Princess Cinema

Woodys and Kelley’s Irish Bar are presumably occupying the ground floor although I couldn’t find either open on a recent visit. The back entrance down The Strand is boarded up which ties in with the previous notification that the theatre occupy the upstairs.

The Princess was a conversion of the Swiss Roller Rink.

Hello Terry,

Thanks a lot for your recent informations.

It’s been some very interesting, fascinating weeks of “conversation” on this site, even so not exactly staying topic. I guess this happens with people who have dedicated their life and profession to CINEMA.

And still… nobody seems to be able to post interior photos from “Princess Cinema”.

Best regards
Christina

Saturday morning at the Grand was very interesting and it was very uplifting to hear all the big plans for the cinema when it is finally up and running at Beamish. It is expected that it will take two years to dismantle, transfer and rebuild.

Re the ceiling. When I heard that the false one had been removed ( a feature of its Bingo days) I imagined that, given the ornate style of the place,the original ceiling would be arched or barrelled – but such is not the case as it basically follows the contours of the main roof.

I did ask Bill if this had always been the case with the roof trusses visible and he replied that it had indeed been the case and that , in his opinion, it always appeared not to have been properly finished .

I have to say that the ornamental plaster-work is far more elaborate than would usually be found in a cinema of its type – in particular that on the front of the circle balustrade. Perhaps there was an ‘overspend’ there and economies were made with the ceiling! Interestingly, the original houselights are still up there albeit thickly coated in decades of nicotine and dust. These, like the splay wall stained glass features, are to be carefully lowered and restored.

We did not have access to all parts of the building. The circle was ‘out of bounds’ as there are some loose stairs and steppings. The projection box was also not accessible as it is currently used as a storage area for seats….. The projection room is unusual being in the rear stalls and there were no complete rows of seats in this part of the house. The ‘box’ is in the centre with part rows at each side. Bill tells me that the projection room was transferred from the rear circle in the 1930’s and I do not know why this was done; it would seem to me that perhaps when ‘talking pictures'were introduced a general ‘makeover’ took place.

I had my photo taken whilst sitting in one of two cinema seats which have been reupholstered . These, plus all those to be installed, are from the former Durham Palladium which was one of my favourite childhood cinemas. It was recently demolished to make way for new student accommodation, Durham having one of the country’s top Universities (after Oxford, Cambridge and St Andrews). The Kalee 19’s from the Palladium, I am informed, have also been rescued although Beamish advise me not by them ….

One day, Christina, we shall be admonished for using the Princess Blackpool’s page for these communications but, in the absence of anyone providing any further information about the place (in particular some interior photos), I don’t think that they can say very much.

Suffice to say, however, that a former friend and Manager of mine (from the huge ABC Wigan) passed away recently at the age of 81. Whilst the ABC (Ritz) was being subdivided in 1977 ( 2 cinemas in the circle , one in the restaurant and – guess what – Bingo in the stalls), he was based at the ABC Theatre, Blackpool and during this period he was deployed at the Princess for two days a week. The Summer Season Show at the ABC was Les Dawson and Kenneth McKellar while the Princess was doing an ‘alternate week’ film policy starting on Thursdays. I cannot recall the films showing there for that season, sadly.

Best regards

Terry

Hello Terry,

Thank you very much for your response and those interesting links. I found very interesting photos from inside the “Globe” Theatre Stockton plus a little Clip. What a beautiful place this is and it’s only right that it’s been given the chance for restoration. Isn’t it lovely to read and hear about restoring those remarkable places like the one mentioned for a change? Also very interesting what has come back visible inside the former “Kings” Cinema/Bishop Auckland.

I was so touched by the little clip of Billy Mather’s visit at the Grand Cinema/Ryhope. Commenting this visit in his own words and his emotions clearly visible in his face whilst at the “Grand”….I can only say I can truly comprehend it. Two years ago I had the chance to visit “Schwefelbad”– Cinema again, which I had last seen inside as a school- girl at the time of closure (1968/due to TV). Although this Cinema (built by my Great-Grandfather) was not really my favorite place to see movies ( “BALI” was more favorited)I was really looking forward to this permission visit, which was arranged by a journalist who made an interview with me about the Cinemas History.

