Regal Cinema
322 Norwood Road,
London,
SE27 9AF
322 Norwood Road,
London,
SE27 9AF
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I worked for Top Rank Clubs as an assistant manager and one of my duties was often to do relief work at other clubs whilst I was based at Peckham….I remember this building quite well as behind the bingo scenery on stage was a plethora of old stage lighting switches….I also managed as I recall to somehow go up in the ceiling and there was a walkway that allowed you to look down on the auditorium.
Grand opening article posted.
Apparently the Regal Christie organ was not destroyed in the fire (which was as a result of a direct hit on the stage end by a bomb).But the percussion
thumpof the bomb caused everything in the pipe chambers to lift up several inches and down again and everything fell about and was considered a write off.BUT the Standaart cinema organ from the Metropole in central London(which was bigger than the Regals organ) was being stored on the stage and as this was completely destroyed as it was behind the fire curtain.So this is the one that Kenneth was probably thinking about.Page 11 of brochure linked above.
Scroll down to see vintage photo of auditorium:
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My Grandfather had a bakery in Brixton (J Ensing & Sons) and used to have an advertising board for the Regal West Norwood outside of the shop.
As payment, he used to get two complimentary tickets each week. He was given a small book which was stamped each time it was used.
I recall the cinema had boxes and as a complimentary ticket holder you were allowed to sit anywhere so this was always a favourite option. Very posh.
I WORKED AT THE REGAL WEST NORWOOD ABOUT 1940. IT HAD A BEAUTIFULL ORGAN PLAYED BY BETTY MITCHELL, THE ORGAN WAS DESTORYED BY FIRE IN AN AIR-RAID, I WAS THERE AT THE TIME I COULD HAVE SAVED THE ORGAN BUT THE FIRE HOSE WAS DEFECTED IT HAD ROTTED OVER THE YEARS.THE SAFETY CURTAIN WAS LOWERED EVERY NIGHT DURING THE WAR IF IT HAD NOT BEEN DOWN THE REGAL WOULD HAVE BURNED DOWN THEN. WORKING AT THE REGAL WAS THE BEST JOB I EVER HAD.I WAS SADDENED TO HEAR IT IS GONE FOR-EVER.I NOW LIVE IN THE USA SINCE 1952 BUT I STILL FONDLY REMEMBER THE BEAUTIFULL REGAL.
KENNETH JUKES.
The Regal was built for A.E. Abrahams and opened on 16th January 1930. It was leased by Hyams & Gale from 24th April 1933 and taken over by Gaumont Super Cinemas in October 1935. It was equipped with a Christie 3Manual theatre organ.
Closed due to wartime conditions at the beginning of the war, it re-opened on 3rd November 1940. The closing programme on 8th February 1964 was the Peter Sellers double bill;“I’m Alright Jack” plus “Two Way Stretch”. It immediately became a Top Rank Bingo Club which opened on 20th February 1964 and it closed in 1978. The building was demolished and a D.I.Y. hardware store was built on the site.
THIS CINEMA WAS DEMOLISHED IN NOVEMBER 1981…..I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS….
THE SEATING WAS 2,010…..
THE ARCHITECT WAS F.EDWARD JONES…..
IT CLOSED ON THE 8TH FEB 1964……..
THEN IT WAS “TOP RANK” BINGO…