Co-operative Cinema

Located in Birtley, 4-miles south of Gateshead, County Durham. Films were screened in the 800-seat Co-op Hall from September 1910 when it was operated by the Northern Entertainment Company. The cinema and its dance hall occupied the first floor of this large building, with shops (Co-operative?) on the ground floor. It was closed later in 1910 due to the Theatre Royal opening. The Theatre Royal was closed in 1912 due to damage from a fire and the Co-op Hall was re-opened. It was operated by the Co-operative Society until 1930. Around 1930 it was equipped with a Western Electric(WE) sound system. It had a 15ft wide proscenium.

The Co-operative Cinema was closed in December 1940 (possibly due to war-time conditions) It was operating by 1944, but had closed by 1947. The building still stands in 2021 in use as a snooker club, gymnasium and dance hall.

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