Ken Roe has written a potted history of the building which can be found over at Cinema Treasures. There is also a Wikipedia entry devoted to the interior designer, Theodore Komisarjevsky

(The following photos from the original pre-opening period are from the trade periodical- Cinema, Theatre & General Construction October 1931.)

(This street view dates from 1970 when the Cinema was in terminal decline. From the Winfield section of Gould Theatre Collection)

Monochrome prints can never do the interior justice. A cracking set of photographs from the September 2007 Open House weekend (by “Woody”) can be viewed as a Flickr slideshow here. Bear in mind, however, that the high lux levels required for Bingo and the types of light fittings used are very unsympathetic for this style of theatrical interior which must have looked sensationally stunning when properly lit at the appropriate levels.

There are two online videos showing how the building is today, as probably the only Grade 1 listed Bingo Hall anywhere. The first is on the BBC from a series known as How we built Britain and features an enthusiastic critique by David Dimbleby. (Realplayer needed).The footage is carefully chosen to avoid the invasive trappings of the last thirty years.

By complete contrast, an ITV production called Disappearing London features Madness frontman Suggs playing Bingo (badly) with the Grannies. The large number of one armed bandits in what is effectively a working class casino is not glossed over in this footage!

When the Cinema was converted to Bingo in 1976, a flat false floor was fitted in the stalls to level it off in line with the stage. This entombed the Wurlitzer Organ which was located in the centre of the Orchestra Pit, along with the two pipe chambers underneath the stage “speaking” into the auditorium via adjustable openings known as swell shutters. It is not always appreciated that when theatre organs were in ascendancy in Britain they were somewhat in decline in America. Indeed the Tooting Wurlitzer (like many of its peers) was second hand- it had been a 3 Manual 10 Rank instrument installed in the Majestic Theatre Sacramento in 1926 and was refurbished by the Wurlitzer Company for Tooting. It was expanded by a further two Ranks in 1933, a tight fit into the already crowded chambers.

The Organ had been restored to something approaching working order by the American Theatre Organ Society several times over the last thirty years and could be heard by taking a visit into the enclosed orchestra pit but the work was hampered several times by flood damage (indeed the first recorded flooding was within a couple of weeks of installation). However, the ATOS London & South of England Chapter had a dream that one day the console would rise into the auditorium again and that it would be possible to hear it play. The upgrading of the building listed status from grade 2* to grade 1 provided the opportunity to obtain funding for restoration and after much discussion, negotiation and work, that dream finally became a reality. Now a retractable cover over the organ lift pushes back under the bingo caller lectern, four large hydraulic flaps lift up to allow the music to fill the auditorium via sound chutes below and 1,000 people can fill the balcony to enjoy a nostalgic Organ Concert. This they did in style on April 22nd 2007 for the first public concert since the Cinema closure and it went down a storm. The ATOS ensured the day was captured for posterity by getting the event professionally filmed and recorded, now available on a DVD with a behind the scenes feature.

Sadly, three months after the concert took place, disaster struck again. This was the ATOS announcement at the time:

The National Flooding Disaster on Friday 20th. July also struck South London in a big way and in particular the Tooting & Mitcham area. The Chambers of the Wurlitzer in the GALA Bingo establishment (Ex GRANADA) were flooded to a depth of 20″. This obviously inundated the bass chests, trunking, regulators, ground frame and wiring. The console being slightly higher in the orchestra pit was just above water level. Len Rawle reached the premises mid to late afternoon and was horrified to see the state of the chambers. He and GALA staff hired pumps, and using buckets as well, reduced the water level to a depth of approx. 3″ by 10:00 pm that evening. The remaining water was got rid of on the following Monday. The soaked elements of the instrument must now be left to dry out before being inspected and wind put through. To do otherwise would possibly cause further damage.
It is hoped that the Organ can be put back into operation for four concerts next year starting near the end of January.

