King's Hall

In Newcastle upon Tyne city centre, in 1893, Drysdale Hall was converted into a Roman Catholic junior school. In December 1908 J. C. Collins submitted plans for new seating in the hall, the construction of galleries along both sides and the building of a brick projection box at the rear of the stalls.

The King’s Hall (“The Cosiest Hall in the City”) opened on 31st December 1908, having been “remodelled, redecorated and re-seated at enormous expense”, with 900 seats. There were two performances each evening, with prices from 2d to 1s. There were waiting rooms, and bicycles were stored free.

In December 1911 James Lowes took over but, with his main interest being in boxing promotions, he appears to have let the King’s Hall slide downhill.

It is probable that the King’s Hall first closed in February 1930, with Lowes not thinking it worthwhile investing in a sound system. However, by October the cinema was open again, under a new owner, Mr Gilmartin, with an Electrocord sound system. The galleries were by now not used, and seating was reduced to 342.

On the morning of 5th September 1931 the King’s Hall was destroyed by fire, only the operating box surviving. Mr Gilmartin had neglected to insure the building, as plans were being drawn up for a replacement, to be called The New Marlborough Cinema. Presumably because of the losses caused by the fire, the new cinema was never proceeded with. It took over 60 years before the site was built on.

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