In recent years the exterior, at least, has had some serious maintenance work and the stone and brickwork, together with the roof, seem in excellent condition. The demolition contractors appear to be moving equipment onto the site in April 2010. Some pictures here:–
Films return to the Spa Theatre. Starting in May 2010 there are to be weekly screenings of classics in the restored Spa Theatre, which retains stalls and circle seating. A Saturday morning kids cinema will also begin trials.
Whilst looking for something else I came across a batch of misfiled negatives of the interior of the Roxy taken in 1988. The photo’s must have come out too poor to keep, but digital technology to the rescue (at least partially!). Of particular note is the original proscenium, long hidden from view:–
Here is a splendid scan of an advert – advertising the cinemascope screen so I guess from around the mid 1950’s, but before 1958, showing the interior of the theatre including the organ and grills, and the previous proscenium arch.
Three photos of the Victoria Hall, taken in April 2010, here:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4564601121/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4565232364/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4564600737/
Some exterior photos of the Glenroyal, taken in April 2010 can be found here:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4550420628/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4550420426/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4549780917/
In recent years the exterior, at least, has had some serious maintenance work and the stone and brickwork, together with the roof, seem in excellent condition. The demolition contractors appear to be moving equipment onto the site in April 2010. Some pictures here:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4545392838/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4545392712/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4544759437/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4545392368/
A few pictures, including interiors of both screens, taken in April 2010 here:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4542271785/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4542904948/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4542271301/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4542904764/
A set of photos, mainly interior here:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4539656167/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4539655975/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4540290158/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4539655649/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4540289828/
Films return to the Spa Theatre. Starting in May 2010 there are to be weekly screenings of classics in the restored Spa Theatre, which retains stalls and circle seating. A Saturday morning kids cinema will also begin trials.
Live shows still predominate.
An older photo of the exterior of the Roxy here – the road layout was later substantially altered.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4530009659/
To contrast with the above pictures, here are two photos of the Plaza as a Mecca Bingo Hall, taken in 1988:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4530010271/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4530643246/
Two further interior shots here:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4530642590/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4530010047/
Front and rear shots of the Empire in it’s Cannon days here:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4520329444/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4519692921/
Two 1988 shots here when the building was in a poor state as the Buckingham Bingo Club:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4513528783/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4513528501/
A 1988 shot here:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4514168300/
and an internal shot from 2004 here:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4388777599/
Another photo taken in 1988 before the external cladded was added:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4513528249/
An interior of the circle cinema circa 1988 here:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4504978602/
Whilst looking for something else I came across a batch of misfiled negatives of the interior of the Roxy taken in 1988. The photo’s must have come out too poor to keep, but digital technology to the rescue (at least partially!). Of particular note is the original proscenium, long hidden from view:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4502334270/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4502334096/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4502333902/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4501699041/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4501698837/
A few more photo’s (interior and exterior) here:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4496539744/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4496540174/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4496539950/
Another view of the Odeon here:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4495903181/
Another exterior shot:-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4472376363/
and a pre-sub-division interior:-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4473153428/
Exterior photo taken in 1991 here:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4462156090/
Interior shot of one of the screens in 1991:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4462155472/
Photos from March 2010 here:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4459687518/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4458907165/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4459687772/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4459687672/
Shot of the screen from the rear stalls here:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4453024501/
Two more shots of the Riviera:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4453801784/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4453024145/
Here is a splendid scan of an advert – advertising the cinemascope screen so I guess from around the mid 1950’s, but before 1958, showing the interior of the theatre including the organ and grills, and the previous proscenium arch.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4438117599/
More photos – all interior – can be seen here (taken March 2010)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4419584848/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4418818935/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4418818763/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4419584640/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4418818331/