Classic Stanley
Front Street,
Stanley,
DH9
Front Street,
Stanley,
DH9
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Classic Cinemas (UK), Essoldo Circuit (Contol) Ltd.
Architects: T.H. Murray
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: Victoria Theatre, New Victoria Theatre, Essoldo
Nearby Theaters
Located in Stanley, County Durham, 5 miles west of Chester Le Street. The Victoria Theatre was opened in 1893 and had screened some films by 1897 and also that year additions were made to the theatre to the plans of architect W.J. Shell. Seating was provided for 1,200. It was granted a Cinematograph Licence on 21st January 1912. A new roof was added in 1904 to the plans of architect T.E. Crossling.
In 1933 plans for a rebuilding were approved and the old theatre was demolished and a New Victoria Theatre was built to the plans of architect T.H. Murray. It opened as a cinema on 14th March 1935. It was designed in an Art Deco Style and had 860-seats. It was equipped with a Western Electric(WE) sound system.
On May 1948 it was taken over the the Newcastle based Essoldo chain and was re-named Essoldo. In April 1972 the Essoldo chain were taken over by the Classic Cinemas chain and it was renamed Classic. It was closed on 4th February 1974.
It was demolished in 1999 and flats have been built on the site.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 1 comments)
The Classic was open throughout 1974 and most if not all of 1975.
Classic initially regarded some of the former Essoldos they acquired to be so bad that they named them simply ‘The Cinema’. Stanley fell into this category as did nearby Houghton Le Spring although after a short while they were ‘awarded’ the ‘Classic’ name.
Perhaps they had acquired a job lot of army war surplus paint with which to ‘tart up’ the fronts of house.