The above was subsequently updated as follows:

Important Announcement.
No more Tooting Concerts till at least 2009

After further inspection it was obvious that the flooding had caused more damage this time than floods in the past. As I write this, the sump pumps, one in each chamber, have just been installed so hopefully flooding to this depth will not happen again, although it must be remembered that flooding in Tooting and Mitcham is a well known phenomenon and can happen during any decent storm. Work has already started in removing damaged bass chests so they can be worked on off site. Some in fact needed to be removed anyway to make way for pump installation. The digging of the sumps for the pump intakes, has created a massive dust problems in both chambers so this will mean a big cleanup job now before further work in the chambers can be carried out. Work carried out on site can only be done between the cleaners coming in at 6:30am and start of Bingo at 10:45am so progress can only be made in small pieces of time. Because of this and the enormous amount of work now needed to be done in the chambers, it will be at least early 2009 before more concerts can be arranged. Rest assured that Len and his team will not rest until the Tooting Wurlitzer can rise again.

If you would like to help get this Organ playing again, then please support the ATOS by buying the DVD, online or via post. If you are interested in finding out more about the technical & musical aspects of theatre organs, then the UK CINEMA ORGANS Yahoo Group is authoritative and lively.

ACE / QUEEN’S CINEMA / ROYAL PICTUREDOME High Street Opened 1912 – front, conversion of Georgian House. Fire 29^th May 1918. Rebuilt – architect: Marshall Harvey. Reopened 15^th November 1920 as Queen’s. 723 seats. Closed April 1936. Bought/re-opened October H. W. Grose. 1937 prop., A. Barnard. By 1941: (AWH) – Prop., Queenboro’ Cinema Co. 510 seats. Booked at Hall. Once nightly. Sat. continuous. Prices 4d. to 1s. Proscenium width 20ft, Phone Sheerness 255. Station, Queenborough, S.R. (Closed.) Bought during WWII by Charles Crathorn re-opened, re-named Ace. Closed c.1954. Demolished for house.

QUEENSBURY Middx

ESSOLDO / PLAZA Beverley Drive – Prop., Plaza (Queensbury). Ltd., 8 Clarges Street, London W.1. Phone Mayfair 8961.

QUEENSBURY Yorks

HALL OF FREEDOM / Hall of Freedom  S. Binns (1907) 1922 – Prop., Hall of Freedom Picture Co., Ltd. Res. Man., A. Gardner. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 3d. to 9d. Phone, Thornton 138. Station, Queensbury, G.N.R.

VICTORIA HALL / Victoria Hall  f., F. P. Rushworth (1907) 1922 KYB. By 1941: (BA) – Lessee, Greengates Cinema Co., Ltd. Phone Idle 288. 470 seats. Booked at Leeds. Once nightly. Mat, and two shows Sat. Prices 5d. to 1s. Proscenium width 26ft. Phone Queens­bury 2124. Films by Carrier from Leeds.

QUINTON West Mids

REEL / ODEON / ABC / CANNON / CLASSIC / ESSOLDO / DANILO  Hagley Road West (RCA)  Opened Bank Holiday Monday, 7^th August 1939 - Charlie Chan in Honolulu and Always in Trouble. Prop., Danilo circuit (Mortimer Dent). Architect: Ernest Roberts (orig plan by Andrew Mather). Prices 6d, 1/-, and 1/6. Café attached. To SM Super Cinemas 1946. To Essoldo with circuit 29^th October 1954, re-named 1957. To Classic with circuit 31^st March 1972 & re-named April. Tripled July 26^th 1973 – screen 1 Cabaret; screen 2 The Ten Commandments; and screen 3 The Sound of Music. Boxing Day 1978 fourth auditorium added – Watership Down. Café closed 1979. Mgr. 1984 Michael Jackson. May 1986 to Cannon, structurally altered, refurbished & re-named. To ABC & re-named. To Odeon & re-named. To Ward Anderson late 2005 as part of OFT requirement following Odeon/UCI merger. March 2006 to Reel Cinemas, Loughborough. Closed & demolished 2008. 

