Stockton Globe

terry on August 27, 2021 at 5:36 am

I see that the latest figure is £30,000,000…………………

Harry Rigby on August 23, 2021 at 3:39 am

Further to Terry’s comments below about articles in the Northern Echo, here is a posting in that newspaper last September from ‘Charter123’ It would be good if we could locate the gentleman who posted this comment on the Northern Echo’s website in October last year, though perhaps he is already one of us! Charter1232 8th September 2020 01:30 pm User ID: 1799630 1I worked on the Management side of ABC for over 20 years and George Skelton, Manager of the 2,429 capacity ABC Globe, was a very good friend during the 1970’s and 1980’s. George often spoke about his years at the Globe where he transferred in 1962 from the ABC Ritz Huddersfield. He NEVER referred to any plans of ABC to dispose of the theatre in the mid 1960’s when it was their top live venue (after the ABC Blackpool) and whilst films continued to perform well.

When the 1970’s arrived, various schemes were considered for the Globe including a subdivision which would have retained the stage. There were various others mooted at the time. When, however, the adjacent Department Store, Debenhams wanted to expand their premises they offered ABC an eye watering sum which they accepted and with this capital they purchased the Essoldo Newcastle to give them a long term foothold in that city where their own theatre, the ABC Haymarket, had been compulsorily purchased by Newcastle University and leased back to ABC on very short term tenure. For some reason Debenhams never proceeded with their expansion plans and after briefly leasing the Globe to the Lipthorpe Brothers (Fiesta Club etc) they sold it to Mecca who did indeed maintain it to a high standard until they moved to new purpose built premises in 1997. Most ironically, Debenhams recently closed whilst the Globe prepares to reopen following a £27.9 million refurbishment. Incidentally, the photo of the Globe as the ABC Stockton (ABC dropped individual names at most of their theatres in the 1960’s) showing ‘The Ten Commandments’ was taken in 1973 when the film was on re-release. When in 1958 (in the UK ) Paramount originally launched the film it played on the Rank Organisation Circuit (Odeons and Gaumonts) and in certain independent cinemas (in Stockton it played at the Essoldo on the High Street) but that film corporation later switched their product to ‘Associated British Cinemas’.

terry on February 3, 2021 at 9:59 am

Photo uploaded showing the restoration of the long dormant Stockton theatre at an advanced stage.

I am guessing that, after all, they are adopting the original décor scheme. There are what appear to be rural or garden murals above the alcoves which house the ornamental fountains. These originally had an illuminated water effect so I wonder if they’ll get round to wiring them up ?

One thing that puzzled me: “What the hell is that in the middle of the fancy pelmet?” . By enlarging the photo I see that it is “1935” – the year the theatre opened .

terry on September 28, 2020 at 4:42 pm

The Northern Echo is running a series of articles about the theatre. Part 1 below:–

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/18750001.raising-curtain-history-globe-stockton/?action=success

I felt I had to add some corrections after the online article whilst putting other errors to one side in a bid to confine my comments to the Globe itself.

I am, however, still of the same opinion I have held for a long time i.e. that , at least as far as cinemas are concerned, journalism tends to be very lazy.

In this article, for example, it is said that the owners of the original Globe built the current structure as a huge provincial Variety Theatre following the rebuilding of the town’s Hippodrome as a cinema in 1932 after a disastrous fire. Yes,the Hippodrome was rebuilt in the Art Deco style but it retained full stage facilities and was often still used as a theatre. It was not unknown for both the ABC and the Hippodrome to present live shows concurrently, most notably during the Festive Season when big name pantomimes were presented at both venues.

Another point I chose not to pick up upon is the statement “1937, April 5. The Globe reopened as an ABC – an Associated British Cinema, a fully fledged cinema. But the cinema craze was also nearing the end of its run.”

This remark is beyond me, given that admissions in the UK would not peak until 9 years later in 1946 with 1,635 million. Even in the year 1937, 946 million is over 5 times the 176 million recorded in 2019. I shudder to think what the final number will be in 2020 and I do feel extremely sorry for those independent exhibitors who continue to fly the flag here in the UK notwithstanding the pressure from the ‘Mighty Multiplexes’.

terry on August 11, 2020 at 9:35 am

It wouldn’t be so bad if the extra £1.2 million were to be spent on some decent decor instead of that ice cold, bland, devoid of atmosphere and warmth interior as seen in the video on the ATG site…..

terry on July 18, 2020 at 9:56 am

ATG Page here:–

https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/stockton-globe/your-visit/

Incorporated within is a ‘Stockton Globe Fly Through’ with a ‘watch here’ link to a video of some 3 minutes or so (via YouTube) and I have added what is thus far the only comment.

I understood that the same consultant engaged at Darlington Hippodrome had been assigned here and that his intention was to replicate as far as possible the original 1935 features and decor. The aforementioned were very impressive right until the very end of ABC operation with the house tabs being identical to the famous London Palladium ‘swags’ and the original art deco houselights still in situ, not having been replaced by the spray fittings which were to be found at most of the circuit. I assume that this same consultant’s services must have been dispensed with given that the result ,if the video is anything to go by, is a very austere looking venue indeed.

