A few points on the former “Tivoli Cinema” to correct the history:–
“The Tivoli” was built by the owners and operators of the “Grand Cinema” Ryhope,(which is currently being deconstructed for rebuilding at the “Beamish Museum), The "Tivoli” had the same “architects” as that of the “Grand Ryhope” (unknown to the writer), as can be seen by the photos as identical frontages with the half-circle rounded frontage. The owner Mr Chaytor and his partners built 3 cinemas, “The Grand Cinema” Ryhope, “Tivoli”, Herrington Burn and “Palace Fencehouses”, The 3 cinemas were listed as “proprietors” as “Fencehouses Palace Ltd”. I can only advise from my knowledge by way of being very involved with the cinemas in my youth. Mr Fred Chaytor, General Manager and son of the owner ran the cinemas from approximately 1944 when the original GM was a Mr Humphreys from the opening in 1912. The “Tivoli” was not entered by going down steps to the stalls but was (albeit a steep slope), entered at ground stalls level with a left-right slight downwards slope to the stalls. Entry to the circle was by stairs, left/right going upwards and identical almost to the “Grand Cinema Ryhope. Mr Chaytor for some reason never seemed to like the "Tivoli” and very rarely visited as he was every night based at the “Grand Ryhope”. I doubt the auditorium stage width was 24' although it was deep. The projectors were identical to Ryhope Grand, “Kalee 8s” and “Western Electric Sound”. It had 4 changes weekly:– Sunday/ Monday Tuesday/ Wednesday Thursday/ Friday Saturday. Friday and Saturday twice nightly with one show the remainder of the week. Around 1958 Mr Chaytor senior died and for some reason, Mr Chaytor junior then took a quick decision to close the “Tivoli” within a couple of months. I can only assume it was because Mr Chaytor senior would not allow closure whilst he was alive! The cinema was “mothballed” and boarded up and for a short time was leased to Durham bases “FairWorld Bingo” who found it to be not “viable”. It was then locked-up and stood until Mr Chaytor (junior) having died it was just demolished by his widow near end 1999, The land stood for a few years which still showed the original brown tiles attached to the brickwork of the building attached to it (an ice cream parlour) and a house has now been built on the land where it stood. “The Palace” Fencehouses was disposed of in the late 30s and served as a supermarket for years just after the 2nd world war.
“Miracles Can Happen”! After over 2 years standing with no commencement of the promised “dismantle” of the “Grand Cinema”, Ryhope, work has started last month and the start point is on the removal of slates and the canopy. Having worked for some 3 years giving “Beamish” advice on the building and how it was in the 1950s, and together with member “Terry”, we made our views strongly known and “hey-presto”, work has started. It is hoped that I may be able to forward photos as the stages progress!
Once the building is situated at “Beamish” it will represent a cinema of the 50s and show films and possibly newsreels of that period in time!
I had some of the most memorable times as a “Junior Projectionist” when I was 15 at the “Princess”. The Resident Manager/Director was Mr Norman Walton. He had been at the “Princess” (he told me), since it was opened in 1912 and he was in his late 60s, He deemed me such that he took me under his “umbrella” so to speak and was always showing me items and ways that would “enhance” my career!. He always used to tell me to (quote) watch your uncle Norman as one day you will own your own cinema!! He knew something then that I didn’t as some 15 years later I was to become “CEO” of “FairWorld Cinemas” which at that time had purchased the “Princess”! He used to tell me to watch the “cleaners” with care as they would get up to tricks like taking the bars of soap home. He used to weigh the bars of “carbolic soap” and cut 8 ounces with a knife and weigh it. I was paid the princely sum of £3 a week and was given Sunday off so he would not have to pay me extra. When the “Rock & Roll” era was going strong we had “Rock Around The Clock” and recall that one night with hundreds in the queue his wife came running into the projection room saying he was being attacked and would I come straight away. (I was at that time about 5'5" and 16 years old. When I went out he was poking the young lads (Teddy Boys") with his stick calling them “rabble”! One said that if he poked any more he would wrap the stick around his neck! He booked the films and gave me a chance (at 16) to pick 6 films for a Sunday night run,(double bills), and he said if they didn’t do any good business he would sack me! I recall “Gone With The Wind” which was booked for 6 days and he decided to show part 1 Monday to Wednesday and part 2 (after the intermission) Thursday to Saturday and then get twice the admission. I recall there was a near riot and patrons wrote to “MGM” the distributors and he was barred from showing any more films from “MGM”> The “Western Electric” sound was still installed in 1956 (from 1933) and was the old valve and the sound was charged by batteries which had to be put on charge every night. The projectors, however, were modern “Kalee 21s” installed when Cinema Scope was installed in 1954 to compete with the “Empire” at Seaham. The stage was deep 20' and a wide proscenium over 35' from memory. The stage had “flys” still in 1956 albeit the dressing rooms were full of old “Kine Weekly” and old posters and seats.
