I have not been able to find the closing date of the Stardust Bingo, but I suspect it was nearer 2010 than the start of the decade. There are an amazing number of businesses operating within the block, presumably below the auditorium, which perhaps bodes well for its survival. The entrance (behind the shutters), for such a large building, seems to have been surprisingly muted and on a minor road. The corner block, pictured here in 2012, was seemingly not part of the cinema behind.
The stalls area became a live concert venue called the M Club. The cinema originally had a full stage with a notably high fly tower. The plans were to replace with a Sainsbury’s store.
The Cinema was actually a conversion of the 1883 Grosvenor Hall in 1913, although the hall had been used for films on occasions before. The frontage was designed by F Edward Jones in 1936 in order to “modernise” the cinema after the Radio Centre / Classic / Cannon began construction.
I think that may be my mistake.
http://www.newmarketlhs.org.uk/nlhscorrespondence7.htm states :_
“Newmarket has been home to a number of cinemas over the years. The Doric, now Millionaires bar and nightclub, in High Street, ran between March 1937 and July 1964. Innocence, the nightclub across the road, was once the Kingsway Cinema, while Boots, the former Carlton Hotel, was the Victoria Cinema. There was also once a cinema in Black Bear Lane.
Newmarket has a cinematograph history and you can read about one of the earliest public performances on our website, under ‘Local Fire Tragedies’ this occurred in what is now Ann Furbank’s fashion shop on Rutland Hill (then the Town Hall) and resulted in serious loss of life and many injuries.
Yes, the Kingsway and the Doric flourished betwen the nineteen twenties and the fifties, the golden age of cinema popularity. The Doric opened in 1937 and the first film shown was Will Hay in ‘Good Morning Boys’.
Particularly during WW II it was usual to see long queues along the High Street for the evening and Saturday afternoon performances. With the advent of television, cinemas slowly declined.
As the Journal article points out both the buildings now serve as Night Clubs.”
Confusingly the address of the Kingsway Cinema was listed as being Kingsway, leading me to identify this photo as the Victoria. I’ll amend the flickr caption. All three cinemas seem to have been on the High Street.
Some photos of the former theatre here (taken July 2012):–
FAÇADE
GALLERY
AUDITORIUM FROM STAGE
AUDITORIUM SIDE VIEW
AUDITORIUM STAGE VIEW
A 1991 view of the former Plaza, looking like Bingo had recently closed.
PLAZA CINEMA
I have not been able to find the closing date of the Stardust Bingo, but I suspect it was nearer 2010 than the start of the decade. There are an amazing number of businesses operating within the block, presumably below the auditorium, which perhaps bodes well for its survival. The entrance (behind the shutters), for such a large building, seems to have been surprisingly muted and on a minor road. The corner block, pictured here in 2012, was seemingly not part of the cinema behind.
County Cinema
More recent photos of the restoration process in this set:– HIPPODROME RESTORATION
Some 1990 photos of the Robert Cromie interior here:–
STALLS BAR
BALCONY
VIEW OF STAGE
STALLS
DETAIL OF DECOR
And for a comparison some interior shots from 1990, before restoration :–
FOYER
DETAIL OF BOX
VIEW OF STAGE
VIEW ACROSS AUDITORIUM
Two exterior shots from June 2012
CENTRAL FACADE
FRONT & SIDE VIEW
The stalls area became a live concert venue called the M Club. The cinema originally had a full stage with a notably high fly tower. The plans were to replace with a Sainsbury’s store.
Photographed in April 2011:–
PLAZA CREWE FRONT
PLAZA CREWE REAR
Photo’s from circa 1989:–
SAVOY EXTERIOR
SAVOY INTERIOR
Image now changed to correct building – very quick! :–)
The above image (Google) is not the theatre.
Images from 2011 here:– EXTERIOR
STAGE FROM BALCONY
BALCONY
PROSCENIUM DETAIL
The Cinema was actually a conversion of the 1883 Grosvenor Hall in 1913, although the hall had been used for films on occasions before. The frontage was designed by F Edward Jones in 1936 in order to “modernise” the cinema after the Radio Centre / Classic / Cannon began construction.
A slightly more recent photo of the façade of the former cinema here:–
WHITEHALL CINEMA
Some photos of the the Theatre Royal here:–
FACADE 1988
AUDITORIUM BLOCK
SIDE VIEW
A photo from circa 1985 of the closed building here:–
BRADFORD ROYAL
I think that may be my mistake. http://www.newmarketlhs.org.uk/nlhscorrespondence7.htm states :_ “Newmarket has been home to a number of cinemas over the years. The Doric, now Millionaires bar and nightclub, in High Street, ran between March 1937 and July 1964. Innocence, the nightclub across the road, was once the Kingsway Cinema, while Boots, the former Carlton Hotel, was the Victoria Cinema. There was also once a cinema in Black Bear Lane. Newmarket has a cinematograph history and you can read about one of the earliest public performances on our website, under ‘Local Fire Tragedies’ this occurred in what is now Ann Furbank’s fashion shop on Rutland Hill (then the Town Hall) and resulted in serious loss of life and many injuries. Yes, the Kingsway and the Doric flourished betwen the nineteen twenties and the fifties, the golden age of cinema popularity. The Doric opened in 1937 and the first film shown was Will Hay in ‘Good Morning Boys’. Particularly during WW II it was usual to see long queues along the High Street for the evening and Saturday afternoon performances. With the advent of television, cinemas slowly declined. As the Journal article points out both the buildings now serve as Night Clubs.”
Confusingly the address of the Kingsway Cinema was listed as being Kingsway, leading me to identify this photo as the Victoria. I’ll amend the flickr caption. All three cinemas seem to have been on the High Street.
The former Gaumont was demolished several years ago, and in June 2009 the site was still vacant.
WHITLEY BAY EMPIRE
A 1993 shot as the MGM cinema here :– GLASGOW ABC
A 2009 photo of the façade of the Coliseum, at which time the housing development on the site of the auditorium had not been started.
COLISEUM
A photo of the building in 1996 GRAND THEATRE
A 2012 view
EMPIRE
Demolition of the auditorium is now underway.
EXIT DOOR PAVILION
Some more photos of the Watford Palace here:–
EXTERIOR IN 1980
INTERIOR FROM STAGE IN 2010
INTERIOR TO STAGE IN 2001
The modern lighting fixture is hugely controversial!
Two further images from shortly before demolition, although I thought this was after 1989 … :–
REGAL
REGAL
Photographs of the Park & Dare as it prepares for next years Centenary celebrations in 2013:–
EXTERIOR
AUDITORIUM FROM STAGE
AUDITORIUM
STAGE
FLY FLOOR