Regal Super Cinema

The Regal Super Cinema Cinema opened by the Earl of Stamford on 13th May 1931 with 1,686 seats. It was operated by the Ambassador Circuit and was later operated by the Read, Snape & Ward circuit. It was equipped with a Compton 3Manual/11Rank organ with an illuminated console, that was opened by Joseph Seal. The cinema also had a cafe/restaurant.

Described by the promotors a “A Cathedral of the Movies” and a ‘Super Cinema in the Suburbs’ with a commanding and delightful terra-cotta frontage…majestic and imposing…that always retains the “seaside” appearance. The whole building was steel framed, the roof being supported on long 90ft long principal girders, and the balcony supported on one large girder, 90ft long, 14ft deep and weighing 50 tons. In all, over 200 tons of steel was used, and the cost of the building was in the region of £27,000, about the average cost of a suburban cinema of the time. Inside silver and gold predominated. The dome in the auditorium ceiling appeared to be of beaten silver, although in reality it was plastic paint with a metalic finish. As in many other cinemas of the period, concealed lighting did much to enhance the total effect. The auditorium contained 5,000 concealed lights. It was taken over by Union Cinemas Ltd. chain in February 1937, and they were taken over by Associated British Cinemas(ABC) in October 1937.

The Regal Super Cinema was destroyed by a fire after the performance on the evening of 6th/7th January 1956. Its remains were demolished, and an office block Roberts House was built on the site.

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