Vastly superior to the impersonal and soulless multiplexes in the UK and the USA.
It proves that you can have several screens – and character. This has wonderful decor and design PLUS the TABS, lamentably absent in the two countries I mention….
Germany is definitely at the forefront in cinema design as far as I am concerned.
Even the UK’s prestigious London cinemas have, I am very sorry to say, been ‘bastardised’……
The auditorium building, running parallel to North Road, is still there. The Front Of House on North Road, which I thought was long demolished, also survives as I noticed the other day that the dorma window above the ‘Globe’ sign is still extant. In the 1960’s most properties on that side of North Road were replaced with modern buildings quite out of keeping with the ancient City of Durham.
The one person who may have been able to answer, Norman Cully, is no longer with us but I am guessing , going by the style of the facade (Ionic pilasters etc), that it would indeed date back to 1919 when the building was modified as a silent cinema.
I am thus inclined therefore to ‘stick my head above the parapet’ and assume that the date on the aeriel view shot is incorrect as in 1929, when ABC acquired the place, Art Deco was becoming all the rage and much more modern looking than the architectural style of the – admittedly impressive – Coliseum FOH.
Norman said that the building would have had severe limitations even as a theatre, for whilst the stage depth was considerable, there was no fly tower (once again the Essoldo had the advantage). However, it had been an important concert venue, he told me, and the likes of Billy Ternent and his Orchestra made frequent appearances there during WW2.
I was the Assistant to Norman Cully at the ABC Sunderland many decades ago and he had managed the Coliseum for a lengthy period prior to his Sunderland appointment. He told me some very amusing stories about the place and the characters who met up in ‘The Victoria’ next door.
Re the Coliseum: Norman always said that the best part of it was the foyer and , having once had a ‘peep’ inside the place when it had gone over to Bingo, I would be inclined to agree as the ‘Scope screen must have been a real 'Letterbox’ affair. In stark contrast , another Coliseum cinema (Glasgow) owned and operated by ABC was, after Cinerama conversion, to boast (at 90 feet) the widest screen in the UK.
The Assistant Manager of the Coliseum, Cathy Taylor,long before the Coliseum’s closure, transferred to the Haymarket Newcastle where I got to know her very well. She and Norman remained good friends throughout her lifetime.
One of the Coliseum’s projectionists, Fred Norris, also transferred to the Haymarket (at around the same time as Miss Taylor) where he became ‘Second’ to Chief, Arthur White and upon whose retirement Fred succeeded him. He later transferred to the ABC Westgate Road (former Essoldo) where he was my Chief for a number of years. I was recently informed that he had sadly passed away on Christmas Eve 2019.
Hope you are keeping well. It is quite a while since we spoke on here!
I remember well the fact that the front row (at least) was removed from the stalls upon the installation of CinemaScope because of the different ratio and sight lines.
I originally phrased my entry with the additional words “….. where 82 extra seats would have materialised from, especially after the introduction of CinemaScope, is mystifying”
I then deleted these words as the Kine Year Book would have been published at the beginning of the year and ‘Scope at the Ritz was not installed until the end of November that year.
Some cinemas, as you recall, replaced the front stalls seats for live performances and they were only occupied during these stage shows. This does not explain the situation at Gateshead Ritz as at time of publication the front seats would not yet have been removed and in any case, as far as I know, it only presented Sunday Concerts during WW2 and , unlike Chester Regal and many other ABC’s where Pop Concerts and other live shows became regular events, such was not the case here. Even the Blacks Regal/Odeon, which was fully equipped, did not host such performances, presumably because of the proximity to Newcastle.
The Essoldo/Empire, however, did present an annual pantomime with quite well known names (Sandy Powell etc) as well as Amateur Operatic weeks.
I quite agree with you about Local Licensing Departments, Mike as, going by what I am told, all these multiplexes seem to flout the Cinematograph Acts with total impunity…
The Eden closed on 08 July 1961 but reopened on 14 January 1962, the day after the Kings closed, until final closure on 31 August 1963 in favour of Bingo.
Debenhams, the department store chain which bought the ABC back in the 1970’s with the aim to extend its Stockton outlet (but never did) today closed its Stockton on Tees branch.
Conversely, the ABC (Globe) will reopen in the Autumn of this year. Ironic indeed…….
It would be good for contributors to meet in a convivial atmosphere. I live in the North but used to often stay at friends in Hampstead and Belsize Park. The latter has sadly recently passed away whilst the former is in the throes of moving to a larger property (currently undergoing renovation) in Beckenham where I have an invitation to visit sometime after March. If the gathering is proposed for slightly later in the year it would be nice to attend.
Another licensed catering establishment with cinemas included for good measure. Seriously though, I suppose this is as good as you are likely to find these days putting aside ‘genuine’ restorations such as the Plaza Stockport, Odyssey St Albans etc.
I don’t know what they think a proscenium arch is but the original ‘pros’,if still in situ, will be concealed behind the subdivision works of 1975 when ABC quadrupled the original theatre.
