I have uploaded to the relevant section various interior shots of the Ritz including the projection box. This, like most North Eastern ABC’s, was not designed by in house architect, William Riddle Glen but by Percy L Brown & Harding of Newcastle. Other projects assigned to this company were the Regal Darlington (rebuild of C J Phipps' Theatre Royal), Forum Hartlepool, Ritz Wallsend, Savoy South Shields, Globe Stockton (not for ABC but acquired about a year after opening), Wallaw Blyth (for Walter Lawson but acquired by ABC in 1955). The latter two theatres bore many of the hallmarks of the ABC commissioned theatres and one could be forgiven for thinking that they were original circuit houses.
The only Glen theatre in the area was the Ritz Sunderland whilst others,namely the Haymarket Newcastle, Elite Middlesbrough, Coliseum Whitley Bay, Rex Consett, Olympia Newcastle *, Majestic Benwell * and Empire Stockton were acquired properties – not to forget the Essoldo Newcastle, of course!
There was a second theatre built for ABC in Hartlepool by Percy L Brown but, owing to the outbreak of WW2, it was never fitted out. This was the Comet Cinema, an unusual name for an ABC. At the end of hostilities the theatre was never opened and was used as a warehouse for most of its existence; a great pity as it looked from the outside like it would have been a very fine cinema. The keys were in the top drawer of the manager’s desk at the ABC Forum!
from Union Cinemas
terry
commented about
ABC Yorkon
Oct 12, 2015 at 12:16 am
I have uploaded a photo of the ABC shortly after renaming showing the gritty prison drama, ‘The Criminal’ in 1961.
I have uploaded a photo of the Essoldo (Empire) seen from a busy Gateshead High Street in the early 1960’s. The ABC Ritz tower can be seen in the distance. Both these cinemas were demolished in the late 1960’s to make way for a new flyover which, in the event, did not touch either site. The Odeon was just forward of the spot from where this photo was taken and the management there hoped that with the ABC and Essoldo out of the way business would increase there – well, it did not work out that way…….
The Essoldo (Empire) seen from a busy Gateshead High Street in the early 1960’s. The ABC Ritz tower can be seen in the distance. Both these cinemas were demolished in the late 1960’s to make way for a new flyover which, in the event, did not touch either site. The Odeon was just forward of the spot from where this photo was taken and the management there hoped that with the ABC and Essoldo out of the way business would increase there – well, it did not work out that way…….
I have uploaded a photo of the side elevation which was not seen from Newgate Street; note the large dressing room block. The building was derelict and ready for demolition when this photo was taken.
The Manager to follow Geoffrey May would be Peter Talbot who was my opposite number in Newcastle. Relations between Rank and ABC in that city were, I am pleased to say, as cordial as was the case in Halifax. I originally met Peter at Odeon Halifax when, in his capacity as a former Manager and (at that time)Operations Manager, based at Odeon Headrow Leeds, he attended the farewell party at the Odeon upon its closure in 1975.
Quite a number of my comments here were in response to questions and/or observations made by former Chief, Danny Wilkinson. I have just noticed that he has removed most of the comments and therefore many of my own will leave readers bewildered, to say the least, as they appear out of context.
Perhaps you will manifest yourself again in another 40 years time, Danny……..
I commented about this back in 2009 and it was a project of Associated British Cinemas from the very outset.
Their in house architect, W R Glen designed the cinema and all the features within had his trademark stamped upon them, in particular the ‘gazelles’ on the splay walls which were to be found in other ‘Glen’ houses including the Regal Wembley.
Had Union Cinemas commissioned a theatre in Sunderland, they would, in all likelihood, have used the architects Verity & Beverley (who designed the Paramount Theatres)and there would most certainly have been provision for stage facilities, a restaurant and an organ to rival the Blacks' Regal in the town.
Many W R Glen theatres did have full stage facilities and restaurants but these were not present at the Ritz Sunderland. It was designed to house a Compton organ , however, but this was never installed.