The Auditorium had to face some alteration through the last decades because of it’s use as a dancing-school, but through the suspended false ceilings I looked up to the original auditorium – lights and had a look at the original circle again and insisted to visit the front row up there, where we always sat. Standing on the former huge stage (the Cinema was also in use for theatre-plays and concerts/ a venue), I could make out the orchestra-pit, which the council of Balingen destroyed by filling it up with cement(!!) – a pitty really. Not only could I clearly make out the big Screen behind me (which isn’t there anymore)but also the two sets of dark-blue velvet curtains/Tabs (which were always in use in times of screening movies :) ). And specially on the stage I could make out that familiar smell…..I think I had been taken back in time somehow. I must have taken dozens of photographs and thinking back to this very cold afternoon in February 2016: An unforgetable experience.

Have a wonderful visit at the beautiful “Grand Cinema” tomorrow.

Best regards
Christina

https://www.facebook.com/BeamishLivingMuseum/videos/1625193314182363/

https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/how-globe-look-reopens-2019-13317212

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/15814636.PICTURESSee_inside_Bishop_Auckland

Hello again Terry,

Thank you for responding and what interesting reports you left. Sorry to say, that I’ve never had the chance to see the silent “BEN HUR”– Movie and that includes an orchestra accompaniment too. That really must have been an experience.

Once I had the oppurtunity to see Charlie Chaplins “Modern Times” with a small orchestra accompaniment at a 75th Jubilee-Celebration of a Cinema located nearby many years ago. That was a great evening I’ve spent there.

By the way I’ve seen the “BEN HUR” – Remake. When it’s release was announced, I couldn’t believe this – I must admit – “brave” project. But – with what result: Filled with CGI’s, location mostly created on the computer and actors who had to fight their acting-qualifications against the “CGIs” (just may impression). I knew I would be dissapointed seeing this and really I felt like leaving the screening before the end of the movie. Patrons acceptance at the box-office was very “low” too and the few patrons who attended the Screenings were also most dissapointed. Well, there we are again: Nothing can beat the “Original” – well , mostly.

I’ve done intensive research about the “Grand Cinema” Ryhope and found not only interior photos but a little movie-clip, too. Isn’t it a gem! What a beautiful interior-layout with all the flower ornaments and the painted windows. This is a very special Cinema and I am so glad it will be looking forward to a much brighter future.

Wishing you a very interesting “last look around” at this beautiful building next Saturday. Hope to “read” from you again.

Best regards

Christina

Hello Christina

Sorry I have been a little tardy in responding but I have been looking after my sister’s house (and cat).

I was fascinated to hear about your visit to the Astra Cinema when you saw the English speaking ‘Ben-Hur’; things must have been difficult in Germany during that period.

My Dad was a Chief Projectionist decades ago and when he joined the RAF at the outbreak of hostilities in WW2 he showed films whilst off duty (and for extra pay) in their Astra Cinemas in Egypt and the Middle East.

I have not seen the remake of ‘Ben-Hur’ and reports I have received are variable. Everyone says that notwithstanding all the CGI effects (or perhaps because of them ?) it does not compare particularly favourably with the 1959 film.

I shall tell you which other version I have seen on the big screen, namely M-G-M’s original adaptation of the General Lew Wallace novel ie the 1925 silent epic (with Ramon Navarro).

I saw this at the Sunderland Empire Theatre where it was accompanied by The Northern Sinfonia Orchestra and what an awesome experience it was . A very good former Rank Organisation friend was there at the time and I was his guest. Many Rank Managers (and indeed quite a few ABC ones) were like ‘Little Tin Gods’ but he was a very genuine, kind hearted person whose memory I shall cherish always.