The end came ending September 1959 which was the end of the financial year,(so I was always told by Mr Walton), and the last film shown was a re-run of “Bridge On The River Kwai” which had done excellent business on its first outing at the “Princess”.
Mr Walton had retired and moved down south and the cinema was on the market for the sum of £50000. It was purchased eventually by the “FairWorld Bingo Group” and duly the rest of its life was devoted to Bingo. It finally closed in 1979 and stood empty until approximately 2002 when it was demolished and the land stands empty.
As the former CEO of the Cinema Division of “FairWorld Cinemas” and upon checking information for a private purpose, I have to correct some of the “many” discrepancies in the history of my former cinema as hereunder:–
Regarding the stage (backstage) being removed for installation of CinemaScope, this is incorrect! The stage area was fully intact as early 1954 CinemaScope and 4 track stereo sound was installed and opened with “The Robe” (20th Fox). When we took over the “Empire” as it was in 1972 (following the closure in August 1968 showing in full stereo “South Pacific”, the owners (Harrisons) had decided it was not viable any longer. We,(FairWorld), took control and it was decided to place a false ceiling blocking off the original ceiling thereby forming a “ground floor”/“stadium” operation. A new “projection room” was installed at the rear (under circle) and “Westar Projectors” and “sound” installed. Wall drapes were added and the whole operation was “ground floor”. The original circle foyer which was the full width of the auditorium was utilised for stock/fridge rooms etc.
In early 1979 on the opening night of “The Omen” (a Sunday), the manager ‘phoned me at midnight telling me to “get down to Seaham” as the building was on fire! When I arrived the fire services had extinguished the flames and we found the auditorium and screen tabs and seats were black and it was assumed that a person/s hiding backstage had “torched” the stage area after closure. It was assumed that the person/s hid behind the stage drapes where there was the entry by a door to back-stage. We never caught the culprit. Having left the cinema to “settle” and having removed all the seating/carpets/drapes/ during the course of 6 months I had wanted to put a screen 2 in the sealed off circle area to thereby make the cinema more viable. Unfortunately, the insurance company stated that we had to put it back as it was or they would not “pay-out”! We, therefore, decided on a single screen and I engaged “Modernisation” who had carried out excellent work in the past at our Horden, and Washington cinemas. We re-opened in the Autumn (half term) with “Orca Killer Whale”! I had installed 285 new spaced seats, a new “Peerlux” silver screen,(curved), and all the walls were draped in Gold/Yellow fabric and Oyster screen tabs. I had new “Westrex” sound and the original projectors were in good order. I understand from a good friend of mine who was, at that time-based at Sunderland ABC that patrons who used to come there from Seaham used to “praise the standards” of our cinema at Seaham. Of course, I had changed its name to “FairWorld Film Centre” in the hope of getting that 2nd screen later in the circle. In 1982 our nearby “Princess Theatre” In Dawdon which had been on Bingo sine 1961 had to have a costly electrical rewiring throughout and the Directors decided to close it due to the cost. I was approached by them asking if I would relinquish my cinema for Bingo and they would find me the money to quadruple my Hartlepool “FairWorld Film Centre”, (formerly ABC). They knew that my Seaham cinema had, and was my “pet” as I had always found it to be my favourite! I reluctantly agreed to hand it to the Bingo section having been promised the money for an extra 3 screen at Hartlepool! (This did not transpire, hence my departure in 1983) My connection ended at that junction. Some 8 years after the “FairWorld” Company was sold to another outfit based in Scotland (CAC Cinemas/Bingo). They, in their wisdom or otherwise decided to close a number of the outlets operating Bingo and Seaham was a casualty. Unfortunately, it was left standing to “rot” and it was subsequently demolished for part of the land covering an “Asda” Supermarket. I had long before departed “FairWorld Cinemas” having “seen the writing on the wall” and formed my own Company.