The CTA recently proclaimed that the finest surviving cinema interior in the North East is that of the former Blacks Regal/Odeon, Sunderland which, notwithstanding having been on Bingo for many years, retains many of its distinctive features (that is, of course, until Mecca either move to new premises or insert a false ceiling at circle level). I would once have asserted that the ABC Globe Stockton was of equal architectural merit but I am no longer of that opinion after viewing this……

Sorry to ATG and all involved with the ‘restoration’ but if this is the best that £26.7 million can achieve, forget it!

terry on February 15, 2020 at 6:45 am

3 articles re progress thus far in 2020:–

https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/gallery/new-pictures-show-stockton-globe-17661229

https://www.stockton.gov.uk/news/2020/january/they-re-raising-the-roof-at-the-globe-and-the-venue-s-manager-has-been-appointed-too/

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/18204233.latest-pictures-show-progress-stocktons-globe-theatre/

terry on November 12, 2019 at 12:57 pm

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.

terry on October 11, 2019 at 2:56 pm

Willmott Dixon who restored nearby Darlington Hippodrome to refurbish the Globe:–

http://www.constructionmanagermagazine.com/news/willmott-dixon-wins-2675m-art-deco-theatre-restora/

terry on July 3, 2019 at 2:28 pm

Another article :–

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/17737330.stockton-globe-65m-vote-narrowly-passed/

I should point out that the £28,000,000 revised restoration cost I stated is incorrect. I should have said £27,000,000 (as stated on the local BBC news a few days ago)…..

Paradoxically, Debenhams , who purchased the ABC Stockton all those years ago (ABC bought the Essoldo Newcastle with the proceeds), are to close their department store next year. This is adjacent to the Globe and one would have thought that they would wait to see if the considerable extra footfall (which the large reopened next door theatre is bound to generate) may have a positive effect before making such a drastic move……..

Marks & Spencer have already withdrawn from the town and they could have waited also – especially whilst they still have to pay £150k per annum rent to a Scandinavian landlord. There is no ‘get out clause’ and the rent is payable for 100 years. I cannot believe that M&S would , as a going concern, have been losing anywhere near £150k each year!

Cinema circuits are equally guilty of such decisions and I remember my local Odeon in Bishop Auckland closing the very week that a new shopping centre and bus concourse opened next door many decades ago…..

terry on July 25, 2018 at 8:14 am

The restoration is now at a critical stage as seen in the following clip:–

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4UuASPcoC4

I had to laugh when I saw a stern notice appended with the name G L SKELTON, MANAGER. George was infamous for his notices wherever he went and,Stockton Globe being one of ABC’s most important stage venues, it figures that he would be even more rampant with his orders and stipulations there……..

As I may have said previously, I do hope that ATG do not follow the Andrew LLoyd Webber and Eventim UK route of having no house tabs as those buildings look ridiculous without them and all the hi tech lighting in the world cannot compensate for their absence.

The ABC Globe had a set of the very best quality maroon velvet bullion carrying curtains in the whole of the UK. If the Restoration is to be as authentic as everyone connected with the project claims it will be, then a replica set is an absolute must!

terry on July 26, 2017 at 3:47 pm

Three links to footage re the restoration:–

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-DmF6Cmlck

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA39cdEaaPc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq0kjzLCtFU

The first includes a clip of the famous ‘bullion carrying’ velvet house tabs opening. It does not look like these are going to be replicated,sadly…….

terry on June 13, 2017 at 9:11 am

Photo uploaded: The ABC Globe Stockton backstage in 1962. George Skelton, Manager is at the back with Assistant Managers, John McIntosh and Bill Postgate.

George had invited members of The TownsWomens Guild (it was the Chairman’s birthday) to meet Max Bygraves who was headlining a week’s variety show.

George became a good friend some years later whilst at the Haymarket Newcastle and ABC Darlington after a period as Manager of ABC Chester following the sale of Stockton to next door Debenham’s Department Store. Thankfully, the store group decided, after all, not to extend onto the ABC site and it was subsequently leased short term to the Lipthorpe Brothers (Fiesta Club etc) before being sold to Mecca who operated it as a Bingo Club until they moved to new purpose built premises in 1997.

Now, happily, the building is being restored to its former glory for live presentations but it seems unlikely that it will ever again show films; this will be a great pity as it would be ideal for Premieres of major new releases prior to general release in the multiplexes.

At ABC conventions and meetings up and down the UK necessitating hotel stays, Managers were invariably allocated twin rooms (not so for the great and the good…) and George and I often shared on this basis.

He told me about his experiences (he had started as a reporter with the Grimsby Telegraph after WW2 prior to joining ABC in 1948) particularly in relation to the lavish live shows at Stockton and elsewhere.

The event which caused him the most excitement (of the wrong kind) was when,on November 22nd 1963,The Beatles were headlining a show at the Globe which also included The Vernons Girls and the Kestrels.

This date, of course, goes down in history for a world shaking event, namely the assassination of John F Kennedy. The Beatles, unable to contact Brian Epstein, were unsure whether or not they should appear as events globally were being cancelled as a mark of respect.

Much to George’s great relief the show did go on and one can only imagine the furore which would have resulted when having to deal with fans more upset by The Beatles' non appearance than by the death of the US President….

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/…/take-look-inside-globe…