Regent Cinema
54-62 Dean Road,
South Shields,
NE33 4DZ
54-62 Dean Road,
South Shields,
NE33 4DZ
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Photos of the abandoned and decaying interior attached. It can clearly be seen why South Shields Amateur Operatic Society could no longer present their annual productions on the capacious stage following the 1981 modifications.
I remember speaking to the then Manager of the Mecca Bingo when the very last stage presentation, ‘Camelot' was staged on the Saturday evening. He had been Manager there when it was still Thompsons’ Regent cinema in 1966 and, to my dismay, he told me that he was glad to see the stage shows go and for Bingo to reign for 52 weeks of the year instead of for a mere 51….
I, personally, would have been glad to see the back of the ‘Bingo Brigade’ for a week.
This was the largest cinema in South Shields followed by the ABC, Odeon and Gaumont in that order. There were/are full stage facilities at the Regent.
Article re petition to save the building which the Local Authority wish to demolish :–
https://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/politics/campaigner-hopes-turn-negative-positive-bid-save-former-south-shields-cinema-building-2539465
1964 photo uploaded of this, the largest of South Shields' cinemas, showing ‘The Fall of the Roman Empire’ in 1964
It closes on Sept 14 2014
This was the last cinema built in South Shields before WWII. Unlike most UK cinemas it had a box-office that opened directly onto the pavement between the main entrance doors. It also had an unusual diamond-shaped auditorium. It was regularly used by the local operatic society as a theatre until the bingo management made alterations that made further theatrical use impossible. It used to have split weeks with two different programmes each week. The house lights were not on a dimmer. There were two sets of neon tubes in the ceiling, one red and one white. When the performance was due to start the white lights went out followed by the red ones. The red ones came on at the end of the performance followed by the white ones. It looked very slick. It was a very pleasant venue in which to watch a film programme.
Timber nailed to ceiling oops
Go in every Tuesday for bingo.they have disconnected alllights in circle.and not doing any maintenance.leak in roof if not fixed dampness in circle walls and timer mailed to ceiling to stop ceiling collapsing greedy when they make good Profit but let old clubs which made them rich die
Thanks for the photo Ken Roe.
A night view of the former Regent Cinema in August 1997:
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