Operated as an EMI Bingo & Social Club for a time as well, before being a nightclub, as EMI Bingo ceased trading in September 1983, the clubs having been sold to Coral.
Christina Gaus has kindly written further details on this cinema which I have reproduced below (with some minor alterations to the text to correct the grammar translation from German to English):
“The original Schauburg Cinema opened in 1929 in the auditorium of the former Apollo Variety Theatre with a seating capacity of 600 seats. This building was destroyed completely during WW2.
The replacement Schauburg was built in 1949 seating 1000 patrons, the architect is unknown at present.
At some point the cinema was tripled, seating is provided for 350, 160 and 61. The main screen is equipped with a curved 17m x 7m Cinerama screen and is the only cinema in the County of Baden-Wurttemberg able to show the Todd-AO format.
Programmed as an Art House cinema, it has received many awards for ‘Outstanding Programme Schedules’. Since 2005 the cinema holds the annual Todd AO - 70mm - Festival.”
Declared open at a ribbon cutting ceremony by Eastenders star Anita Dobson on 20th July, 1989. Special guests were treated to a performance by musicians called Fingers & Frets and saw a preview of the film Lethal Weapon II starring Mel Gibson almost two months before the film was released, followed by Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
A second screen also showed this film, the other three remaining screens opening with The Land Before Time, Licence to Thrill and finally Police Academy 6.
Opened as the Picturedrome, address was 44 High Street, NN9 5TN. Name changed to Picture House when the facade was given a modernisation as per my pictures that I uploaded.
After being left in a perilous state (no pun intended) by Wetherspoons, and after being sold on by them, the lack of a secure dry building has finally meant that Thurrock Council have issued an enforcement order on the new owner to secure the building. It has been known for stalls exit doors to have been left wide open recently, with Urban Explorers not helping with a string of videos being posted online as well, proving as to how unsecured the building was.
Fingers crossed, this lengthy saga will come to a good ending…..
Announced today that Omniplex are to tr=open the complex after agreeing a lease with the Council owners. Refurbishment prior to opening will take up to 18 months though! Omniplex Cinemas Group is an Ireland based operator with the director being Paul John Anderson. There will be 12 screens as before, with up to 30 jobs created once opened again.
On the hour Father Time would rise out of a globe on his bicycle. Comedian Ken Dodd was the VIP asked to open the centre on October 30, 1987, but the crowds were so large - estimated at several thousand - that he was unable to get to the clock in time and up popped Father Time without him. The centre was further expanded, with the section built over the former cinema’s site. The cinema had been demolished shortly after closure in 1990.
Closure as a Gala bingo club came in February 2008 according to staff member Angeline Jenkins via a message on Facebook. She worked there until the end and states that it was a very sad day for all the staff.
Plans approved on proviso that the cinema and 2 lock-up shops were completed within 3 years, client named as Magnet Cinema (Newton Heath) Ltd., 1350 seats, stadium plan, references: Builder 19/11/1937.
Ummm, Mecca Bingo signage? Can’t be the Odeon, must be the former Gaumont Palace!!
Architect given as Hipkiss & Stephenson at the wonderlandbirmingham.co.uk website….
On the current closure list.
Known as Commercial Buildings, this is in moulded concrete at the top of the facade, just out of sight in this picture.
The lease must have been extended, as it is still operated by the same company in 2024.
Operated as an EMI Bingo & Social Club for a time as well, before being a nightclub, as EMI Bingo ceased trading in September 1983, the clubs having been sold to Coral.
Christina Gaus has kindly written further details on this cinema which I have reproduced below (with some minor alterations to the text to correct the grammar translation from German to English):
“The original Schauburg Cinema opened in 1929 in the auditorium of the former Apollo Variety Theatre with a seating capacity of 600 seats. This building was destroyed completely during WW2.
The replacement Schauburg was built in 1949 seating 1000 patrons, the architect is unknown at present.
At some point the cinema was tripled, seating is provided for 350, 160 and 61. The main screen is equipped with a curved 17m x 7m Cinerama screen and is the only cinema in the County of Baden-Wurttemberg able to show the Todd-AO format.
Programmed as an Art House cinema, it has received many awards for ‘Outstanding Programme Schedules’. Since 2005 the cinema holds the annual Todd AO - 70mm - Festival.”
https://www.schauburg.de/
In it’s final years it was known as The Old Vic.
By 1955 it had become an auctioneers premises.
Hints of ABC triangle?!! Very nice indeed! Congratulations Mark on another great little cinema!
This building is nowhere on Cheltenham Mount! Correct location is Cheltenham Parade at the corner of Mount Parade, HG1 1BX.
The new business is known as Cardamom Black @ “The Old Empire Theatre”.
Declared open at a ribbon cutting ceremony by Eastenders star Anita Dobson on 20th July, 1989. Special guests were treated to a performance by musicians called Fingers & Frets and saw a preview of the film Lethal Weapon II starring Mel Gibson almost two months before the film was released, followed by Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
A second screen also showed this film, the other three remaining screens opening with The Land Before Time, Licence to Thrill and finally Police Academy 6.
Opened as the Picturedrome, address was 44 High Street, NN9 5TN. Name changed to Picture House when the facade was given a modernisation as per my pictures that I uploaded.
The architect was Joseph Gannon, the new cinema was designed in 1935, opening in 1936.
After being left in a perilous state (no pun intended) by Wetherspoons, and after being sold on by them, the lack of a secure dry building has finally meant that Thurrock Council have issued an enforcement order on the new owner to secure the building. It has been known for stalls exit doors to have been left wide open recently, with Urban Explorers not helping with a string of videos being posted online as well, proving as to how unsecured the building was. Fingers crossed, this lengthy saga will come to a good ending…..
Announced today that Omniplex are to tr=open the complex after agreeing a lease with the Council owners. Refurbishment prior to opening will take up to 18 months though! Omniplex Cinemas Group is an Ireland based operator with the director being Paul John Anderson. There will be 12 screens as before, with up to 30 jobs created once opened again.
On the hour Father Time would rise out of a globe on his bicycle. Comedian Ken Dodd was the VIP asked to open the centre on October 30, 1987, but the crowds were so large - estimated at several thousand - that he was unable to get to the clock in time and up popped Father Time without him. The centre was further expanded, with the section built over the former cinema’s site. The cinema had been demolished shortly after closure in 1990.
CMA operated this cinema upon closure.
Closed in 2020, and still ‘Permanently Closed’ in 2024, it should not be showing as ‘open’ on here…
Now operated by the Stag Community Arts Centre, a registered charity.
Closure as a Gala bingo club came in February 2008 according to staff member Angeline Jenkins via a message on Facebook. She worked there until the end and states that it was a very sad day for all the staff.
Still showing films according to the 1966 KYB on Thursdays and Saturdays only.
The former Miner’s Institute building located at 69 Newport Road was known as the Cinema. This still stands and is in use as an OAP Centre.
Opened for Messrs Moston and Lightbowne, who operated the earlier Ceylon in the area.
Plans approved on proviso that the cinema and 2 lock-up shops were completed within 3 years, client named as Magnet Cinema (Newton Heath) Ltd., 1350 seats, stadium plan, references: Builder 19/11/1937.