Coronet Theatre

The ‘stage’ is quite large, but it is an ‘open’ stage with no wing space, proscenium or flytower. The upper section of the original proscenium is visible at the rear of the ‘stage’, partially hidden by a theatre set for the production that was on when I visited.

curmudgeon: Yes, the dress circle seating area remains the same, as does the plaster front of the dress circle. A scaffold structure has been built in the former front stalls to the height of the underside of the dress circle, and floored over to make a stage, which extends from the front of the circle to the front of the proscenium. Currently the original cinema seats in the dress circle have been removed (following asbestos abatement) and loose chairs have been placed there. The upper circle/gallery seating area remains unused.

The seats in the rear stalls beneath the dress circle have been removed and while retaining the original wooden sloping floor, that area is now a bar, with black masking cloth covering the newly installed scaffold supporting the stage. The dressing rooms have been brought back into use after being locked up and derelict for 90 years. Films ‘may’ return to the building in the future, but if this happens it will probably be one off special screenings and not daily cinema use. As it is a Grade II Listed building, any alterations/additions that have been made are removable.

To Sharkbites. I have just read your long ago blurb. Having been a projectionist of 35mm with 2000" reels and carbon Arc. I don’t know where you are but we never had Projectomaticin any place I worked. We never had an Ice Cream lady' we had to get up and go to the concession stand. Finall, where dis idea of waxing th`e prints come from, we just made sure we had clean aperatures and the rest took care of it self But I never heard of waxing. I am in Boston' Mass and did all my projection work 16mm, 35mm and interlock systems.

I was assistant manager here from 1972 till 1972 with Tony Portch as manager. I fell in love with the place the first time I walked in for my interview with Tony.

A few more shots:

Screen 2:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/5363345534/

Screen 1:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/5363345300/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/5363345088/

photos taken at the UK premiere of Black Death June 2010, a Frightfest screening with Q&A by Chris Smith the director
the queue waiting to get in
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/4688820101/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/4688826205/
the auditorium
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/4688825313/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/4688822045/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/4688823973/

View link

Hi Melvyn, this is Terry Sharkey, Manager at the Coronet (Gaumont) for a few years from 1967 (Not 1965 as I said above). I recall Vincent Tildesley with great affection. He was a character with a long family entertainment background. His brother was (I believe) Peter Haddon who had a theatre company for many years at the beautiful Victorian Wimbledon Theatre. The Lisbon Story was on stage at London’s Hippodrome (Now Talk of the Town) Leicester Square from June 1943 and Vincent Tildesley’s Eight Royal Mastersingers are listed among the principals with Patricia Burke and Noele Gordon. Singers were drawn from such ranks as D’Oyley Carte Opera. Fans can find Vincent and his singers’ version of Pedro on Parlophone F1993 (78rpm) and an EP on SCXSP652. Robinson Cleaver is on the organ. Stirring stuff – if anyone still has a machine to play it!

Rita Swann was an Absolute Ace projectionist in the tiny projection room that was all the space that the ancient theatre conversion allowed. Audiences rarely think about that vital person in the Hollywood chain, only when things go wrong. When Rita was on watch they never did. Early experiments in automation in the sixties saw a thing called Projectomatic. (You’ll know it Melvyn) But for those unfamiliar with 2000 foot spools and mercury-arcs I’ll explain. Projectomatic had bits of silver sellotape stuck to the film- perforations which would trigger impulses to change-over the machines every 20 minutes, dim houselights, pull stage-curtains (remember when local cinemas had curtains!)and even put the lime on the ice-cream lady. (Remember ice-cream ladies?). Unfortunately its inventor had forgotten that projectionists wax prints to ease the film through the projector, and wax is a good insulant, so often preventing the impulse working. But with Rita things would always go like clockwork.

Oh dear. This note has turned into a book-chapter. But that’s the Coronet for you. Long may she prosper.

I have left some comments in the past on this site,and great to see the old lady still going strong.
Havent heard much from previous staff to date.I was there up to the time that it was sold to the present company concerned by the Rank Organisation.I also relief projectionist round many great Odeon sites.
I have a new email address .nz

I love this place. Go see a movie here and its like going back in time and going to your local cinema. Great atmosphere in a great auditorium with a great audience. Worth the effort to get to Notting Hill Gate to see a movie here what with all the bars and restaurants in the area. Highly recomended.

THERE IS A MISTAKE ABOVE,SO WE WILL TRY AGAIN!!

The official web-site of the CORONET is www.coronet.org

To find out what is going on in London as a whole,you should visit
www.moviedata.co.uk which has some great links,as well as the pick
of each weeks releases,with dates and locations.

I am writing a history sort of the Coronet Cinema for an unofficial Coronet cinema web site www.coronetcinema.co.uk and I was wondering if anyone knew were I could go to get more information about the building. I have all the usual stuff- when it opened – most of the owners over the years. I would particularly like to get a hold of some images of the building through the years.