Coronet Theatre

103-111 Notting Hill Gate,
London, W11 3LB

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Showing 1 - 25 of 63 comments

curmudgeon
curmudgeon on October 4, 2016 at 4:21 am

Thanks again Ken. Sounds very tacky, but at least the original auditorium remains under removable “improvements”. Don’t imagine any major musicals (Lion King/Phantom etc will transfer here anytime soon?

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on October 4, 2016 at 4:12 am

The ‘stage’ is quite large, but it is an ‘open’ stage with no wing space, proscenium or flytower. The upper section of the original proscenium is visible at the rear of the ‘stage’, partially hidden by a theatre set for the production that was on when I visited.

curmudgeon
curmudgeon on October 4, 2016 at 4:03 am

Thanks Ken, just a few more details. From your description this would indicate more a platform rather than a conventional stage. I imagine there is no proscenium, fly-tower or wing space with this configuration. Additionally, I imagine the original proscenium is no longer visible, which would be such a shame. Fond memories of seeing Gone With The Wind here in the 70’s.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on October 4, 2016 at 2:02 am

curmudgeon: Yes, the dress circle seating area remains the same, as does the plaster front of the dress circle. A scaffold structure has been built in the former front stalls to the height of the underside of the dress circle, and floored over to make a stage, which extends from the front of the circle to the front of the proscenium. Currently the original cinema seats in the dress circle have been removed (following asbestos abatement) and loose chairs have been placed there. The upper circle/gallery seating area remains unused.

The seats in the rear stalls beneath the dress circle have been removed and while retaining the original wooden sloping floor, that area is now a bar, with black masking cloth covering the newly installed scaffold supporting the stage. The dressing rooms have been brought back into use after being locked up and derelict for 90 years. Films ‘may’ return to the building in the future, but if this happens it will probably be one off special screenings and not daily cinema use. As it is a Grade II Listed building, any alterations/additions that have been made are removable.

curmudgeon
curmudgeon on October 3, 2016 at 11:35 pm

I’m confused. If the second screen (now a live performance space) was built on the original stage, where exactly is the new stage of the larger auditorium? The “void in the front of the dress circle” Does this mean the dress circle has been extended to the original proscenium and a stage formed on this, or has seating been removed from the front section of the original dress circle and a stage created in this area? Any information to clarify this greatly appreciated.

dickneeds111
dickneeds111 on September 27, 2016 at 2:32 pm

To Sharkbites. I have just read your long ago blurb. Having been a projectionist of 35mm with 2000" reels and carbon Arc. I don’t know where you are but we never had Projectomaticin any place I worked. We never had an Ice Cream lady' we had to get up and go to the concession stand. Finall, where dis idea of waxing th`e prints come from, we just made sure we had clean aperatures and the rest took care of it self But I never heard of waxing. I am in Boston' Mass and did all my projection work 16mm, 35mm and interlock systems.

FanaticalAboutOdeon
FanaticalAboutOdeon on May 14, 2013 at 12:36 pm

Together with a group of friends, I attended a late night show at the Gaumont one Saturday evening in the early ‘70s. The programme was an Astaire/Rodgers double bill of “Top Hat” and “Swing Time” and the atmosphere in those theatrical surroundings was fantastic. My group were not able to get seats together and, shortly after we took our seats, people were being turned away. After every musical number, enthusiastic applause rang out and a very happy crowd emerged to wend their ways home in the early hours. Following the double bill’s success here, Rank’s Booking Dept. was instructed to only arrange such screenings of one film or the other as it was felt that, in the right locations, each of the films would do well on its own. Thus two profitable shows could be had. Tills, or rather Automaticket machines, would ring merrily and I can’t imagine the films would have cost much to hire. When managing the Odeon, Stockton-On-Tees, I showed “A Hard Day’s Night” and “Help!” as a late night double bill in 1970 – United Artists charged Rank £14.7s.6d for the films (£14.37) and we sold over 700 tickets. I digress!

Robbie25646
Robbie25646 on September 7, 2012 at 7:43 am

I was assistant manager here from 1972 till 1972 with Tony Portch as manager. I fell in love with the place the first time I walked in for my interview with Tony.

Mike (saps)
Mike (saps) on March 9, 2012 at 1:12 pm

I saw “Malcolm X” here back in 1993 or 93; I sat in the balcony, where smoking was still permitted.

A lovely, lovely house.

