Regal Cinema

Located in the Walker district to the east of Newcastle upon Tyne. The Walker Mechanics' Institute was opened in the 1850’s. It had a concert hall upstairs on the first floor, which was being used as a cinema in 1907. In February 1910 plans were passed to build a fireproof projection box to conform with the new Cinematograph Licence which was granted in April 1910 to James Simpson and it was known as the Favourite Palace. On 15th May 1911 it was taken over by Marshal J. Rutter who was also operating the Picturedrome, Newburn & the Palace Cinema, Horden. In 1912 a raked floor was built over the flat level floor. In 1913 it was taken over by John Scott.

In 1923 Baker & Roche who ran the nearby Vaudeville Cinema took over operations and they built a new 22ft wide proscenium in September 1923. In 1928 it was reported that the Mechanics' Institute Cinema had been closed for a number of years.

In November 1931 it was reopened by Andrew Smith as the Regal Cinema and it was equipped with a British Talking Pictures(BTP) sound system in 1932. From 1933 it was operated by J.L. Davenport. From December 1942 G.L. Drummond from the Hippodrome Theatre, Bishop Auckland became the operator. In February 1949 the Regal Cinema failed its annual licencing inspection and was closed as it was deemed to be a fire risk as there was a boys club operating in rooms below the cinema. It never reopened and was eventually demolished.

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