Closed to the public during WW2, it continued as a cinema for RAF personnel only for RAF Cranfield as the ASTRA, operated by the RAF Kine Corps., the cinema had been built next to the accommodation area of the RAF base to cater for them, as the actual village of Cranfield was, and still is, very small!
The 1944 KYB has two cinemas located in Choppington, but both with an address of Slakeford, so may well be in the other KYB’s under that locaton. That said, the Memorial Cinema is listed as having an Electrocord sound system and 300 seats.
The Lyric Cinema, Slakeford is all that gets a mention though, so maybe this was when the name was changed and is the same building?
There was a second cinema, missing from the list, called the Star Cinema.
Opened by local Fairground operator H. Andrews on 13th October, 1930 at a cost of around £1.500, the Picture House had Kalee 7 projectors, a shallow balcony of just 2 or 3 rows, and was fitted with British Acoustic sound equipment. The first film shown is thought to have been ‘King of Jazz’, a 1930 musical review starring Bebe Daniels and Bing Crosby amongst others.
Passing to the ownership of Mr. A.J. Stratford in 1935, the name was also changed to the Regal Cinema. Seating capacity was declared as being for 270, with the sound system now by Morrison. Ten years later, in 1945, the sound was changed to BTH.
By 1956, Mrs. D.E. Tilley was in charge who made improvements to the cinema for fire safety reasons. Projectionist Mr. Norman Jefferies bought the cinema, and took control from 3rd August, 1958, he also ran the Regal Electric Co. and used his skills to make further improvements. He operated the cinema with his then, new, Wife from 1960 and had fitted Cinemascope as well as a false ceiling to improve heat retention in the auditorium.
The final night of the Regal Cinema came on 9th April, 1966 with the showing of ‘Von Ryans Express’ starring Frank Sinatra and Trevor Howard. This wasn’t to be ‘The End’ though!
An extension was made with the intention to create a second screen, with the original auditorium retained. A new entrance foyer was also created. Most of the work was done by Mr. Jefferies and his wife June. And so, on 19th June, 1969, the Corsham Film Theatre was opened, but with the original auditorium only.
The stalls floor’s rake had been altered in angle to meet up with former balcony level area, thus creating a single level stadium plan cinema seating 180. A new, larger screen and tabs in red had been fitted. Original seats had been recovered and were set out in alternating rows of red and green. Although an area for a second screen and projection room had been built, they were never fitted out, as by 1971, the Jefferies had purchased a former church hall in Bath and set about converting this into a twin screen cinema.
The Corsham Film Theatre was closed on Thursday 8th June, 1976 showing ‘Mr. Superinvisable’, work continued on the new Bath twins. It was intended to be re-opened in late July, but when the Gemini Cinemas took off, it was then stated that the CFT was no longer viable with little local support.
The cinemas never re-opened. Plans were drawn up by Mr. Jefferies for 4 shops in 1985 which were approved by the planners. The building was demolished in May 1985 for the shops to be built.
Proprietors in the 1948 Kine Year Book is given as Hexham Entertainments Co. Ltd., booked at Queen’s Hall, Hexham, 310 seats and a 19ft. proscenium, whilst using Western Electric sound apparatus.
This cinema is still listed as open in the Kine Year Book of 1966, with the same operator and other details. However, CinemaScope has been added, so maybe the 1964 closure was to fit this, and the final closure date is incorrect?
Interestingly, the photograph shows that Bingo & Roulette was played on Tuesdays and Thuesdays only, at 7.30 & 9.30pm. Was it still open as a cinema during the other days I wonder?
Opened as the Victoria Pier & Pavilion in 1900, the pier was extended in length in 1903 to a length of 227 metres, as shown in the main picture on here, this was the second Pavilion building. The first two Pavilion buildings were destroyed by fires, this included the Bijou Theatre in the 1933 fire.
A third Pavilion was built in 1934. Changing to a nightclub and amusements arcade in the 1970’s, it became increasingly dilapidated during the 1980’s, and was sadly closed permanently in 2008 due to safety concerns. These concerns were borne out when a part of the pier collapsed onto the beach in 2017, and so, it was dismantled in 2018. Plans to realise another, shortened pier, as yet, have not materialised despite the best efforts of the Colwyn Victoria Pier Trust.
