First impressions of photos of the auditorium as a bingo venue are of the stage having been levelled. However,upon closer examination, it can be seen that there are three steps leading up to this area at both sides.
Given that the stalls rake will have been levelled it is probable that there are another couple of steps concealed by the new flat floor and it is therefore likely that that bingo players are on the original stage.
Manager, Brett Childes invited me to the last night of the Odeon in 1982; the theatre, until latterly, had had two Assistant Managers but at the very end there was only Brett and a Local Assistant, Pam Freer who was always off at the weekends.
The large Screen 1 , with the umpteenth rerun of ‘One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest’, was sparsely attended and I remember seeing a group of people in the circle taking ‘last night’ photos of the still impressive auditorium. Screen 2 , with the ‘Star Wars’ double bill, was full to capacity (good to see) and,if my memory serves me correctly, even the rather raunchy fare in Screen 3 was quite well attended.
I was a Manager with rival ABC and I was either on holiday or had the weekend off (we had one in four weekends at that time). Brett asked me to help him with the final returns in the General Office which, being not unlike ABC’s, was not a problem. So, for the record, the very last Business Report of the Odeon was completed by an ABC employee!
I am sure that the late Brett Childes would not mind my adding this piece of irony, given that it is now almost 34 years ago……
Re the 50th Anniversary show with Phil Kelsall, I have done a rethink (and some checking with the Sunderland Theatre Organ Preservation Society who now own the Compton) and I was actually present at both that and the previous year’s with Douglas Reeve.
Phil Kelsall played a medley from “ a forthcoming Summer release here at the Odeon Film Centre, ‘ANNIE’”. Sadly, the Odeon had closed before that film’s release and thus ‘Annie’ played at the ABC………
The suspended ceiling above the proscenium is apparent in the first auditorium photo. When the place first went over to ‘Essoldo Bingo’ in 1966 the (now unseen) ‘Gods’, which had not been used since its Variety Theatre days, was reopened (and ‘packed to the gunnels’). Players also sat on the stage – and in the aisles! Before anyone says that this was not permissible under Fire and Licensing regulations, I was told about this dangerous practice by my Mother who caught the ‘bingo craze'at a very early stage………….
The stage area is used by bingo players now but it has been specially adapted for the purpose (unlike back in 1966). This modification, like the false ceiling, is reversible and the building could easily be returned to theatrical use. I wonder if it will ever happen? In most locations bingo has now transferred to purpose built out of town establishments so,should that ever happen in Bishop Auckland, perhaps the town could have its equivalent to Darlington Civic Theatre, a former Sister ‘Hippodrome’.
I could also have added , house tabs notwithstanding,that it is not at all busy and in sharp contrast to the 1960’s when people were reputed to sit in the aisles with their bingo books on resting boards. This was also the case at the Hippodrome (Essoldo) in Bishop Auckland when it first went over to bingo in 1966. The ‘Gods’(not used since its Variety Theatre days) were not only reopened and packed out but players also sat on the stage and in the aisles. Had this been allowed to happen in cinema days the Licensing Authorities and the Fire Dept would have come down upon the Cinema Management like that ton of hot proverbial bricks……..
I now know that there was a second concert at the Odeon to commemorate the 50th Anniversary and this was when Phil Kelsall was the guest organist. I was obviously unable to attend this event – probably because I was in Chester at the time. I have uploaded a photo (courtesy Sunderland Theatre Organ Preservation Society) relating to the second event in the relevant section.
One would imagine that this long forgotten, insignificant cinema would have a history to match its very low status in the world of cinemas.
It was, however, the original Mechanics Institute built by the Stockton & Darlington Railway shortly after inauguration in 1825.
The Institute transferred to new larger premises on Byerley Road in, presumably, 1915 when the older building on Station Street became the Peoples' Cinema.
I have uploaded to the photos section an image dating back to the building’s Institute days and it is clear to see how highly industrialised that area once was. It appears to have been taken from the footbridge ( now at Beamish Museum) at the other side of which was a cinema with an equally chequered history, the Rex which closed in 1958. Perhaps someone knows enough about this one to add it to the site….
Even I can clearly remember the sound of shunting and passing trains while films were showing and if an usherette or patron happened to open the stalls doors (we did not always sit in the circle) during such manoeuvres it was not unusual to smell that unique combination of steam, oil and smoke from the steam locomotives. Our very own real life ‘Smallest Show on Earth’!
This area now forms part of the ‘Heritage Trail’ in conjunction with ‘Locomotion’ , The National Railway Museum’s second site in the UK.
What a pity that the Essoldo did not survive long enough to be restored to form an integral part of this heritage. Only a vacant site with a few trees and seats marks the spot today.
Photo and cutting relating to the theatre’s 50th Anniversary celebrations uploaded to the relevant section. I make reference to the organist being Douglas Reeve and not Phil Kelsall as reported in the article. Perhaps someone can shed some light here…
Auditorium photo uploaded.
First impressions of photos of the auditorium as a bingo venue are of the stage having been levelled. However,upon closer examination, it can be seen that there are three steps leading up to this area at both sides.
Given that the stalls rake will have been levelled it is probable that there are another couple of steps concealed by the new flat floor and it is therefore likely that that bingo players are on the original stage.
It is Grade 2 listed, I understand so does this mean that the owners only have to restore the exterior to its pre-fire appearance?