As there are so many discrepancies in the history of the “Empire”/“FairWorld Cinema” that I have just noticed (having been tipped off by my friend Terry Charnock – a former “ABC” Manager that I feel the history should be corrected to a more factual read.
Bill Mather
)Former CEO- FairWorld Cinemas Division).
twmr on April 9, 2015 at 10:25 am (remove)
Further to “Terry” April 1st, I can also confirm that the auditorium to the stage area is NOT of our former Cinema. The proscenium was certainly much wider than this one and also at the top of the proscenium were vent grills for heating from the plenum system. The side splays owards the stage are also incorrect and the proscenium did not have curved top as shown. There had been an “Organ Chamber” built to the right of the proscenium and this cinema was obviously intended to have an organ which did not emanate.
I have the original “House Book” of the Cinema from 1949 still and for readers interest the CinemaScope size was 33'6" wide by 17'9" in height. There were also 3 dimmer colours for the proscenium alcoves installed for opening in 1937, (which are missing from the photo supplied). When FairWorld took the Cinema in February 1976 I put a new screen in at a width of 36'6"x 17'9" and we could not have possibly a screen size of that by the photo shown purporting to be of ex: ABC Hartlepool. As an added piece of history of the cinema I also completely re-seated the Circle with seating purchased from Rank Equipment and also a new set of screen tabs, and I had a long play tower installed and sound system (transistorised) and was “Cinemacanica”. As an added piece of nostalgia I still have the plans drawn up by “Modernisation Ltd” of Batley,Yorkshire, who I engaged for all my cinemas of FairWorld as Director of Cinemas, for a 4screen operation. My intention was 3 screens in the stalls area, with the main number 1 screen being the original in the circle. I also had purchased (from a cinema operator in the Midlands), 70mm projectors which was intended to be added to the new Film Centre operation.Unfortunately due to the apathy of the cinemagoing public the FairWorld Directors in their wisdom(or lack of it), overuled me and common business sense prevailing at that time in 1983 when admissions were dropping so far, I was given a stark choice resuting in my decision to cease operations on May 1st 1983, when the last film shown was “The Beastmaster” which was ironically released by “EMI Film Distributors(the previous owners of course operating as “ABC Cinemas”).
I trust cinema buffs will appreciate this added information of what was a really well built cinema of that era of which I was so proud to have acquired from “EMI” on behalf of the FairWorld Cinema division of which is no more as indeed “FairWorld Ltd” is no more.
Having not been on this site for some time, and on looking up the Odeon Sunderland, I would point out that your photograph of the ite of the Gaumont (Havelock) is the wrong photo. This site is in High Street West, of the “Picture House”. An Independant cinema which closed in 1966.
The Gaumont (Havelock) is in Fawcet Street, yes..on “Mackies Corner” but you have the wrong site.
I am sure you would rather me point this out so this could possibly be corrected.
It was also lovely to look, (perhaps for a last glimpse) the almighty Paramount/Odeon Newcastle. Again the new owners have made sure it is depleted of anything so they can make money. These people just buy the cinema circuits to sell them off to make money. The heritage of these buildings has gone forever. We used to call the Rank Organisation (being an ex Independant Cinema owner), but you knew that Rank had the business at heart really, and now of course we really miss the group as it was. Thanks again for such a nostalgic look at these wonderful Cinemas.
