Essoldo Shildon
Station Street,
Shildon,
DL4
Station Street,
Shildon,
DL4
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Essoldo Circuit (Contol) Ltd.
Previous Names: Picture House
Nearby Theaters
The Mechanics Institute was built in 1825. It was converted into the Picture House which opened in 1915. It was locally known as the ‘People’s Cinema’.
Taken over by the Newcastle based Essoldo cinemas circuit in 1947, it was closed in 1969, and has since been demolished.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 19 comments)
I was born and raised at the Essoldo, my grandfather was the manager Mr C Watson. My sister and I still love to remember the steam trains passing as we played at being usherettes and shining the torch to show patrons to their seats in the dark. The twins who always sat in the back stalls, shouting “they’re behind you” at the Cowboys and Indians movies. The front rows of boisterous lads who every week got thrown out by my grandfather, and then called us the ‘ flea pit kids’ and duly roughed me up for getting thrown out. I helped to sell the Kia ora orange drinks, Hoggetts crisps, Fry chocolate cream. My mother sold the tickets, my father was part time projectionist and woe betide if the film snapped. The lights went on, the boo’s and stamping of feet was deafening until the film was joined,lights went down and everyone cheered. Glorious days, my childhood.
I remember you all and the Essoldo with great affection, Moira.
I saw some of the greatest films there including ‘Sink the Bismarck’, ‘The Ten Commandments’, ‘Cleopatra’, ‘South Pacific’ and scores of others. It is sad to see the empty spot now and hard to imagine the escapism we enjoyed.
I hope that you are keeping well.
Yes us grandchildren are well thanks. Trying to place you, can you give a surname to jog my memory?
Hi again, Moira. I am Terry Charnock and I remember you at King James School. My dad at one time was Chief Projectionist at Shildon Hippodrome and I went into the business myself in the early 1970’s and managed, among others, the former Newcastle Essoldo when it became an ABC.
Yes I seem to remember a Terence Charnock but no recollection of a face ,sorry. So cinema was in your family too. Very nice to hear from you and reading your fond memories.
You may recognise me on here, Moira; there are various photos – some going back to the ‘year dot’ :–
https://www.facebook.com/terry.charnock
Anyway, I take this opportunity to wish you a good 2018!
See page 7 of ‘The Shildon & District Town Crier’ Issue 852 :–
http://www.swd.news/wp-content/uploads/bsk-pdf-manager/2018/01/Town-Crier-issue-852.pdf
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