Beamish Museum have invited me for a last look around the Grand Cinema, Ryhope next Saturday and I shall be visiting with a retired cinema CEO friend ( the one who worked there in the early 1950’s).

After this the painstaking process of dismantling the building brick by brick will be carried out prior to its reconstruction and restoration at Beamish.

I am told that the false ceiling from its Bingo/Car Warehouse days has been removed and that the elaborate plaster-work can again be seen – albeit coated in many layers of dark paint. On the splay walls at each side of the pros are stained glass nautical scenes which in cinema days were back-lit. Indeed they will be once more when the building is finally up and running. Crews have been warned to take extra care with these!

You will be pleased to know that there will be two sets of tabs. This will be two sets more that a commercial cinema in York which has recently been restored by ‘Everyman’. According to reports upon their acquisition of the venue, it was to have “opulent stage drapes”. Instead, however, they have floated a huge screen forward of the proscenium arch. What a let down……

Best regards

Terry

Hello Christina

I imagine that you are right about today’s cinema-goers and perhaps the cinema styles and presentational formats of yesteryear would not always be appreciated by our instant gratification society.

Having said that, I am told that in the few instances where old cinemas have been restored (eg Rex Berkhamsted, Odyssey St Albans, Plaza Stockport etc), the reaction from young people is overwhelmingly favourable and the resounding sound of “Wow!” from first time visitors is palpable.

Re ‘Ben-Hur’, one of my favourite films , if not indeed my very favourite:

Your Grandfather was perfectly correct by asserting that the overture and entr'acte must not be detached from the feature; these were essential to its presentation and the audience’s anticipation of what was to follow!

I remember my parents taking my younger sister and me as infants to the nearby Essoldo (Hippodrome) Bishop Auckland to see it in early 1962. By then it had finished its Roadshow engagements and was early into its General Release.

The Essoldo was an Edwardian Variety Theatre and,I would point out, was nothing like those ABC venues as seen via the links I forwarded.

It had a great deal of atmosphere though and I often think back to that time when the small market town still had this outlet in addition to 2 other Essoldos (the Eden and Kings) plus a much more modern Odeon. They are all now long gone although the Essoldo/Hippodrome survives as a Bingo Hall and could easily be restored to theatrical use by all accounts. I did not realise, as a young lad all those years ago, that this particular theatre had a female Chief Projectionist as per the clip below which is from a 1966 ‘Mining Review’. We used to play this as a ‘programme filler’ as it was free and counted toward British Quota! :–

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=essoldo+bishop+auckland

To conclude re ‘Ben-Hur’. It did have a couple of re- releases in 1971 and 1977 and it was whilst I was carrying out a fortnight’s holiday relief at the ABC Bradford that it played there for a couple of weeks. Unfortunately, it was in the middle of a red hot summer and the returns were not exactly brilliant. This was a pity for whilst Bradford did not have 70mm , the CinemasScope screen was quite impressive and it was a shame to see that masterpiece of a film being viewed by a 100 or so patrons in the evening. My base theatre was ABC Huddersfield and ‘Ben-Hur’ was ‘pencilled in’ to play a few weeks later. I was rather looking forward to this as I thought that , by then, with the weather having cooled down , we would do good business with the film. However, on the basis of Bradford’s poor attendances, it was cancelled at ABC Huddersfield and one of our opposition theatres, the independently owned Princess (yes, another with that name!)played it for 3 weeks and enjoyed excellent business. The proprietor of the Princess told me to thank ABC’s Booking Department for the favour!

The ABC Westgate Road, Newcastle had at one time been the ‘flagship’ of the circuit (Essoldo) of which the Bishop Auckland cinema was part. Older staff used to talk about the prestigious venue being the only Roadshow venue for ‘Ben-Hur’ between Leeds and Edinburgh and that it played there for 6 months. It had been expected to play for a whole year , apparently, but after a huge row with M-G-M regarding terms, off it came!

I looked at the photos of the Atrium – how wonderful and what a great pity that it is no more…………..

