New Theatre

In the south Wales town of Maesteg, West Glamorgan, the New Theatre opened on 19th October 1914 with a musical show “Wait and See”. It is believed that live entertainment predominated in the early years, though the theatre is listed in the 1914 Kinematograph Year Book (KYB), indicating at least some film (bioscope) activity.

In the 1920’s the theatre became a full-time cinema. The 1931 KYB listed the owner as Welsh Hills Cinema Company Ltd. and a Western Electric(WE) sound system had been installed.

By the 1940 edition ownership had transferred to Maesteg Cinemas Ltd. That entry also listed a proscenium width of 28ft.

The New Theatre is also listed in the 1953 KYB.

The cinema was closed in the mid-1960’s and was transformed into a bingo hall. That closed in the 1990’s and the building went over to retail use.

At some time the auditorium was demolished. In January 2015 a J. D. Wetherspoon pub (The Sawyers Arms) opened. This occupies the original Sawyers Arms pub and also the New Theatre’s former foyer (home to Coral bookmakers when I visited).

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