I do believe that ABC had originally intended to use ‘Savoy’ rather than ‘Ritz’ at Sunderland – until, that is,they learned that this name was already in use in the suburb of Southwick.
The Newcastle Essoldo was the very first cinema in the North East to present ‘Gone With The Wind’ when it was released in the UK in 1940. Several revivals later the film was reprocessed in both 35mm and 70mm widescreen ratios; the Essoldo was one of the initial UK roadshow venues to present it in the latter format.
Just before final closure there was a special one day presentation of the film in the large downstairs auditorium. At this time a 70mm copy was not available and thus we had to be content with a 35mm dolby stereo print.
The Newcastle Essoldo was the very first cinema in the North East to present ‘Gone With The Wind’ when it was released in the UK in 1940. Several revivals later the film was reprocessed in both 35mm and 70mm widescreen ratios; the Essoldo was one of the initial UK roadshow venues to present it in the latter format.
Just before final closure there was a special one day presentation of the film in the large downstairs auditorium. At this time a 70mm copy was not available and thus we had to be content with a 35mm dolby stereo print.
Most modern multiplexes do not have them but the Troxy , as a Rank cinema, had several sets and one would have thought that there would be at least one set now that it serves as a multi purpose venue. However, the stage has been levelled and the behind proscenium area meddled with so that may be at least part of the reason for the lack of drapery.
The Wurlitzer from the Trocadero, Elephant & Castle has now been installed which is good news but it would be even better if more traditional features were reinstated such as the stage – and the CURTAINS……….
Article about the Odeon and Regal, Halifax. According to this the opening capacity of the Regal was 1938 with the circle seating 688 and not 668. I did wonder how, after slightly larger seats were installed in the circle in 1974, it somehow (with 670 seats) managed to accommodate 2 more people than in 1938…….
Three external shots have been uploaded to the relevant section. Two date back to the early 1960’s shortly after the Regal name was dropped in favour of the corporate ‘A B C’ . This happened across the circuit except where the company had more than one venue in a town or city when the original name(s) would be retained at the other cinema(s). There were exceptions where both main theatres would be renamed ABC and differentiated by street name, for example the ABC’s George Street and Magdalen Street, Oxford.
The very last Manager of the ABC is a good friend who joined ABC about four or five years after I did in the early 1970’s. It is a coincidence that the above should appear now as he and his wife are staying with me for a few days from tomorrow; I am sure that he will be fascinated to see the YouTube interview of the interesting former projectionist who worked at the Regal in its glory days.
The Halifax ABC was always a favourite of mine and, whilst not the largest example (they ranged from 1500 – 3000 seats), it was certainly one of W R Glen’s finer buildings and I hope that some good use will be found for it.
Ironically, it was closed by former rival company, Odeon who said that the place did not fit comfortably in their portfolio of cinemas. I cannot think why as they re-branded venues which were far inferior to the Halifax ABC Regal and, whilst Halifax’s original Odeon was a lovely cinema, the Regal had the edge both architecturally and by location.
I understand that this building is soon to be demolished to make way for student accommodation for Durham University. 600 seats have been donated to Beamish Open Air Museum for installation in the Grand Cinema Ryhope which is to be transplanted there :–
I believe that the lovely stained glass arched window within the deceptively small Front Of House of the Palladium (typical of many cinemas of the period which had small entrances leading to capacious auditioria) is to be restored and retained together with the rest of the facade.
In the 1960’s, after a very expensive modernisation, the stained glass window was the main feature of a large luxurious cocktail bar; it was adorned by blue velvet curtains matching the Royal Blue Axminster laid throughout the building.
Business dwindled at the Palladium following the rerouting of traffic in the late 1960’s (Claypath had been an important thoroughfare prior to this) leaving most business to the Essoldo, North Road, which, whilst very little was spent on it for years, latterly enjoyed a better location and Booking Policy.
The projectors, by the way, whilst donated by the University, are not from the Palladium which had Kalee 19’s and they remain in situ in that now very decaying building.