A few points on the former “Tivoli Cinema” to correct the history:– “The Tivoli” was built by the owners and operators of the “Grand Cinema” Ryhope,(which is currently being deconstructed for rebuilding at the “Beamish Museum), The "Tivoli” had the same “architects” as that of the “Grand Ryhope” (unknown to the writer), as can be seen by the photos as identical frontages with the half-circle rounded frontage. The owner Mr Chaytor and his partners built 3 cinemas, “The Grand Cinema” Ryhope, “Tivoli”, Herrington Burn and “Palace Fencehouses”, The 3 cinemas were listed as “proprietors” as “Fencehouses Palace Ltd”. I can only advise from my knowledge by way of being very involved with the cinemas in my youth. Mr Fred Chaytor, General Manager and son of the owner ran the cinemas from approximately 1944 when the original GM was a Mr Humphreys from the opening in 1912. The “Tivoli” was not entered by going down steps to the stalls but was (albeit a steep slope), entered at ground stalls level with a left-right slight downwards slope to the stalls. Entry to the circle was by stairs, left/right going upwards and identical almost to the “Grand Cinema Ryhope. Mr Chaytor for some reason never seemed to like the "Tivoli” and very rarely visited as he was every night based at the “Grand Ryhope”. I doubt the auditorium stage width was 24' although it was deep. The projectors were identical to Ryhope Grand, “Kalee 8s” and “Western Electric Sound”. It had 4 changes weekly:– Sunday/ Monday Tuesday/ Wednesday Thursday/ Friday Saturday. Friday and Saturday twice nightly with one show the remainder of the week. Around 1958 Mr Chaytor senior died and for some reason, Mr Chaytor junior then took a quick decision to close the “Tivoli” within a couple of months. I can only assume it was because Mr Chaytor senior would not allow closure whilst he was alive! The cinema was “mothballed” and boarded up and for a short time was leased to Durham bases “FairWorld Bingo” who found it to be not “viable”. It was then locked-up and stood until Mr Chaytor (junior) having died it was just demolished by his widow near end 1999, The land stood for a few years which still showed the original brown tiles attached to the brickwork of the building attached to it (an ice cream parlour) and a house has now been built on the land where it stood. “The Palace” Fencehouses was disposed of in the late 30s and served as a supermarket for years just after the 2nd world war.
“Miracles Can Happen”! After over 2 years standing with no commencement of the promised “dismantle” of the “Grand Cinema”, Ryhope, work has started last month and the start point is on the removal of slates and the canopy. Having worked for some 3 years giving “Beamish” advice on the building and how it was in the 1950s, and together with member “Terry”, we made our views strongly known and “hey-presto”, work has started. It is hoped that I may be able to forward photos as the stages progress! Once the building is situated at “Beamish” it will represent a cinema of the 50s and show films and possibly newsreels of that period in time!
Bill Mather
I had some of the most memorable times as a “Junior Projectionist” when I was 15 at the “Princess”. The Resident Manager/Director was Mr Norman Walton. He had been at the “Princess” (he told me), since it was opened in 1912 and he was in his late 60s, He deemed me such that he took me under his “umbrella” so to speak and was always showing me items and ways that would “enhance” my career!. He always used to tell me to (quote) watch your uncle Norman as one day you will own your own cinema!! He knew something then that I didn’t as some 15 years later I was to become “CEO” of “FairWorld Cinemas” which at that time had purchased the “Princess”! He used to tell me to watch the “cleaners” with care as they would get up to tricks like taking the bars of soap home. He used to weigh the bars of “carbolic soap” and cut 8 ounces with a knife and weigh it. I was paid the princely sum of £3 a week and was given Sunday off so he would not have to pay me extra. When the “Rock & Roll” era was going strong we had “Rock Around The Clock” and recall that one night with hundreds in the queue his wife came running into the projection room saying he was being attacked and would I come straight away. (I was at that time about 5'5" and 16 years old. When I went out he was poking the young lads (Teddy Boys") with his stick calling them “rabble”! One said that if he poked any more he would wrap the stick around his neck! He booked the films and gave me a chance (at 16) to pick 6 films for a Sunday night run,(double bills), and he said if they didn’t do any good business he would sack me! I recall “Gone With The Wind” which was booked for 6 days and he decided to show part 1 Monday to Wednesday and part 2 (after the intermission) Thursday to Saturday and then get twice the admission. I recall there was a near riot and patrons wrote to “MGM” the distributors and he was barred from showing any more films from “MGM”> The “Western Electric” sound was still installed in 1956 (from 1933) and was the old valve and the sound was charged by batteries which had to be put on charge every night. The projectors, however, were modern “Kalee 21s” installed when Cinema Scope was installed in 1954 to compete with the “Empire” at Seaham. The stage was deep 20' and a wide proscenium over 35' from memory. The stage had “flys” still in 1956 albeit the dressing rooms were full of old “Kine Weekly” and old posters and seats.