In screens 1 & 3 there are ‘legs’ at each side of floating screens as opposed to ‘tabs’ (curtains) but at least lip service has been paid in these areas.
I think that if I lived in London I would prefer this venue to most of today’s purpose built multiplexes. The Odeon Theatre Leicester Square, of course, retains the circle/stalls principle (and the Compton organ) which I happen to like – if only they would use their TABS!!
An old friend rang today and mentioned the Essoldo Manor Park which prompted me to look it up here.
I recall ‘It’s Trad Dad’ being the very last film I saw at one of my boyhood local cinemas, the Hippodrome Shildon before it succumbed to Bingo later in 1962. The second feature only had a few minutes remaining when my mother,sister and I entered the circle and I remember wishing that we had seen it from the beginning as it looked exciting. To this day I have never been able to discover its complete title even though part of it was ‘…In Outer Space’
Assuming it was from the same distributor as the main feature I even checked all Columbia releases of the 1950’s and 1960’s but without success until today,that is, when I can finally say that the mystery has been solved!
An ABC Manager and lifelong friend (until his passing in 2017) had briefly managed the State Barkingside in 1970 before transferring to the ABC Regal Wembley thence back ‘up north’ to the ABC Ritz Wigan.
Northern Despatch Entertainments page dated April 12 1961 uploaded to photos section.
The Scala cinema was still going at this time and despite claims here and elsewhere that it became the Essoldo, it does not appear with that company’s advertising block, the top of which can just be seen at the foot of the cinema column.
I would add that I only ever recall the locals referring to this cinema as the “Scala on Eldon street”.
Article re petition to save the building which the Local Authority wish to demolish :–
https://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/politics/campaigner-hopes-turn-negative-positive-bid-save-former-south-shields-cinema-building-2539465
How wonderful!
Vastly superior to the impersonal and soulless multiplexes in the UK and the USA.
It proves that you can have several screens – and character. This has wonderful decor and design PLUS the TABS, lamentably absent in the two countries I mention….
Germany is definitely at the forefront in cinema design as far as I am concerned.
Even the UK’s prestigious London cinemas have, I am very sorry to say, been ‘bastardised’……
The auditorium building, running parallel to North Road, is still there. The Front Of House on North Road, which I thought was long demolished, also survives as I noticed the other day that the dorma window above the ‘Globe’ sign is still extant. In the 1960’s most properties on that side of North Road were replaced with modern buildings quite out of keeping with the ancient City of Durham.
The one person who may have been able to answer, Norman Cully, is no longer with us but I am guessing , going by the style of the facade (Ionic pilasters etc), that it would indeed date back to 1919 when the building was modified as a silent cinema.
I am thus inclined therefore to ‘stick my head above the parapet’ and assume that the date on the aeriel view shot is incorrect as in 1929, when ABC acquired the place, Art Deco was becoming all the rage and much more modern looking than the architectural style of the – admittedly impressive – Coliseum FOH.
Norman said that the building would have had severe limitations even as a theatre, for whilst the stage depth was considerable, there was no fly tower (once again the Essoldo had the advantage). However, it had been an important concert venue, he told me, and the likes of Billy Ternent and his Orchestra made frequent appearances there during WW2.
I was the Assistant to Norman Cully at the ABC Sunderland many decades ago and he had managed the Coliseum for a lengthy period prior to his Sunderland appointment. He told me some very amusing stories about the place and the characters who met up in ‘The Victoria’ next door.
Re the Coliseum: Norman always said that the best part of it was the foyer and , having once had a ‘peep’ inside the place when it had gone over to Bingo, I would be inclined to agree as the ‘Scope screen must have been a real 'Letterbox’ affair. In stark contrast , another Coliseum cinema (Glasgow) owned and operated by ABC was, after Cinerama conversion, to boast (at 90 feet) the widest screen in the UK.
The Assistant Manager of the Coliseum, Cathy Taylor,long before the Coliseum’s closure, transferred to the Haymarket Newcastle where I got to know her very well. She and Norman remained good friends throughout her lifetime.
One of the Coliseum’s projectionists, Fred Norris, also transferred to the Haymarket (at around the same time as Miss Taylor) where he became ‘Second’ to Chief, Arthur White and upon whose retirement Fred succeeded him. He later transferred to the ABC Westgate Road (former Essoldo) where he was my Chief for a number of years. I was recently informed that he had sadly passed away on Christmas Eve 2019.
3 articles re progress thus far in 2020:–
https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/gallery/new-pictures-show-stockton-globe-17661229
https://www.stockton.gov.uk/news/2020/january/they-re-raising-the-roof-at-the-globe-and-the-venue-s-manager-has-been-appointed-too/
https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/18204233.latest-pictures-show-progress-stocktons-globe-theatre/
Hi Mike
Hope you are keeping well. It is quite a while since we spoke on here!
