Interesting write up of the Ritz Southwold.
I knew the Crick family in Southwold. Charlie Crick who I think was son of George, Charlie also had a son named Peter Crick.
As a young boy I often visited Southwold as I had relatives there.
I remember Charlie Crick taking me to the old Gasworks before it closed down.
I also have seen films at the old Southwold Cinema the Ritz.
I remember the seats at the front were wooden benches. It was a very basic interior.
In 1968/69 I was living for a while in Gibraltar and went many times to the Regal and also I think the then new Queens cinema. Although it was older building, I preferred the Regal.
On my last visit to the Rock in 2015 the Queens cinema was being converted into a live theater
The frontage of the building was not really retained but the new building frontage was made to look like the Odeon although the new tower was not as high as the original. It is all very run down now
It seems some cinemas are missing here is a link to a site which phots and articles about some of them including the Elphinstone Talkies Theatre, Colombo. Link below
https://slkdiaspo.hypotheses.org/1551
The screen in the Gaumont Richmond was originally quite small due to the size of the proscenium especially on Cinemascope where it was mainly lowering of top masking as no room for width.
At some time in the 1970s the Gaumont had a bit of a refurbishment and a new much larger screen and curtains were installed in front of the old proscenium, the gas secondary (emergency) lighting was also removed at that time and replaced with battery backed electric lamps which meant the Gaumont lost its gas lamp burner smell
A few other comments. The Regal originally had curtains (tabs) that opened sideways but when CinemaScope was installed they replaced the curtains with a curtain that rose, possibly to give more side of screen space for the scope screen. AS there was no fly space an “Austrian” curtain was used which folds up on itself.
When the cinema closed it was used for ABC television rehearsals mainly the television series “Armchair Theatre”
The chap I know who worked there is in his late 80’s now, agrees they never had CinemaScope fitted. I thought perhaps they did as I remember “Lady and the Tramp” being shown at the Gaumont, but it seems Disney made a ‘Scope version and a “normal” version of that film.
A few more notes. In reply to Keiths comment the Odeon was considered as a new home of the Musical Museum with the museum using the stalls area and the circle kept for theatre and cinema use.
In the latter years the Odeon had live wrestling and showers were installed in the dressing rooms.The wrestling was popular with the punters but.not the local residents who pressed for the council to get it stopped.
Wombat55 The 267 bus relaced the 667 trolley bus and the film’s shown on Saturday morning were often made by the Children’s Film Foundation CFI so try searching for that company. I wonder if Ena Bags or Don Knights were at the organ when you attended the Saturday shows. Ena was there for many years including the morning the stage curtains caught fire
It was a custom for the Ritz to have a charity Christmas carol concert each year, Roy castle appeared there one year, and in 1971 although the cinema had closed it reopened for one day before Christmas for the annual concert.
Organ playing choirs on the stage, and the host said from the stage to the full audience, “Lets sing loud and bring the roof down and save the demolition men a job!”
That was the last time I went inside the Ritz.
I worked at the Odeon Richmond in the early 1960’s.
For those interested the cinema had in those days Kalee 21 projectors with President carbon arc lamps.
Duophonic sound equipment including stereo magnetic sound.
There was a slide projector which doubled as a follow spot.
4 dressing room s 2 each side of the stage. One used for usherettes to change in.
The Holophane lighting system had been removed by the 1960’s although atmospheric decorative lighting was still used in the auditorium.
The organ had been removed although the lift was still in the orchestra pit.
A Brenell tape recorder supplied background music to the circle foyer.
We could show CinemaScope, Academy ratio and also had a special aperture plate and lens for VistaVision (which I saw used once!).
The week before the film “The Great Escape” we had an escapology act on the stage before the trailers. Only time I saw the stage used.
5 projection staff. Manager in Evening Dress (Tuxedo jacket), Doorman, Chief of staff, ushers, boiler man, and even a uniformed car park attendant. All good fun back then.