This, the first Corn Exchange building was built by David Laing in 1820, but was replaced by the newer Corn Exchange in 1845 to the designs of Raphael and Joshua, now known as the Albert Hall Building. From 1845, the old Corn Exchange housed the Essex and Suffolk Fire Office, before becoming the Corn Exchange Cinema.
The original hall was opened in 1887, an entrance was dedicated to the fallen of WW2, the hall had been a British Restaurant during this time. The commemorative plaque was moved to the new hall and re-dedicated to the fallen.
The current village hall was built in 1987 and located on Lushington Drive. The original hall, the subject of this website was located on Anyards Road and has been demolished for flats to be built.
Just to add the main text implies sub-division into a twin cinema, however, this wasn’t the case here. The main auditorium remained intact, a further screen was added by building onto the former car park area.
Dunelm placed a false ceiling into the main auditorium at balcony level, sealing off the balcony. It remained intact up there, and still is… the second added screen was converted into storage by Dunelm.
After closure as a cinema/theatre, the premises became a nightclub, last known as Porky’s. The nightclub closed in 1989 and demolition came shortly afterwards that same year.
Albany Ward sold his circuit to PCT in 1920 but retained management responsibilities for them, and, at the same time, managed later cinemas in the Westcountry area for both PCT and later, Gaumont when PCT were taken over in 1929. His main base and residence was in Weymouth, Dorset.
Closed to the public during WW2, it continued as a cinema for RAF personnel only for RAF Cranfield as the ASTRA, operated by the RAF Kine Corps., the cinema had been built next to the accommodation area of the RAF base to cater for them, as the actual village of Cranfield was, and still is, very small!
The 1944 KYB has two cinemas located in Choppington, but both with an address of Slakeford, so may well be in the other KYB’s under that locaton. That said, the Memorial Cinema is listed as having an Electrocord sound system and 300 seats. The Lyric Cinema, Slakeford is all that gets a mention though, so maybe this was when the name was changed and is the same building?
There was a second cinema, missing from the list, called the Star Cinema.
Closed to bingo and demolished the same year, 1988.
Operated by Corwen & Chirk Cinemas in 1944.
Opened by local Fairground operator H. Andrews on 13th October, 1930 at a cost of around £1.500, the Picture House had Kalee 7 projectors, a shallow balcony of just 2 or 3 rows, and was fitted with British Acoustic sound equipment. The first film shown is thought to have been ‘King of Jazz’, a 1930 musical review starring Bebe Daniels and Bing Crosby amongst others.
Passing to the ownership of Mr. A.J. Stratford in 1935, the name was also changed to the Regal Cinema. Seating capacity was declared as being for 270, with the sound system now by Morrison. Ten years later, in 1945, the sound was changed to BTH.
By 1956, Mrs. D.E. Tilley was in charge who made improvements to the cinema for fire safety reasons. Projectionist Mr. Norman Jefferies bought the cinema, and took control from 3rd August, 1958, he also ran the Regal Electric Co. and used his skills to make further improvements. He operated the cinema with his then, new, Wife from 1960 and had fitted Cinemascope as well as a false ceiling to improve heat retention in the auditorium.
The final night of the Regal Cinema came on 9th April, 1966 with the showing of ‘Von Ryans Express’ starring Frank Sinatra and Trevor Howard. This wasn’t to be ‘The End’ though!
An extension was made with the intention to create a second screen, with the original auditorium retained. A new entrance foyer was also created. Most of the work was done by Mr. Jefferies and his wife June. And so, on 19th June, 1969, the Corsham Film Theatre was opened, but with the original auditorium only.
The stalls floor’s rake had been altered in angle to meet up with former balcony level area, thus creating a single level stadium plan cinema seating 180. A new, larger screen and tabs in red had been fitted. Original seats had been recovered and were set out in alternating rows of red and green. Although an area for a second screen and projection room had been built, they were never fitted out, as by 1971, the Jefferies had purchased a former church hall in Bath and set about converting this into a twin screen cinema.