Ian
Ian on January 1, 2008 at 9:04 am

Some interior shots taken in 1988 can be found here:–

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Sharkbytes
Sharkbytes on November 8, 2007 at 3:36 am

Hi Melvyn, this is Terry Sharkey, Manager at the Coronet (Gaumont) for a few years from 1967 (Not 1965 as I said above). I recall Vincent Tildesley with great affection. He was a character with a long family entertainment background. His brother was (I believe) Peter Haddon who had a theatre company for many years at the beautiful Victorian Wimbledon Theatre. The Lisbon Story was on stage at London’s Hippodrome (Now Talk of the Town) Leicester Square from June 1943 and Vincent Tildesley’s Eight Royal Mastersingers are listed among the principals with Patricia Burke and Noele Gordon. Singers were drawn from such ranks as D’Oyley Carte Opera. Fans can find Vincent and his singers’ version of Pedro on Parlophone F1993 (78rpm) and an EP on SCXSP652. Robinson Cleaver is on the organ. Stirring stuff – if anyone still has a machine to play it!

Rita Swann was an Absolute Ace projectionist in the tiny projection room that was all the space that the ancient theatre conversion allowed. Audiences rarely think about that vital person in the Hollywood chain, only when things go wrong. When Rita was on watch they never did. Early experiments in automation in the sixties saw a thing called Projectomatic. (You’ll know it Melvyn) But for those unfamiliar with 2000 foot spools and mercury-arcs I’ll explain. Projectomatic had bits of silver sellotape stuck to the film- perforations which would trigger impulses to change-over the machines every 20 minutes, dim houselights, pull stage-curtains (remember when local cinemas had curtains!)and even put the lime on the ice-cream lady. (Remember ice-cream ladies?). Unfortunately its inventor had forgotten that projectionists wax prints to ease the film through the projector, and wax is a good insulant, so often preventing the impulse working. But with Rita things would always go like clockwork.

Oh dear. This note has turned into a book-chapter. But that’s the Coronet for you. Long may she prosper.

monophonic
monophonic on November 7, 2007 at 5:43 pm

I was 2nd in 67 or 68 but not for long as I went back to being a chef. Rita Swan was chief and the relief manager was an old boy called Vincent Tildsley who with his Mastersingers had had a hit with Pedro The Fisherman in the film The Lisbon Story. On duty he wore a well worn eveing suit and a pair of brown hushpuppies also very worn.I remember Martin Lamb coming as a relief a couple of times.Does anyone know what happened to Rita as I would love to catch up with her and her fella Ken who I think was the chief befor her.
posted by Melvyn Marsh on 9 Nov 07 at 1.40am

kiwidownunder
kiwidownunder on July 7, 2007 at 10:58 pm

I have left some comments in the past on this site,and great to see the old lady still going strong.
Havent heard much from previous staff to date.I was there up to the time that it was sold to the present company concerned by the Rank Organisation.I also relief projectionist round many great Odeon sites.
I have a new email address .nz

Aldo
Aldo on May 8, 2007 at 11:54 pm

Thank you SharkBytes for sharing such interesting information. Incidentally I am a mature, undergraduate student of Journalism and would like to contact you with a view to unravel some more of your memories of The Coronet. I am working right now on that assignment.

Kindly e-mail me at: . Please note your phone mumber and I will then call you back for a chat.

Best regards

Aldo

AdoraKiaOra
AdoraKiaOra on May 4, 2007 at 5:06 am

I love this place. Go see a movie here and its like going back in time and going to your local cinema. Great atmosphere in a great auditorium with a great audience. Worth the effort to get to Notting Hill Gate to see a movie here what with all the bars and restaurants in the area. Highly recomended.

Rob999
Rob999 on November 8, 2006 at 1:40 pm

Something is happening at this old theatre-turned cinema. It is always busy and especially chaotic on ½ price night. Good to see the grand old lady back!!

movieworld
movieworld on April 4, 2006 at 11:47 am

THERE IS A MISTAKE ABOVE,SO WE WILL TRY AGAIN!!

The official web-site of the CORONET is www.coronet.org

To find out what is going on in London as a whole,you should visit
www.moviedata.co.uk which has some great links,as well as the pick
of each weeks releases,with dates and locations.

movieworld
movieworld on April 4, 2006 at 11:39 am

The official web-site of the CORONET is www.coronet.or

To find out what is going on in London as a whole,you should visit
www.moviedata.co.uk which has some great links,as well as the pick
of the releases,with dates and locations.

Filmjoin
Filmjoin on January 12, 2006 at 12:05 pm

I am writing a history sort of the Coronet Cinema for an unofficial Coronet cinema web site www.coronetcinema.co.uk and I was wondering if anyone knew were I could go to get more information about the building. I have all the usual stuff- when it opened – most of the owners over the years. I would particularly like to get a hold of some images of the building through the years.

movieworld
movieworld on December 23, 2005 at 10:20 am

I am pleased to annouce,as we enter the year 2006,that the CORONET
is now up and running again,with great success.