The end came ending September 1959 which was the end of the financial year,(so I was always told by Mr Walton), and the last film shown was a re-run of “Bridge On The River Kwai” which had done excellent business on its first outing at the “Princess”. Mr Walton had retired and moved down south and the cinema was on the market for the sum of £50000. It was purchased eventually by the “FairWorld Bingo Group” and duly the rest of its life was devoted to Bingo. It finally closed in 1979 and stood empty until approximately 2002 when it was demolished and the land stands empty.
As the former CEO of the Cinema Division of “FairWorld Cinemas” and upon checking information for a private purpose, I have to correct some of the “many” discrepancies in the history of my former cinema as hereunder:– Regarding the stage (backstage) being removed for installation of CinemaScope, this is incorrect! The stage area was fully intact as early 1954 CinemaScope and 4 track stereo sound was installed and opened with “The Robe” (20th Fox). When we took over the “Empire” as it was in 1972 (following the closure in August 1968 showing in full stereo “South Pacific”, the owners (Harrisons) had decided it was not viable any longer. We,(FairWorld), took control and it was decided to place a false ceiling blocking off the original ceiling thereby forming a “ground floor”/“stadium” operation. A new “projection room” was installed at the rear (under circle) and “Westar Projectors” and “sound” installed. Wall drapes were added and the whole operation was “ground floor”. The original circle foyer which was the full width of the auditorium was utilised for stock/fridge rooms etc. In early 1979 on the opening night of “The Omen” (a Sunday), the manager ‘phoned me at midnight telling me to “get down to Seaham” as the building was on fire! When I arrived the fire services had extinguished the flames and we found the auditorium and screen tabs and seats were black and it was assumed that a person/s hiding backstage had “torched” the stage area after closure. It was assumed that the person/s hid behind the stage drapes where there was the entry by a door to back-stage. We never caught the culprit. Having left the cinema to “settle” and having removed all the seating/carpets/drapes/ during the course of 6 months I had wanted to put a screen 2 in the sealed off circle area to thereby make the cinema more viable. Unfortunately, the insurance company stated that we had to put it back as it was or they would not “pay-out”! We, therefore, decided on a single screen and I engaged “Modernisation” who had carried out excellent work in the past at our Horden, and Washington cinemas. We re-opened in the Autumn (half term) with “Orca Killer Whale”! I had installed 285 new spaced seats, a new “Peerlux” silver screen,(curved), and all the walls were draped in Gold/Yellow fabric and Oyster screen tabs. I had new “Westrex” sound and the original projectors were in good order. I understand from a good friend of mine who was, at that time-based at Sunderland ABC that patrons who used to come there from Seaham used to “praise the standards” of our cinema at Seaham. Of course, I had changed its name to “FairWorld Film Centre” in the hope of getting that 2nd screen later in the circle. In 1982 our nearby “Princess Theatre” In Dawdon which had been on Bingo sine 1961 had to have a costly electrical rewiring throughout and the Directors decided to close it due to the cost. I was approached by them asking if I would relinquish my cinema for Bingo and they would find me the money to quadruple my Hartlepool “FairWorld Film Centre”, (formerly ABC). They knew that my Seaham cinema had, and was my “pet” as I had always found it to be my favourite! I reluctantly agreed to hand it to the Bingo section having been promised the money for an extra 3 screen at Hartlepool! (This did not transpire, hence my departure in 1983) My connection ended at that junction. Some 8 years after the “FairWorld” Company was sold to another outfit based in Scotland (CAC Cinemas/Bingo). They, in their wisdom or otherwise decided to close a number of the outlets operating Bingo and Seaham was a casualty. Unfortunately, it was left standing to “rot” and it was subsequently demolished for part of the land covering an “Asda” Supermarket. I had long before departed “FairWorld Cinemas” having “seen the writing on the wall” and formed my own Company.