My good friend, Bill Mather, has photos of the above venue which , at some stage, he hopes to upload to accompany this article. The Ritz/Fairworld formed part of the circuit of which Bill was the CEO and he was responsible for its expensive twinning in 1979. Friends who visited this cinema regularly used to tell me how high the standards of presentation were here.
Bill’s very long and distinguished career in the industry commenced at the Grand Ryhope in the 1950’s, soon to be rebuilt at Beamish – see separate article re this exciting development.
Great news! This 102 year old building is to be dismantled, brick by brick, and rebuilt as the centrepiece of a ‘new’ 1950’s town at the wonderful Beamish Open Air Museum, close to where I live. 600 good condition seats from the long defunct 1087 seat Palladium Cinema, Durham City (one of the ‘poshest’ cinemas in the North East at one time) have been kindly donated by Durham University as have 2 projectors from the same source (presumably, in the name of authenticity, Kalee 8’s, which the Grand had until Bingo took over in the 1960’s).
The return to cinema use lasted for less than a year. It reopened in October 1970 with the United Artists double bill, ‘For A Few Dollars More’ and ‘A Fistful Of Dollars’ and the cinema opened initially only on Thursday – Sunday. After a couple or so months it started operating 7 days per week which suggested to me, at least, that the returns must have been quite healthy. Obviously, such was not the case as The Avenue closed for the very last time at the end of the Summer holidays in 1971 following a two week run of ‘The Sound Of Music’.
I have uploaded to the relevant section various interior shots of the Ritz including the projection box. This, like most North Eastern ABC’s, was not designed by in house architect, William Riddle Glen but by Percy L Brown & Harding of Newcastle. Other projects assigned to this company were the Regal Darlington (rebuild of C J Phipps' Theatre Royal), Forum Hartlepool, Ritz Wallsend, Savoy South Shields, Globe Stockton (not for ABC but acquired about a year after opening), Wallaw Blyth (for Walter Lawson but acquired by ABC in 1955). The latter two theatres bore many of the hallmarks of the ABC commissioned theatres and one could be forgiven for thinking that they were original circuit houses.
The only Glen theatre in the area was the Ritz Sunderland whilst others,namely the Haymarket Newcastle, Elite Middlesbrough, Coliseum Whitley Bay, Rex Consett, Olympia Newcastle *, Majestic Benwell * and Empire Stockton were acquired properties – not to forget the Essoldo Newcastle, of course!
There was a second theatre built for ABC in Hartlepool by Percy L Brown but, owing to the outbreak of WW2, it was never fitted out. This was the Comet Cinema, an unusual name for an ABC. At the end of hostilities the theatre was never opened and was used as a warehouse for most of its existence; a great pity as it looked from the outside like it would have been a very fine cinema. The keys were in the top drawer of the manager’s desk at the ABC Forum!
I have uploaded a photo of the ABC shortly after renaming showing the gritty prison drama, ‘The Criminal’ in 1961.
I have uploaded a photo of the ABC Ritz taken from a different angle.
I have uploaded a photo of the Essoldo (Empire) seen from a busy Gateshead High Street in the early 1960’s. The ABC Ritz tower can be seen in the distance. Both these cinemas were demolished in the late 1960’s to make way for a new flyover which, in the event, did not touch either site. The Odeon was just forward of the spot from where this photo was taken and the management there hoped that with the ABC and Essoldo out of the way business would increase there – well, it did not work out that way…….
The Essoldo (Empire) seen from a busy Gateshead High Street in the early 1960’s. The ABC Ritz tower can be seen in the distance. Both these cinemas were demolished in the late 1960’s to make way for a new flyover which, in the event, did not touch either site. The Odeon was just forward of the spot from where this photo was taken and the management there hoped that with the ABC and Essoldo out of the way business would increase there – well, it did not work out that way…….
I have uploaded a photo of the side elevation which was not seen from Newgate Street; note the large dressing room block. The building was derelict and ready for demolition when this photo was taken.