OAKDALE PICTURE HOUSE            Demolished.

OAKENGATES Salop

GROSVENOR CINEMA Market Street  Opened 19^th November 1923 – Who Are My Parents? Built on Owen’s Field, fairground site.  Prop., Pat Collins. Architects: ?Hickton & Framer. 700 seats. Mgr. Joe Proverbs (Chester de Luxe M.D.). 1926 sold to W. G. Allbritt. (WE) – Prop., H. M. Wright. Twice nightly. Prices 6d., 9d. and 1s. Phone Oakengates 48. Station, Oakengates. Closed 1^st April 1967.

REGENT Wrockwardine Road

OAKHAM Rutland

COUNTY / REGENT LUXURY THEATRE High Street  (RCA) Prop., T. E. H. Black. 171 Leicester Road, Blaby, Leicester. Phone 89296. 700 seats. Continuous from 5.30 p.m. daily. Prices 8d. to 1s. 10d. Phone 19. Station Oakham, L.M.S.

OAKHAM PICTURE THEATRE South Street  1932: Guy Daw­son, propr.

REGAL (GB) – Prop., Thos. E. H. Black, 171 Leicester Road, Blaby, Leicester. Phone 89296. 420 seats. Once nightly Mon. to Fri. Continuous Sat. from 6 p.m., and Mat. at 2.30. Prices 7d. to 1s. 6d. Phone 19. Station, Oakham, L.M.S.

ODIHAM Hants

REGAL (RCA)  Opened Monday 22^nd November 1937 – King Solomon’s Mines and The Mighty Treve. Prop., Regal (Odiham) Ltd. Architect: ?Harold S. Scott. 520 seats. Phone 164.             Continuous from 5.30, Sunday pm. Sat. mat. Prices 6d to 1/6. 1941 – Props., Regal (Odiham) Ltd., 89 Cornwall Street, Birmingham. Phone Central 7145. 498 seats. Prices 8d. to 2s.4d. Booked at Birmingham. Continuous evenings; mats. Wed. and Sat. Twice nightly Sun. Proscenium width 27ft. Phone Odiham 164. Station, Hook, S.R. Fitted ‘Ardente’ Deaf Aids. To Mayfair circuit. To Nigel Marsh Theatres. 1949 to O. & P Enterprises Ltd. (man. dir. M. Overmass). 50s cinema cat – ‘Scaramouche’. Closed Saturday 20^th June 1959 – Girls at Sea and Naked in the Sun. Equipment stripped & building sold. Motor shop. Demolished.

OKEHAMPTON Devon

CARLTON (1) St James Street  Opened 1937. Prop., W. E. Pope & Sons. Seats: 380. Closed April 2004. Projector to local museum. Derelict – demolished January/February 2007.

CARLTON (2) / Old Market Hall  Opened 22^nd December 2006. Prop., Merlin Cinemas. 2 screens – 160/60 seats.

PREMIER CINEMA / PICTURE PALACE Lodge Road (later Market Street)  Opened 1915 – conversion of draper’s shop. Architects: Blatchford & Dawe. 300 seats. 1922 – Prop., S. New­combe, Res. Man.., Mrs. Warley Higgins. One show nightly. Mat. Sat., Two changes weekly. Prices, 2½d. to 1s. 3d. 1939 prop. Simon Newcombe. By 1941 as Premier: (BTH) – Prop., S. Newcombe. 275 seats. Booked at Hall or 11 New Road, by C. Holmes. Continuous except Tues. and Fri., when from 7.30 o’clock only. Three shows Sat. Prices 6d. to 1s. 6d. Station, Okehampton, S.R. Closed 1960s. Supermarket. Later nightclub. Demolished by 2006.

