, but no later than 1979 (but probably a decade earlier). The auditorium was used as a warehouse before being comprehensively altered into squash courts and a gym, seemingly destroying every aspect of the former decor. The Sports centre also closed some years ago and the building is currently being converted into eight town houses, with an additional floor on top - the facade on Newport will be the only recognisable feature left.
Photos from July 2022:-
BARTON upon HUMBER - Oxford Cinema front
BARTON upon HUMBER - Oxford Cinema rear
Electric Picture Theatre, Barton upon Humber. Built as the Oddfellows Hall in 1864 in the Italian Renaissance palazzo style. By 1911 it was at least part-time showing films and from 1916-20 was known as Canty’s Picture Palace - the Electric Picture House being its name more usually used. Around 1925 it became a theatre called the New Theatre (Queen Street was formerly named New Road), but by the outbreak of the 2ndWW was in use as a dance hall. The space was always at first floor level, and seated about 400, the ground floor contained meeting rooms and offices (and was converted to flats a long time ago). In March 1930 it was the first of the three cinemas in town to present sound films. The former auditorium has been derelict for many years now and has planning permission to convert it to 5 flats, with an additional recessed floor built on top. It is grade 2 listed.
Photos from July 2022:- BARTON upon HUMBER - ELECTRIC, Exterior
BARTON upon HUMBER - ELECTRIC, Exterior
Two exterior photographs from 2022 here:-
BOURNEMOUTH MODERNE - Exterior
BOURNEMOUTH MODERNE - Exterior