In the days before television most towns and cities had centres for entertainment. You could catch the tram to the centre of town and go and see your favourite stars of stage, music hall or screen. In the early days the films were silent with the film being accompanied by descriptive piano music played by a pianist at the side of the screen, watching the action and interpreting the mood with some improvisation. During the second world war the cinema was the place to get away from reality for a few hours and catch the latest from Holywood or Ealing. With the advent of television many theatres and cinemas closed or were converted to bingo halls, supermarkets or demolished in urban renewall schemes. Thankfully there are still many buildings surviving that give us a taste of past eras from Victorian through Edwardian to Art Deco.

Some of my sightings from around the country are shown below. I would be very pleased to accept pictures from your area to add to this collection.

Picture

Where

Contributor

Birmingham’s Palladium Cinema on Soho Hill was a bingo hall before being closed and boarded up. It awaits its fate and continues to crumble.

TN 2004

The Central Picture Theatre on Central Drive Blackpool Lancashire was built in 1913 and predates “The Talkies”. It is now The Family Fun Centre.

TN 2007

The last remnants of Feldmans Theatre in Bank Hey Street Blackpool demolished in 1972. This was the amusement arcade on the Promenade which is now Cahoots bar.

TN 2007

The Grand Theatre in Church Street Blackpool was completed in 1894 and was described as “The Prettiest Theatre in the Kingdom”. Restored to its former glory in 2002, funded by public subscription and The Heritage Lottery Fund. For more information on this architectural gem, please visit their website at www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk.

TN 2007

The  former Olympia Cinema in Coronation Street Blackpool is a fine white tiled building which is part of the Winter Gardens complex. It is used today as an exhibition hall.

TN 2007

The Blackpool Opera House in Church Street is part of the Winter Gardens complex.

TN 2007

The Blackpool Winter Gardens was opened in 1878 and consists of a grand Promenade leading to the Opera House, Empress Ballroom Horseshoe Arena and Olympia. This view shows the entrance in Adelaide Street. For a more accurate description of this truely wonderful building, please visit the Winter Gardens website at www.wintergadensblackpool.co.uk.

TN 2007

 Blackpool Tower as seen from the Promenade, was completed in 1894. It contains a circus aquarium and the famous Tower Ballroom with its mighty WurliTzer theatre organ. Reginald Dixon was the principal organist for many years and following his retirement Phil Kelsall took over and is the incumbent to the present day. For more information on this superb source of entertainment refer to their website at www.theblackpooltower.co.uk.

TN 2007

The fabulous Buxton Opera House in Water Street Buxton Derbyshire is one of finest examples of a Victorian theatre still in operation today.

TN 2007

The former Grand Theatre in Station Street Cockermouth Cumbria now serves the comunity as a veterinary surgery.

TN 2007

The former Royal Theatre in Bank Street Cradley Heath West Midlands now sadly closed and boarded up.

TN 2003

The Grand Theatre Babbington Lane Derby was a rival to the Hippodrome in the early part of the 20th century. It closed for variety performances before the Hippodrome and instead became Derby’s premier dance venue becoming at various times the Locarno, Tiffany’s and today Mc Cluskey’s.

TN 2007

This sad picture shows the Derby Hippodrome in Green Lane, closed even for bingo. Some famous stars once trod the boards here including a young Morcambe & Wise. It is now boarded up awaiting a new lease of life.

TN 2006

The former Victoria Cinema in Poulton Road Fleetwood Lancashire is now the Top Ten Bingo Club.

TN 2007

This is the Eureka Picture Palace in Hessle Road Hull.A fine old building which was in a very poor state of repair when photographed.

TN 2005

The Winter Gardens Morecambe Lancashire

TN 2007

The former Picturedrome in Kettering Road Northampton is now a bar and restaurant

TN 2004

The former Skala Theatre in Abbey Street Nuneaton is now Shipley’s amusement centre

TN 2003

Retford’s Majestic Theatre in Coronation Street Retford Nottinghamshire was going strong when photographed.

TN 2003

The Oxford Hippodrome in High Street Ripley Derbyshire sadly closed in the late 60s. It used to cease showing films for one week in April of each year, to allow the Ripley Co-operative Society’s Amateur Operatic Group to stage their yearly production to sell out audiences.

TN 2003

Netto Supermarket in Catch Bar Lane Hillsborough Sheffield was once the Hillsborough Park Cinema

TN 2005

The Adelphi in Vicarage Road Attercliffe Sheffield is still in use as a club.

TN 2005

The Electric Theatre in Victoria Street Somercotes Derbyshire was one of the earliest cinemas in the country. It is still open as a bingo hall.

TN 2004

The former Central Cinema in Broad Street Stamford Lincolnshire is a fine example of Art Deco architecture. No longer showing films but still providing entertainment for some of the locals as Browne’s.

TN 2007

The Exchange Theatre in Broad Street Stamford. Built in 1926. It doubles as the premises of the Corn Exchange Theatre Company and offices and showroom for a local auctioneers.

TN 2007

Stockport’s former Wellington Picture House in Wellington Street South is now Riley’s pool and snooker bar.

TN 2007

The former New Empire Cinema in West Street Swadlincote Derbyshire was a gaming centre and play barn until 2007 when it became the Paramount - Smith & Jones Pub. The Paramount was a car which was built a few yards away in High Street during the 1950’s. A few examples of this sporty looking vehicle still survive.

TN 2003

TN 2007

The Orion Bingo Hall in Crescent West Thornton-Cleveleys Lancashire served as the towns cinema for many years and it is still possible to arrive for a bingo session on the ubiquitous tram which passes the front of the building.

TN 2007

The Oxford Picture Theatre in Oxford Street Workington Cumbria is now the Henry Bessemer a J D Wetherspoon pub.

TN 2007

The Theatre Royal in Washington Street Workington Cumbria still appears to be functioning for the comunity and is a good state of repair.

TN 2007

Worksop’s former Palais De Danse in Newcastle Avenue Worksop Nottinghamshire is now The Palais Bingo Hall.

TN 2003

Please send me your pictures