I have to refer, before ‘signing off’, to the use of tabs in the UK. Hardly any cinemas have them nowadays, and where they are fitted, with the exception of some noteworthy independents, they are not used.

However, not far from where I live is the World-famous Beamish Open Air Museum where a cinema is about to be reconsructed in a ‘new’ 1950’s town. It is the Grand Ryhope, Sunderland and a good friend of mine, a retired CEO of a small cinema circuit, worked as a projectionist there in the early 1950’s and was there when CinemaScope was installed in 1954. Well, it will have not one but two sets of tabs and , as an example of a medium sized small town or suburban cinema, will seat 850 in stalls and circle. Beamish are expecting it to be a huge attraction and I am sure that it will be:–

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/inside-1950s-cinema-set-rebuilt-11153689

Best regards

Terry

Hello again Christina

Glad you liked and , like me, find it all very nostalgic. Today’s cinema – goers do not have that atmosphere any more, do they?

Just by chance, by the way, I stumbled on the following which is The Beatles number ‘Help’ at ABC Blackpool, in colour:–

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTsB-llTzyc&list=PLYrLpJg8gRARpNWWb5DWis0tLUwJXuK2X

Best regards

Terry

Hello Terry, Thank you so much for the links – I am going to look them all up. Bye the way – “next stop” for “70mm – Screenings” (hopefully to be the “real” thing) over here in Germany: “Schauburg”/Karlsruhe. This Cinema is also listed in this site. I am not sure about interior- photos. And therefore you could try “Google”/70mm Screenings Germany or the website of “Schauburg”/Karlsruhe. I remember they`ve put up Interior-photos.

No, I’ve never attended a 70mm-Screening there, it is quite a way to travel there from where I live.

Thanks again.

Best regards
Christina

Hello Terry, just dropped back in from our Cinema (“The Greatest Showman”). Thank you for your “helpline” about the Cinemas you mentioned. I found them all on sunday-evening with a bit of time and a great deal of interest (South Shields, Darlington, Chester and the two in Newcastle upon Tyne). What impressive buildings, lots of interesting style and design, specially an the interior – section. British Theatre-Architects were absolut geniuses in “composing” such lovely lobbys, auditoriums and of course the “Heart” of it all, those fascinating beautiful Prosceniums. You see, this was and is a complete different architecture in comparing with our german Cinemas in former times and of course of today. I looked at all the amazing photos and read your interesting comments. I didn’t know about the “ABC” Church Street Blackpool showing movies for the majority of the year. Thank you for that interesting information.

Because of us staying in Blackpool for the summer, we knew it as a live venue only. Happy memories.

What a shame I never saw a movie there in the original auditorium.

Best regards
Christina

Hello Terry,

Thank you for letting me take part of your cinematic background. Must have been a very interesting job and time for you working in so many different places and be witness in changing situations inside the cinema-branch. I was fractionally “taken away” walking into the big and spacy Auditoriums of some of the old Blackpool Cinemas, like the “Princess” and for the time being the “Odeon”, not to mention the difference in architectical structure. So different to all of our Cinemas over here. Fascinating.

You would have to travel to Berlin to visit a big cinema like the ones over in Great Britain. Our Cinemas in Balingen would just hold 600 and 485 visitors :), so maybe you can imagine the difference in movie-experience.

Yes, you are so right, nothing can “beat the Original” movie-feeling back in the times of analog projection. Mind you, I still miss the sound of the projector passing our projection-booths….not the same any more :(.

Telling about 70mm and 6 track magnetic stereo, which our (Family) Cinemas were not equipped with: Many years ago I travelled to Stuttgart to visit the 70mm Presentation of “Lawrence of Arabia” at the “Atrium”. Went again for “BEN HUR” and again for “Dr. Schiwago”. It was “Cinema – Heaven” and a never to forget experience. And it was about time to do so – shortly after these 70mm reruns sadly they demolished the “Atrium” (pictured on this site /Germany). Must “go” now and see the venues you were working in.

Best regards
Christina