Royal Theatre

In Rushden, Northamptonshire, the Royal Variety Theatre was built on a site in High Street North known as Marriott’s Ground. It opened on Saturday 23rd September 1911 with films and variety (although, despite the name, it always favoured films).

There was seating for approximately 900, in stalls and balcony. Shows were twice nightly, at 7pm and 9pm, and an orchestra, under the direction of Henry J. Baker, accompanied the films and variety turns. The proprietor was A. Franklin; later on, Rushden Cinema Ltd. took over.

At one time a searchlight on top of the building acted as a ‘beacon’ for prospective patrons.

When the talkies arrived, a new projection box was built at the back of the balcony (this had previously been at the back of the stalls). A Western Electric(WE) sound system and Kalee 8 projectors were installed. The first sound film, “The Singing Fool”, starring Al Jolson, played for three days from Monday 28th April 1930.

In 1955 a panoramic screen, 29ft by 13ft, was installed in the by-then renamed Royal Theatre. The first wide-screen film was “Down Three Dark Streets”, starring Broderick Crawford, showing from Monday 14th March 1955. There were by then 859 seats.

The Royal Theatre closed with “Circle of Deception”, starring Bradford Dillman and Suzy Parker, on Saturday 13th May 1961.

The building was converted into a car sale showroom. It was demolished in 2005; an ASDA store has been built over the site.

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