Classic Scunthorpe

Located in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire. The Palace Theatre opened at Easter 1912 as a live theatre and was designed by a Mr. King. The theatre had a 35 feet wide proscenium, a 45 feet deep stage and 12 dressing rooms. The managing director was H.J.F. Crosby of Hewitts Brewery. At the time a ventriloquist act was most popular and by 1914 the Palace Theatre was run by H.E. Dobney who introduced cine-variety until the war years started and finished 1914-1918. The Palace Theatre would put on odd shows during the war for 312 poor children in connection with R.A.O.B. In 1919 the company controlling the theatre (Palace Theatre Scunthorpe Ltd.) was formed. George H. Buckley was the manager until 1925 then the reins were handed to John C. Jazon. In late-1930 a British Acoustic(BA) sound system was fitted. The films were being booked by the Clifford Kemp film services of Leeds. The Palace Theatre was under the direction of the Butterworth Theatres chain and closed as a live theatre in 1933. It was equipped with a Western Electric(WE) sound system and cine-variety returned.

The next couple of years it underwent a revamp in an Art Deco style to the plans of London based architectural firm Beard & Bennett, and reopened as the Savoy Cinema on 7th November 1938 running pictures and live acts which included comedian Rob Wilton. It was equipped with a Compton organ. For the next two decades the Savoy Cinema went from strength to strength then in November 1954 Sol Sheckman was seeking an outlet for his Essoldo group based in Newcastle on Tyne made an offer for the Savoy Cinema and soon installed full CinemaScope with full four track magnetic stereophonic sound and the Savoy Cinema then changed name to the Essoldo. Then came the epic films and gone were the stage shows. By 1972 Essoldo had sold the building to Classic Cinemas Ltd. of Baker Street, London. It was swiftly renamed Classic Cinema. By the mid-1970’s the cinema was bringing in very little profit and closed as a cinema for good ending with a double bill of Elvis Presley movies “Speedway” and “Fun in Acapulco”.

After closing the building was stripped out and became a discount store known has Pennywise and by the 1990’s was Poundstrecher. By 1999 the building was derelict and was in such a state that it looked as if it was a garden feature with all the trees and plants growing from it than an old cinema, such a shame. In 2000 it was decided Scunthorpe town centre would be getting a revamp and in February 2002 along with the Salvation Army building the former Palace Theatre was demolished and F. Hinds Jewellers now stands on the site.

Recent comments (view all 6 comments)

Ian on October 17, 2013 at 8:16 am

A photo from 1998

CLASSIC EXTERIOR

And a photo which I had labelled as 2000, but maybe 2002 as detailed above, of some surviving decoration in the balcony. Taken during the early stages of the demolition.

CLASSIC INTERIOR

regal1987 on October 17, 2013 at 8:51 am

did you take these pics ian as i wondered what camera you used for the exterior picture it looks fab i only wish i took some whilst it was still standing as i used to live in scunthorpe

Ian on October 19, 2013 at 2:44 pm

Yes I took the photos. The exterior is a none-too-great scan of a photograph taken on an Olympus OM40 – I’ll stick it on the list of images to replace with a better scan taken from the negative!

Ian on October 28, 2013 at 4:13 am

Above exterior photo now rescanned and reposted – the link is still valid.

regal1987 on October 29, 2013 at 4:57 pm

great picture ian do you have any more pictures of this cinema

SX150 on October 21, 2017 at 12:49 pm

My first memory of the Essoldo cinema is when my Aunt took me to see the Beatles Yellow Submarine film in 1968. As a thirteen year old and living in simpler times I was a little befuddled by the film but it left a lasting impact on me. After all I was a Beatles fan. Afterwards I had my first Chinese meal at a nearby restaurant. I don’t think it was my first visit to the Essoldo but it is the first one I remember.

One Saturday night in the spring of 1972 they staged an all night Beatle’s Film fest at the Essoldo. I was 16 and worked at Halfords around the corner. I would be going with my 15 year old girl friend and I had to get permission from her father to let her accompany me. My Girl friends older sister came along too. I remember queuing to get in and was quite exited. We had sandwiches to help get us through the night.

After the end of the first film “A Hard Days Night,” a local band came on stage. They had come from a gig they had played earlier at a local pub. They played late fifties and early sixties hits. I have always remembered their rendition of “The night has a Thousand Eyes.”

We then watched “The Yellow Submarine,” “Let it be,” and “Help.” I remember my girlfriend taking a shine to the cartoon character Jeremy in “The Yellow Submarine.”

We left very tired at about 6.30 in the morning. There was no bus and we walked home to Ashby. The sun was up, it was a nice morning and I remember us talking about how it must have been for those who were lucky enough to see the Beatles and the Cavern in the early 1960’s as we walked home.

Even though the Beatles don’t actually star in it The Yellow Submarine is my favourite.

On another occasion we went to see George Harrison’s concert for Bangladesh at the Essoldo.