I did see some films there. Also in the early 1960’s I visited the projection box. There was a Projectomatic system, and 4 track magnet sound. At the end of the last evening show the motorized screen tabs would be closed from the box, but one of the projectionist would go down to back stage to hand wind the main house tabs closed.
I went to the Regal Kingston several time in its cinema use, including a Midnight Matinee of “The Young Ones” where Cliff Richard made a personal appearance on the stage before the film. I also saw “Paint Your Wagon” and “Ben Hur” there in 70mm.
I have also been there for Bingo!.
Last time I went past in 2017 there was a lot of work going on but not able to get inside. I think the work was planned to be finished in 2018 so I will try and get along again soon. John
This cinema was indeed next to the Regal, it was to the East of it, or to the left if facing the cinemas. I often used to go there from Twickenham as it was the nearest cinema with full magnetic stereophonic sound. (The nearby Odeon in Richmond had magnetic stereo sound but no “effects” speakers around the hall). The Granada got a lot of the 20th Century Fox Cinemascope films. It also had some road show runs with films like “The King and I” when it would do good business. It closed suddenly and the week after closure had on the canopy “We’re having a sale”, to try and sell of fixtures and fittings!.
LauraWalla you could try Feltham History Society as they have an elderly member (Eddie) who knows a lot about cinemas in Hounslow and West London.
I went there and saw “The Boy Friend” their opening film. Very plain cinema inside, just curtains hanging on the walls to cover the brick and concrete.
I quite enjoyed the film.
John
Anne Zeigler and Webster Booth
There is a YouTube video of the Odeon Kingston projection booth (box) Link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n2TB7MIJiQ&t=310s
I think this cinema was used in some scenes in the film “The Family Way”
Stevev, In 1963 I was also at Wandsworth Technical College on day release from the Odeon Richmond so we have probably met.
Interesting write up of the Ritz Southwold. I knew the Crick family in Southwold. Charlie Crick who I think was son of George, Charlie also had a son named Peter Crick. As a young boy I often visited Southwold as I had relatives there. I remember Charlie Crick taking me to the old Gasworks before it closed down. I also have seen films at the old Southwold Cinema the Ritz. I remember the seats at the front were wooden benches. It was a very basic interior.
You can see the Luxor (Odeon) in 1931 at the start of this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iySshjjujog
In 1968/69 I was living for a while in Gibraltar and went many times to the Regal and also I think the then new Queens cinema. Although it was older building, I preferred the Regal. On my last visit to the Rock in 2015 the Queens cinema was being converted into a live theater
The frontage of the building was not really retained but the new building frontage was made to look like the Odeon although the new tower was not as high as the original. It is all very run down now
I went there once only to see Dr Zhivago then years later on an Open Day to view the auditorium
I think a police station was built on the site of the Queens cinema
It seems some cinemas are missing here is a link to a site which phots and articles about some of them including the Elphinstone Talkies Theatre, Colombo. Link below https://slkdiaspo.hypotheses.org/1551
The Morrisons supermarket has now also gone and a Lidl supermarket fills the old cinema space
The screen in the Gaumont Richmond was originally quite small due to the size of the proscenium especially on Cinemascope where it was mainly lowering of top masking as no room for width. At some time in the 1970s the Gaumont had a bit of a refurbishment and a new much larger screen and curtains were installed in front of the old proscenium, the gas secondary (emergency) lighting was also removed at that time and replaced with battery backed electric lamps which meant the Gaumont lost its gas lamp burner smell
A few other comments. The Regal originally had curtains (tabs) that opened sideways but when CinemaScope was installed they replaced the curtains with a curtain that rose, possibly to give more side of screen space for the scope screen. AS there was no fly space an “Austrian” curtain was used which folds up on itself. When the cinema closed it was used for ABC television rehearsals mainly the television series “Armchair Theatre”
The chap I know who worked there is in his late 80’s now, agrees they never had CinemaScope fitted. I thought perhaps they did as I remember “Lady and the Tramp” being shown at the Gaumont, but it seems Disney made a ‘Scope version and a “normal” version of that film.