As there are so many discrepancies in the history of the “Empire”/“FairWorld Cinema” that I have just noticed (having been tipped off by my friend Terry Charnock – a former “ABC” Manager that I feel the history should be corrected to a more factual read.
Bill Mather )Former CEO- FairWorld Cinemas Division).
twmr on April 9, 2015 at 10:25 am (remove) Further to “Terry” April 1st, I can also confirm that the auditorium to the stage area is NOT of our former Cinema. The proscenium was certainly much wider than this one and also at the top of the proscenium were vent grills for heating from the plenum system. The side splays owards the stage are also incorrect and the proscenium did not have curved top as shown. There had been an “Organ Chamber” built to the right of the proscenium and this cinema was obviously intended to have an organ which did not emanate. I have the original “House Book” of the Cinema from 1949 still and for readers interest the CinemaScope size was 33'6" wide by 17'9" in height. There were also 3 dimmer colours for the proscenium alcoves installed for opening in 1937, (which are missing from the photo supplied). When FairWorld took the Cinema in February 1976 I put a new screen in at a width of 36'6"x 17'9" and we could not have possibly a screen size of that by the photo shown purporting to be of ex: ABC Hartlepool. As an added piece of history of the cinema I also completely re-seated the Circle with seating purchased from Rank Equipment and also a new set of screen tabs, and I had a long play tower installed and sound system (transistorised) and was “Cinemacanica”. As an added piece of nostalgia I still have the plans drawn up by “Modernisation Ltd” of Batley,Yorkshire, who I engaged for all my cinemas of FairWorld as Director of Cinemas, for a 4screen operation. My intention was 3 screens in the stalls area, with the main number 1 screen being the original in the circle. I also had purchased (from a cinema operator in the Midlands), 70mm projectors which was intended to be added to the new Film Centre operation.Unfortunately due to the apathy of the cinemagoing public the FairWorld Directors in their wisdom(or lack of it), overuled me and common business sense prevailing at that time in 1983 when admissions were dropping so far, I was given a stark choice resuting in my decision to cease operations on May 1st 1983, when the last film shown was “The Beastmaster” which was ironically released by “EMI Film Distributors(the previous owners of course operating as “ABC Cinemas”).
I trust cinema buffs will appreciate this added information of what was a really well built cinema of that era of which I was so proud to have acquired from “EMI” on behalf of the FairWorld Cinema division of which is no more as indeed “FairWorld Ltd” is no more.
Having not been on this site for some time, and on looking up the Odeon Sunderland, I would point out that your photograph of the ite of the Gaumont (Havelock) is the wrong photo. This site is in High Street West, of the “Picture House”. An Independant cinema which closed in 1966. The Gaumont (Havelock) is in Fawcet Street, yes..on “Mackies Corner” but you have the wrong site. I am sure you would rather me point this out so this could possibly be corrected.
Bill Mather
It was also lovely to look, (perhaps for a last glimpse) the almighty Paramount/Odeon Newcastle. Again the new owners have made sure it is depleted of anything so they can make money. These people just buy the cinema circuits to sell them off to make money. The heritage of these buildings has gone forever. We used to call the Rank Organisation (being an ex Independant Cinema owner), but you knew that Rank had the business at heart really, and now of course we really miss the group as it was. Thanks again for such a nostalgic look at these wonderful Cinemas.