The Manager to follow Geoffrey May would be Peter Talbot who was my opposite number in Newcastle. Relations between Rank and ABC in that city were, I am pleased to say, as cordial as was the case in Halifax. I originally met Peter at Odeon Halifax when, in his capacity as a former Manager and (at that time)Operations Manager, based at Odeon Headrow Leeds, he attended the farewell party at the Odeon upon its closure in 1975.
Quite a number of my comments here were in response to questions and/or observations made by former Chief, Danny Wilkinson. I have just noticed that he has removed most of the comments and therefore many of my own will leave readers bewildered, to say the least, as they appear out of context.
Perhaps you will manifest yourself again in another 40 years time, Danny……..
I commented about this back in 2009 and it was a project of Associated British Cinemas from the very outset.
Their in house architect, W R Glen designed the cinema and all the features within had his trademark stamped upon them, in particular the ‘gazelles’ on the splay walls which were to be found in other ‘Glen’ houses including the Regal Wembley.
Had Union Cinemas commissioned a theatre in Sunderland, they would, in all likelihood, have used the architects Verity & Beverley (who designed the Paramount Theatres)and there would most certainly have been provision for stage facilities, a restaurant and an organ to rival the Blacks' Regal in the town.
Many W R Glen theatres did have full stage facilities and restaurants but these were not present at the Ritz Sunderland. It was designed to house a Compton organ , however, but this was never installed.
I do believe that ABC had originally intended to use ‘Savoy’ rather than ‘Ritz’ at Sunderland – until, that is,they learned that this name was already in use in the suburb of Southwick.
It looks a delightful little cinema and I hope that it continues to attract healthy audiences.
The Newcastle Essoldo was the very first cinema in the North East to present ‘Gone With The Wind’ when it was released in the UK in 1940. Several revivals later the film was reprocessed in both 35mm and 70mm widescreen ratios; the Essoldo was one of the initial UK roadshow venues to present it in the latter format.
Just before final closure there was a special one day presentation of the film in the large downstairs auditorium. At this time a 70mm copy was not available and thus we had to be content with a 35mm dolby stereo print.
The Newcastle Essoldo was the very first cinema in the North East to present ‘Gone With The Wind’ when it was released in the UK in 1940. Several revivals later the film was reprocessed in both 35mm and 70mm widescreen ratios; the Essoldo was one of the initial UK roadshow venues to present it in the latter format.
Just before final closure there was a special one day presentation of the film in the large downstairs auditorium. At this time a 70mm copy was not available and thus we had to be content with a 35mm dolby stereo print.
Do my eyes deceive me or is there a set of red tabs?
I suppose that they could simply be ‘legs’ as tabs seem to be anathema to just about all cinema operators these days……
Curtains – what are they?
Most modern multiplexes do not have them but the Troxy , as a Rank cinema, had several sets and one would have thought that there would be at least one set now that it serves as a multi purpose venue. However, the stage has been levelled and the behind proscenium area meddled with so that may be at least part of the reason for the lack of drapery.
The Wurlitzer from the Trocadero, Elephant & Castle has now been installed which is good news but it would be even better if more traditional features were reinstated such as the stage – and the CURTAINS……….
2 photos uploaded to the relevant section.
I have uploaded a number of ‘roadshow’ photos to the relevant section which I hope readers will find nostalgic………
Article about the Odeon and Regal, Halifax. According to this the opening capacity of the Regal was 1938 with the circle seating 688 and not 668. I did wonder how, after slightly larger seats were installed in the circle in 1974, it somehow (with 670 seats) managed to accommodate 2 more people than in 1938…….
http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/nostalgia/golden-years-of-a-super-cinema-called-the-regal-1-1918073
Three external shots have been uploaded to the relevant section. Two date back to the early 1960’s shortly after the Regal name was dropped in favour of the corporate ‘A B C’ . This happened across the circuit except where the company had more than one venue in a town or city when the original name(s) would be retained at the other cinema(s). There were exceptions where both main theatres would be renamed ABC and differentiated by street name, for example the ABC’s George Street and Magdalen Street, Oxford.
