The New Cinema was opened by Amalgamated Entertainment on 18 April 1947 with “Underground” and was the Regent from 1951 under Abbey Films. It closed on 9 August 1998 with “Outer Space”. It also hosted concerts from The Dubliners and Christie Moore and Planxty. The site is now Regent House and includes a physiotherapy clinic.
Reputedly the first silent film shown here was “The Gamble” with Renee Adoree and Conrad Nagel. It was a single-floor cinema. Between films and bingo it was the Team Beat Club which closed in 1963. In October 2014 the name was changed yet again to Oscar’s, a cinema style pub, which closed in June 2015 but reopened again that December only to close again in December 2016.
The Palace was built in 1912 and was showing films by February 1913. It was operated originally by RTA Pictures, reputedly the initials of the partners in the company. Subsequent owners included J & G Howdle in 1925 and A & H Wood in 1932. An installation by Tony Harrison called Promethius was set up here in 1977.
It reopened as the Regal Community Theatre in 1995 and operates with a combination of paid staff and volunteers. The entrance foyer has original terrazzo floor and the auditorium has a capacity of 206 with tiered seating and 120 when cabaret space is set up. A film society hires the space and shows films twice a month. Regal Radio, a community station for West Lothian, broadcasts from the theatre.
The Scunthorpe Telegraph shows a different building and states it was demolished sometime after 1976. I shall investigate further. More info at: http://www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/remember-cinemas-scunthorpe/story-29375616-detail/story.html
Each auditorium is equipped with the very latest in Sony 4K digital projection and Dolby surround sound systems. It hosts two 3D screens, installed March 2013, and two wheelchair accessible auditoriums. Photo added today.
According to the theislandwiki.org site the Royal Hall was demolished for West’s Cinema, and that the cinema opened on 24 September 1923. It closed after the last performance on 30 December 1972.
The Metro was a venture by The Other Cinema which was originally set up as a film distribution business. It screened its first film at the Scala in King’s Cross in 1971. The renaming to The Other Cinema was simply a tribute to the company’s roots. Hefty rent rises are believed to be behind the decision to close.
The Regal was designed by J.J. Perrott and was operated by the Noyce family for its entire life. Emily Wood was an usherette for most of the time. One of its claims to fame was that it did not originally have toilets.
Opened on 30 July 1932. When all the performances were eventually finished the opening film was “Up for the Cup”. Pop concerts were held here in the 1960s with Gene Pitney and The Kinks just two of the familiar names to grace the stage. In 1935 the chief operator was killed when two curtain weights fell on top of him.
The building is now home to Playworld, an indoor play centre with roller skating facilites, set up by Raj Handa, which opened on 30 May 2014. This scuppered plans by another businessman to open a restaurant in the former cinema. The building is also remembered as being home to Lodge’s supermarket back in the day.
Heron Foods opened its biggest store yet here in April 2016. This is at least the fourth supermarket to occupy the former cinema including Dee Discount, Gateway and Kwik Save.
Opened by 31-year-old George Brightly at a cost of £10,000. A short-lived venture it closed five months later in November 1977. Brightly’s wife was the cashier and usherette.
The New Cinema was opened by Amalgamated Entertainment on 18 April 1947 with “Underground” and was the Regent from 1951 under Abbey Films. It closed on 9 August 1998 with “Outer Space”. It also hosted concerts from The Dubliners and Christie Moore and Planxty. The site is now Regent House and includes a physiotherapy clinic.
Reputedly the first silent film shown here was “The Gamble” with Renee Adoree and Conrad Nagel. It was a single-floor cinema. Between films and bingo it was the Team Beat Club which closed in 1963. In October 2014 the name was changed yet again to Oscar’s, a cinema style pub, which closed in June 2015 but reopened again that December only to close again in December 2016.
The Palace was built in 1912 and was showing films by February 1913. It was operated originally by RTA Pictures, reputedly the initials of the partners in the company. Subsequent owners included J & G Howdle in 1925 and A & H Wood in 1932. An installation by Tony Harrison called Promethius was set up here in 1977.
It reopened as the Regal Community Theatre in 1995 and operates with a combination of paid staff and volunteers. The entrance foyer has original terrazzo floor and the auditorium has a capacity of 206 with tiered seating and 120 when cabaret space is set up. A film society hires the space and shows films twice a month. Regal Radio, a community station for West Lothian, broadcasts from the theatre.
New photo added today.
The Scunthorpe Telegraph shows a different building and states it was demolished sometime after 1976. I shall investigate further. More info at: http://www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/remember-cinemas-scunthorpe/story-29375616-detail/story.html
Each auditorium is equipped with the very latest in Sony 4K digital projection and Dolby surround sound systems. It hosts two 3D screens, installed March 2013, and two wheelchair accessible auditoriums. Photo added today.
Guernsey’s first talkie, Showboat, screened at the Lyric on 9 December 1929.
Built as a Scottish Presbyterian Church in 1840, turned into a skating rink and dance-hall then cinema for moving pictures, demolished about 1970.
Operated by Ashley Whyatt who runs two cinemas in Essex and Kent. The opening film was reputed to be Bridget Jones’s Baby.
According to the theislandwiki.org site the Royal Hall was demolished for West’s Cinema, and that the cinema opened on 24 September 1923. It closed after the last performance on 30 December 1972.
The Metro was a venture by The Other Cinema which was originally set up as a film distribution business. It screened its first film at the Scala in King’s Cross in 1971. The renaming to The Other Cinema was simply a tribute to the company’s roots. Hefty rent rises are believed to be behind the decision to close.
The earliest Kine Year Book I can lay my hands on is 1923 and the Picture House is already listed.
The Regal was designed by J.J. Perrott and was operated by the Noyce family for its entire life. Emily Wood was an usherette for most of the time. One of its claims to fame was that it did not originally have toilets.
Last listed in the Kine Year Books in 1958. Was the Shotz bar after All Stars but even that now seems to have closed.
Forgot to mention that the auditorium was seriously damaged by fire in 1973 and had to be rebuilt.
Last appears in the Kine Year Books in 1970. Originally operated by A.C. Pindar but management showing as the Roxy in Kelso from the mid-1950s.
Opened on 30 July 1932. When all the performances were eventually finished the opening film was “Up for the Cup”. Pop concerts were held here in the 1960s with Gene Pitney and The Kinks just two of the familiar names to grace the stage. In 1935 the chief operator was killed when two curtain weights fell on top of him.
Closed 17 July 1963 with “A Prize to Arms”
The Caley Picture House pub opened in the former cinema on 13 December 2016.
Building damaged by fire 28 February 2016.
The late-night bar opened on 3 May 2013 and is spread across two floors. Does not open until 9pm.
The building is now home to Playworld, an indoor play centre with roller skating facilites, set up by Raj Handa, which opened on 30 May 2014. This scuppered plans by another businessman to open a restaurant in the former cinema. The building is also remembered as being home to Lodge’s supermarket back in the day.
Heron Foods opened its biggest store yet here in April 2016. This is at least the fourth supermarket to occupy the former cinema including Dee Discount, Gateway and Kwik Save.
Opened by 31-year-old George Brightly at a cost of £10,000. A short-lived venture it closed five months later in November 1977. Brightly’s wife was the cashier and usherette.