The Corsham Film Theatre was closed on Thursday 8th June, 1976 showing ‘Mr. Superinvisable’, work continued on the new Bath twins. It was intended to be re-opened in late July, but when the Gemini Cinemas took off, it was then stated that the CFT was no longer viable with little local support.
The cinemas never re-opened. Plans were drawn up by Mr. Jefferies for 4 shops in 1985 which were approved by the planners. The building was demolished in May 1985 for the shops to be built.
Proprietors in the 1948 Kine Year Book is given as Hexham Entertainments Co. Ltd., booked at Queen’s Hall, Hexham, 310 seats and a 19ft. proscenium, whilst using Western Electric sound apparatus.
This cinema is still listed as open in the Kine Year Book of 1966, with the same operator and other details. However, CinemaScope has been added, so maybe the 1964 closure was to fit this, and the final closure date is incorrect?
The Ritz’s website gives the address as 1-2, Burn Road, BT80 8ND.
The 1944 Kine Year Book has the name still as the Electric Palace, the proprietor is Herbert Frederick Robertson, booked at Manchester and Liverpool.
Interestingly, the photograph shows that Bingo & Roulette was played on Tuesdays and Thuesdays only, at 7.30 & 9.30pm. Was it still open as a cinema during the other days I wonder?
Opened as the Victoria Pier & Pavilion in 1900, the pier was extended in length in 1903 to a length of 227 metres, as shown in the main picture on here, this was the second Pavilion building. The first two Pavilion buildings were destroyed by fires, this included the Bijou Theatre in the 1933 fire.
A third Pavilion was built in 1934. Changing to a nightclub and amusements arcade in the 1970’s, it became increasingly dilapidated during the 1980’s, and was sadly closed permanently in 2008 due to safety concerns. These concerns were borne out when a part of the pier collapsed onto the beach in 2017, and so, it was dismantled in 2018. Plans to realise another, shortened pier, as yet, have not materialised despite the best efforts of the Colwyn Victoria Pier Trust.
First operated as an EMI Bingo & Social Club, it then passed to Coral before becoming a Gala Club.
This, the first Corn Exchange building was built by David Laing in 1820, but was replaced by the newer Corn Exchange in 1845 to the designs of Raphael and Joshua, now known as the Albert Hall Building. From 1845, the old Corn Exchange housed the Essex and Suffolk Fire Office, before becoming the Corn Exchange Cinema.
Architects were William Edward Riley and Ernest Budge Garfield, opening on the Saturday of 4th July, 1936. It was built for Savoy (Cobham) Ltd.
The original hall was opened in 1887, an entrance was dedicated to the fallen of WW2, the hall had been a British Restaurant during this time. The commemorative plaque was moved to the new hall and re-dedicated to the fallen.
The current village hall was built in 1987 and located on Lushington Drive. The original hall, the subject of this website was located on Anyards Road and has been demolished for flats to be built.
Just to add the main text implies sub-division into a twin cinema, however, this wasn’t the case here. The main auditorium remained intact, a further screen was added by building onto the former car park area.
Dunelm placed a false ceiling into the main auditorium at balcony level, sealing off the balcony. It remained intact up there, and still is… the second added screen was converted into storage by Dunelm.
After closure as a cinema/theatre, the premises became a nightclub, last known as Porky’s. The nightclub closed in 1989 and demolition came shortly afterwards that same year.
By 1966 a CinemaScope screen had been installed, RCA Sound and a proscenium width of 25 feet quoted. Seating was for 995 patrons.
Bingo started on 9th December 1968, operated by Classic as a Vogue Bingo Club, closing 1st July 1972.
The Daffodil Cinema was designed by local architect Leonard William Barnard.
Now hosting Live Events in the open air where the former auditorium once stood, the facade remains.
In 1944, the Kinema Grand was operated by Captain E.R.F. Pennell D.F.C.
Albany Ward sold his circuit to PCT in 1920, so this cinema was built by the Albany Ward-PCT circuit.
Albany Ward sold his circuit to PCT in 1920 but retained management responsibilities for them, and, at the same time, managed later cinemas in the Westcountry area for both PCT and later, Gaumont when PCT were taken over in 1929. His main base and residence was in Weymouth, Dorset.