Manager, Brett Childes invited me to the last night of the Odeon in 1982; the theatre, until latterly, had had two Assistant Managers but at the very end there was only Brett and a Local Assistant, Pam Freer who was always off at the weekends.
The large Screen 1 , with the umpteenth rerun of ‘One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest’, was sparsely attended and I remember seeing a group of people in the circle taking ‘last night’ photos of the still impressive auditorium. Screen 2 , with the ‘Star Wars’ double bill, was full to capacity (good to see) and,if my memory serves me correctly, even the rather raunchy fare in Screen 3 was quite well attended.
I was a Manager with rival ABC and I was either on holiday or had the weekend off (we had one in four weekends at that time). Brett asked me to help him with the final returns in the General Office which, being not unlike ABC’s, was not a problem. So, for the record, the very last Business Report of the Odeon was completed by an ABC employee!
I am sure that the late Brett Childes would not mind my adding this piece of irony, given that it is now almost 34 years ago……
Re the 50th Anniversary show with Phil Kelsall, I have done a rethink (and some checking with the Sunderland Theatre Organ Preservation Society who now own the Compton) and I was actually present at both that and the previous year’s with Douglas Reeve.
Phil Kelsall played a medley from “ a forthcoming Summer release here at the Odeon Film Centre, ‘ANNIE’”. Sadly, the Odeon had closed before that film’s release and thus ‘Annie’ played at the ABC………
Image uploaded to photos section.
Photos uploaded.
Auditorium photo uploaded.
Why couldn’t it have been one of the horrid multiplexes? They are a blot on the landscape outside and have all the atmosphere of a cold room inside.
The suspended ceiling above the proscenium is apparent in the first auditorium photo. When the place first went over to ‘Essoldo Bingo’ in 1966 the (now unseen) ‘Gods’, which had not been used since its Variety Theatre days, was reopened (and ‘packed to the gunnels’). Players also sat on the stage – and in the aisles! Before anyone says that this was not permissible under Fire and Licensing regulations, I was told about this dangerous practice by my Mother who caught the ‘bingo craze'at a very early stage………….
The stage area is used by bingo players now but it has been specially adapted for the purpose (unlike back in 1966). This modification, like the false ceiling, is reversible and the building could easily be returned to theatrical use. I wonder if it will ever happen? In most locations bingo has now transferred to purpose built out of town establishments so,should that ever happen in Bishop Auckland, perhaps the town could have its equivalent to Darlington Civic Theatre, a former Sister ‘Hippodrome’.
I could also have added , house tabs notwithstanding,that it is not at all busy and in sharp contrast to the 1960’s when people were reputed to sit in the aisles with their bingo books on resting boards. This was also the case at the Hippodrome (Essoldo) in Bishop Auckland when it first went over to bingo in 1966. The ‘Gods’(not used since its Variety Theatre days) were not only reopened and packed out but players also sat on the stage and in the aisles. Had this been allowed to happen in cinema days the Licensing Authorities and the Fire Dept would have come down upon the Cinema Management like that ton of hot proverbial bricks……..
Two images uploaded to photos section.
Image uploaded to photos section.
It is also evident that row ‘A’ of the front circle has been lost in the process of being adapted to ABC 1
Once again a little harsh looking here in both houselights and cleaners lights.
Images uploaded to photos section.
I now know that there was a second concert at the Odeon to commemorate the 50th Anniversary and this was when Phil Kelsall was the guest organist. I was obviously unable to attend this event – probably because I was in Chester at the time. I have uploaded a photo (courtesy Sunderland Theatre Organ Preservation Society) relating to the second event in the relevant section.
Picture postcard of the extensive catering facilities of the Kings uploaded to photos section.
One would imagine that this long forgotten, insignificant cinema would have a history to match its very low status in the world of cinemas.
It was, however, the original Mechanics Institute built by the Stockton & Darlington Railway shortly after inauguration in 1825.
The Institute transferred to new larger premises on Byerley Road in, presumably, 1915 when the older building on Station Street became the Peoples' Cinema.
I have uploaded to the photos section an image dating back to the building’s Institute days and it is clear to see how highly industrialised that area once was. It appears to have been taken from the footbridge ( now at Beamish Museum) at the other side of which was a cinema with an equally chequered history, the Rex which closed in 1958. Perhaps someone knows enough about this one to add it to the site….
Even I can clearly remember the sound of shunting and passing trains while films were showing and if an usherette or patron happened to open the stalls doors (we did not always sit in the circle) during such manoeuvres it was not unusual to smell that unique combination of steam, oil and smoke from the steam locomotives. Our very own real life ‘Smallest Show on Earth’!
This area now forms part of the ‘Heritage Trail’ in conjunction with ‘Locomotion’ , The National Railway Museum’s second site in the UK.
What a pity that the Essoldo did not survive long enough to be restored to form an integral part of this heritage. Only a vacant site with a few trees and seats marks the spot today.
Image uploaded to photos section.
Image uploaded to photos section.
Photo and cutting relating to the theatre’s 50th Anniversary celebrations uploaded to the relevant section. I make reference to the organist being Douglas Reeve and not Phil Kelsall as reported in the article. Perhaps someone can shed some light here…
Two more images uploaded to the photos section.
Another FOH photo uploaded – presumably from the late 1920’s…..
It all looks cold, clinical and soulless……………….
British Pathe footage featuring the St James :–
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvKHabDsm8I