A few more notes. In reply to Keiths comment the Odeon was considered as a new home of the Musical Museum with the museum using the stalls area and the circle kept for theatre and cinema use. In the latter years the Odeon had live wrestling and showers were installed in the dressing rooms.The wrestling was popular with the punters but.not the local residents who pressed for the council to get it stopped. Wombat55 The 267 bus relaced the 667 trolley bus and the film’s shown on Saturday morning were often made by the Children’s Film Foundation CFI so try searching for that company. I wonder if Ena Bags or Don Knights were at the organ when you attended the Saturday shows. Ena was there for many years including the morning the stage curtains caught fire
It was a custom for the Ritz to have a charity Christmas carol concert each year, Roy castle appeared there one year, and in 1971 although the cinema had closed it reopened for one day before Christmas for the annual concert. Organ playing choirs on the stage, and the host said from the stage to the full audience, “Lets sing loud and bring the roof down and save the demolition men a job!” That was the last time I went inside the Ritz.
I worked at the Odeon Richmond in the early 1960’s. For those interested the cinema had in those days Kalee 21 projectors with President carbon arc lamps. Duophonic sound equipment including stereo magnetic sound. There was a slide projector which doubled as a follow spot. 4 dressing room s 2 each side of the stage. One used for usherettes to change in. The Holophane lighting system had been removed by the 1960’s although atmospheric decorative lighting was still used in the auditorium. The organ had been removed although the lift was still in the orchestra pit. A Brenell tape recorder supplied background music to the circle foyer. We could show CinemaScope, Academy ratio and also had a special aperture plate and lens for VistaVision (which I saw used once!). The week before the film “The Great Escape” we had an escapology act on the stage before the trailers. Only time I saw the stage used. 5 projection staff. Manager in Evening Dress (Tuxedo jacket), Doorman, Chief of staff, ushers, boiler man, and even a uniformed car park attendant. All good fun back then.
I did see some films there. Also in the early 1960’s I visited the projection box. There was a Projectomatic system, and 4 track magnet sound. At the end of the last evening show the motorized screen tabs would be closed from the box, but one of the projectionist would go down to back stage to hand wind the main house tabs closed.
I went to the Regal Kingston several time in its cinema use, including a Midnight Matinee of “The Young Ones” where Cliff Richard made a personal appearance on the stage before the film. I also saw “Paint Your Wagon” and “Ben Hur” there in 70mm. I have also been there for Bingo!. Last time I went past in 2017 there was a lot of work going on but not able to get inside. I think the work was planned to be finished in 2018 so I will try and get along again soon. John
I only went there once and it was to see “The Navy Lark” a black and white CinemaScope film. Nice auditorium and sound and picture was fine. John
I am not certain but I think the frontage of this cinema is seen in the film “The Sound Barrier”
John
This cinema was indeed next to the Regal, it was to the East of it, or to the left if facing the cinemas. I often used to go there from Twickenham as it was the nearest cinema with full magnetic stereophonic sound. (The nearby Odeon in Richmond had magnetic stereo sound but no “effects” speakers around the hall). The Granada got a lot of the 20th Century Fox Cinemascope films. It also had some road show runs with films like “The King and I” when it would do good business. It closed suddenly and the week after closure had on the canopy “We’re having a sale”, to try and sell of fixtures and fittings!. LauraWalla you could try Feltham History Society as they have an elderly member (Eddie) who knows a lot about cinemas in Hounslow and West London.
This cinema/bingo hall closed in June 2014. Fate of building as yet unknown.
I went there and saw “The Boy Friend” their opening film. Very plain cinema inside, just curtains hanging on the walls to cover the brick and concrete. I quite enjoyed the film. John