Regal Cinema

Situated in the Moldgreen district to the east of of Huddersfield, the Regal Cinema opened on 6th April 1936 with “The Guvnor”, starring George Arliss.

Equipped with British Thomson Houston projectors and a BTH sound system were used.

By 1941 the Regal Cinema was being run by Star Cinemas (London) Ltd. In 1944 the projection room was re-equipped with Gaumont-British Magnus projectors and a British Acoustic sound system.

One of Huddersfield’s by-laws was that children under the age of 6 could not be admitted to cinemas; on 12th December 1952 fines were imposed on the Regal Cinema by magistrates for allowing children under 6 to matinees.

In the 1950’s, CinemaScope was installed, with the unusual arrangement that the (expensive) lenses would be shared with other Star cinemas, so they were only on site when required. The first CinemaScope film at the Regal Cinema was “King Richard and the Crusaders”, starring Rex Harrison, in 1954.

From October 1961 films were run on just three days a week - Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays - with the cinema closing on Thursdays and Sundays and bingo taking over on Fridays and Saturdays.

Finally, in week commencing 26th February 1962, the final film, “Giant of Marathon”, starring Steve Reeves, was screened. Star Bingo Club then took over full-time - and became so successful that Star Cinemas looked for a larger venue. They found it in the city’s Palace Theatre (see separate Cinema Treasures entry) and in 1964 the bingo licence was transferred there.

The Regal Cinema building was acquired by John Blundell for a retail outlet. Its final end is unclear, with some sources saying it was demolished as part of a road-widening scheme, while others say it was destroyed by fire in 1988.

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