Mechanics' Hall
Milton Street,
Nottingham,
NG1 3PZ
Milton Street,
Nottingham,
NG1 3PZ
1 person
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Biocolour Picture Theatres, Gaumont-British Picture Corp., Ltd., Rank Organisation
Styles: Greek Revival
Previous Names: Mechanics' New Hall
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The Mechanics' Halls were opened on 19th January 1869 with a Classical music concert in the large hall. There was a small hall with an entrance on Milton Street, known as the Forge Hall, and later known as the Academy Cinema, which closed in 1920.
However, the main Mechanics' Hall on Burton Street at the corner of Milton Street was an imposing building with Doric columns, and a colonnaded portico on the Burton Street side. It boasted a William Hill organ which was installed in 1877. Seating was provided for up to 2,000. Films were first screened here in January and February 1896. Many famous people appeared at the Mechanics' Hall over the years: Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde, Jerome K. Jerome, Wilkie Collins, G.K. Chesterton, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Captain Scott and Sir Ernest Shackleton.
It became a full-time cinema from 24th January 1910. The silent films were accompanied by music on the William Hill organ. Closed in the early period of World War I, it re-opened on 6th March 1916. It was taken over by the Biocolour Picture Theatres circuit in 1919, and they undertook a reconstruction of parts of the building, including the addition of a café. The organ was boarded over, never to be played again. It was now known as the Mechanics' New Hall.
In March 1928, the Biocolour Picture Theatres circuit was taken over by the Denman/Gaumont chain and the name reverted back to Mechanics' Hall. In the late-1940’s, the redundant organ was removed from the building by an organ builder.
Gaumont British Theatres became Circuit Management Association (CMA) in the early-1950’s after they had merged with Odeon Theatres, and then became the Rank Organisation. The Mechanics' Hall was closed on 6th June 1964 with Dirk Bogarde in “Hot Enough For June” and “The Switch”. It was demolished in 1965 as part of a redevelopment of the area. The façade was saved and purchased by an American, who exported the stones to be re-erected as his Californian hunting lodge. An office block named Birkbeck House was built on the site. That was demolished in 2003, and it was replaced by a new Hilton Hotel, retail and housing.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
I want to know how many meters long were the screen of cinemascope of The Mechanics' Halls cinema 1960. Thank you very much.
In the ‘60s I (as a boy scout) collected for something in the foyer of the Mechanics Cinema. I particularly remember it had a steep flight of stone steps between the street and the box office. While the film was on I got myself invited to the box, something which fascinated me then and still does.
January 15th, 1869 article (click to zoom)
grand opening ad:
There’s confusion here; The building contained a number of halls, notably the ‘Large Hall’ (the subject of the cuttings posted by rivest266) which was accessed from Burton Street, and a smaller upper level hall with its entrance on Milton Street which became the Mechanics Cinema.