Astoria Theatre

This Cinema was run as a theatre in the early 1950s by singer Dorothy Squires and her then husband Billy Read, a band leader. I recall as a child attending at least one pantomime there. I now realise that FOH spots were two pairs of Strand Patt 45s each side of the hall. I recall asking my father why the wall was darker above these and had it explained it was due to dirty hot air from the spotlights staining the paint!