I remember well the fact that the front row (at least) was removed from the stalls upon the installation of CinemaScope because of the different ratio and sight lines.
I originally phrased my entry with the additional words “….. where 82 extra seats would have materialised from, especially after the introduction of CinemaScope, is mystifying”
I then deleted these words as the Kine Year Book would have been published at the beginning of the year and ‘Scope at the Ritz was not installed until the end of November that year.
Some cinemas, as you recall, replaced the front stalls seats for live performances and they were only occupied during these stage shows. This does not explain the situation at Gateshead Ritz as at time of publication the front seats would not yet have been removed and in any case, as far as I know, it only presented Sunday Concerts during WW2 and , unlike Chester Regal and many other ABC’s where Pop Concerts and other live shows became regular events, such was not the case here. Even the Blacks Regal/Odeon, which was fully equipped, did not host such performances, presumably because of the proximity to Newcastle.
The Essoldo/Empire, however, did present an annual pantomime with quite well known names (Sandy Powell etc) as well as Amateur Operatic weeks.
I quite agree with you about Local Licensing Departments, Mike as, going by what I am told, all these multiplexes seem to flout the Cinematograph Acts with total impunity…
According to the ‘Kine Year Book 1954’ the capacity of the ABC Ritz was 2,070:–
https://archive.org/details/kinematographyea1954odha/page/290/mode/2up
My Dad was Chief Projectionist at the Star for about a year or so at the end of WW2 in 1945 before transferring to the Grove cinema, Ilkley.
The Manager was a Mr Thacker who transferred from the Star to the Tudor cinema, Bourne.
The Essoldo closed on 6th August 1966 with the MGM film ‘Around the World Under the Sea’.
The Kings closed on 13 January 1962.
The following day the Eden Theatre (which had closed on 08 July 1961) reopened.
The Eden closed on 08 July 1961 but reopened on 14 January 1962, the day after the Kings closed, until final closure on 31 August 1963 in favour of Bingo.
Debenhams, the department store chain which bought the ABC back in the 1970’s with the aim to extend its Stockton outlet (but never did) today closed its Stockton on Tees branch.
Conversely, the ABC (Globe) will reopen in the Autumn of this year. Ironic indeed…….
It would be good for contributors to meet in a convivial atmosphere. I live in the North but used to often stay at friends in Hampstead and Belsize Park. The latter has sadly recently passed away whilst the former is in the throes of moving to a larger property (currently undergoing renovation) in Beckenham where I have an invitation to visit sometime after March. If the gathering is proposed for slightly later in the year it would be nice to attend.
How things were 60 years ago. 1959 panto bill uploaded. Happy Christmas everyone.
Auditorium photo uploaded.
Another licensed catering establishment with cinemas included for good measure. Seriously though, I suppose this is as good as you are likely to find these days putting aside ‘genuine’ restorations such as the Plaza Stockport, Odyssey St Albans etc.
I don’t know what they think a proscenium arch is but the original ‘pros’,if still in situ, will be concealed behind the subdivision works of 1975 when ABC quadrupled the original theatre.
In screens 1 & 3 there are ‘legs’ at each side of floating screens as opposed to ‘tabs’ (curtains) but at least lip service has been paid in these areas.
I think that if I lived in London I would prefer this venue to most of today’s purpose built multiplexes. The Odeon Theatre Leicester Square, of course, retains the circle/stalls principle (and the Compton organ) which I happen to like – if only they would use their TABS!!
Article in the Manchester Evening News :–
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/eccles-theatre-salford-gutted-fire-17345853
I had sent the exit curtains off to be cleaned and flame retarded when this was taken. I should have waited for them to be returned and re -hung….
Photo of Screen 1 (with lights dimmed) uploaded.
An old friend rang today and mentioned the Essoldo Manor Park which prompted me to look it up here.
I recall ‘It’s Trad Dad’ being the very last film I saw at one of my boyhood local cinemas, the Hippodrome Shildon before it succumbed to Bingo later in 1962. The second feature only had a few minutes remaining when my mother,sister and I entered the circle and I remember wishing that we had seen it from the beginning as it looked exciting. To this day I have never been able to discover its complete title even though part of it was ‘…In Outer Space’
Assuming it was from the same distributor as the main feature I even checked all Columbia releases of the 1950’s and 1960’s but without success until today,that is, when I can finally say that the mystery has been solved!
An ABC Manager and lifelong friend (until his passing in 2017) had briefly managed the State Barkingside in 1970 before transferring to the ABC Regal Wembley thence back ‘up north’ to the ABC Ritz Wigan.
Photo uploaded.
Northern Despatch Entertainments page dated April 12 1961 uploaded to photos section.
The Scala cinema was still going at this time and despite claims here and elsewhere that it became the Essoldo, it does not appear with that company’s advertising block, the top of which can just be seen at the foot of the cinema column.
I would add that I only ever recall the locals referring to this cinema as the “Scala on Eldon street”.
1963 photo uploaded.
1950 shot uploaded of front of house.