The very last Manager of the ABC is a good friend who joined ABC about four or five years after I did in the early 1970’s. It is a coincidence that the above should appear now as he and his wife are staying with me for a few days from tomorrow; I am sure that he will be fascinated to see the YouTube interview of the interesting former projectionist who worked at the Regal in its glory days.
The Halifax ABC was always a favourite of mine and, whilst not the largest example (they ranged from 1500 – 3000 seats), it was certainly one of W R Glen’s finer buildings and I hope that some good use will be found for it.
Ironically, it was closed by former rival company, Odeon who said that the place did not fit comfortably in their portfolio of cinemas. I cannot think why as they re-branded venues which were far inferior to the Halifax ABC Regal and, whilst Halifax’s original Odeon was a lovely cinema, the Regal had the edge both architecturally and by location.
I understand that this building is soon to be demolished to make way for student accommodation for Durham University. 600 seats have been donated to Beamish Open Air Museum for installation in the Grand Cinema Ryhope which is to be transplanted there :–
http://www.beamish.org.uk/cinema-to-be-moved-to-beamish-museum-for-1950s-town/
I believe that the lovely stained glass arched window within the deceptively small Front Of House of the Palladium (typical of many cinemas of the period which had small entrances leading to capacious auditioria) is to be restored and retained together with the rest of the facade.
In the 1960’s, after a very expensive modernisation, the stained glass window was the main feature of a large luxurious cocktail bar; it was adorned by blue velvet curtains matching the Royal Blue Axminster laid throughout the building.
Business dwindled at the Palladium following the rerouting of traffic in the late 1960’s (Claypath had been an important thoroughfare prior to this) leaving most business to the Essoldo, North Road, which, whilst very little was spent on it for years, latterly enjoyed a better location and Booking Policy.
The projectors, by the way, whilst donated by the University, are not from the Palladium which had Kalee 19’s and they remain in situ in that now very decaying building.
My good friend, Bill Mather, has photos of the above venue which , at some stage, he hopes to upload to accompany this article. The Ritz/Fairworld formed part of the circuit of which Bill was the CEO and he was responsible for its expensive twinning in 1979. Friends who visited this cinema regularly used to tell me how high the standards of presentation were here.
Bill’s very long and distinguished career in the industry commenced at the Grand Ryhope in the 1950’s, soon to be rebuilt at Beamish – see separate article re this exciting development.
Great news! This 102 year old building is to be dismantled, brick by brick, and rebuilt as the centrepiece of a ‘new’ 1950’s town at the wonderful Beamish Open Air Museum, close to where I live. 600 good condition seats from the long defunct 1087 seat Palladium Cinema, Durham City (one of the ‘poshest’ cinemas in the North East at one time) have been kindly donated by Durham University as have 2 projectors from the same source (presumably, in the name of authenticity, Kalee 8’s, which the Grand had until Bingo took over in the 1960’s).
Fascinating articles below :–
http://www.beamish.org.uk/cinema-to-be-moved-to-beamish-museum-for-1950s-town/
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/beamish-museum-give-grand-electric-9737646
http://www.sunderlandecho.com/what-s-on/cinema-tv/sunderland-cinema-to-be-moved-brick-by-brick-to-beamish-1-7380068
http://www.demotix.com/photo/8200940/former-grand-electric-cinema-ryhope-donated-beamish
The return to cinema use lasted for less than a year. It reopened in October 1970 with the United Artists double bill, ‘For A Few Dollars More’ and ‘A Fistful Of Dollars’ and the cinema opened initially only on Thursday – Sunday. After a couple or so months it started operating 7 days per week which suggested to me, at least, that the returns must have been quite healthy. Obviously, such was not the case as The Avenue closed for the very last time at the end of the Summer holidays in 1971 following a two week run of ‘The Sound Of Music’.
Photo uploaded of The Avenue in happier days; I believe that it was taken on Coronation Day, 1953….