OLDBURY Worcs

Bingo. Closed 1973? Demolished.

GAIETY MUSIC HALL  Opened 1888. Closed 1892.

GRAND THEATRE  Church Street  1922 – Prop., W. H. Vaughan. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 9d. Statign, Oldbury, L. N. W. R.

NEW PALACE of VARIETIES Freeth Street (BTP) – Props., Oldbury Palace Ltd., 109 Colmore Row, Birmingham. Phone Central 6370. Booked at Hall. Continuous. Pictures and Variety. Prices 3d. to 1s. 3d. Proscen­ium width 42ft. Stage22ft. deep; two dressing-rooms. Station, Oldbury L.M.S.

PALACE 1922 – Prop., C. H. Dent, Tamworth. Head office, Grand Theatre, Tamworth. Res. Man., G. E. Dent. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. Station, Oldbury, L.N.W.R. 130 miles.

Palace of Varieties / Museum Concert Hall ‘The Bird Show’  Opened 1860. Prop. Benjamin Sadler. Closed 1899. Other use.

PICTURE HOUSE  1922 – Prop., T. Leach, Res. an., G. Robbins. One show nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 4d. to 7d. Station, Oldbury, L.N.W.R.

REGENT  1941: (BA)

SAVOY PICTURE HOUSE Birmingham Street  (BTP) – 964 seats. Licensee, J. F. Emery Circuit, 26 cross Street, Manchester. Phone Bla 7876.                Booked at H.O. Continuous from 5.30 p.m., Mats., Mon. and Thurs. Prices 5d. to 1s. 2d. Phone Broadwell 1069. Station, Oldbury, L.M.S.

OLDHAM Lancs

ADELPHI MUSIC HALL Union Street  Opened 1868. Architect: -. Ashton. Closed 1874. Demolished 1875. Replaced by New Adelphi.  

ALHAMBRA PICTURE HOUSE  Horsedge Street  1937: (AWH) Prop., Shaw’s Amusements Ltd. 450 seats. 1941: (Imperial) – Props., Shaw Amusements. Ltd. 450 seats. Booked at Manchester. Evenings continuous. Mat., Sat, and holi­days. Two changes weekly. Prices 4d. to 7d. Station, Oldham Mumps.

BROWN’S PICTURE PALACE  Open by 1910.

CASINO CINEMA  Marks Circuit. 6, St. Mary’s Gate, Manchester.

COLISEUM THEATRE / COLOSSEUM THEATRE Fairbotton Street  Opened on present site 1887. Prop./ Architect/ builder: Thomas Whittaker. Some cinema use by 1910. Façade rebuilt and projection box added 1931. 1937 as Colosseum: (AWH) Prop., W. T. Grossman. 1,000 seats. SG46: Coliseum. Prop.: Oldham Repertory Theatre Club, Coliseum Theatre. Cap.: Stalls 334, D. circle 206, gallery 130. Once nightly 7. Matinées Tuesday and Saturday 2.30. Repertory. Stage: Pros. 26ft., height 18ft., min. depth from setting line 22ft. No flies. Elec. equip.: D.C. Footlights, four circuits with ind. dimmers. Two battens, each with four circuits with ind. dimmers. Spot bar with five spots, each ind. dimmer controlled, Six dips with ind. dimmers. Six floods on stands. Three f-o-h pre­set spots. Dressing rooms : 14 single. Orchestra: Acc. 12. No resident orchestra. Amplifying equip.: Two turn-table re­producer. F-o-h or stage. Microphone. Pros. renewed in 1963: 29 ½ft wide. New stage & fly-tower 1974.

COLOSSEUM Henshaw Street  Opened 1885 – wooden circus. Prop. Myers. Designer & builder: Thomas Whittaker – also prop. As Myers couldn’t pay. Converted for music hall, then plays. Closed 1887 and building moved – see Coliseum.

CONTINENTAL / VICTORY CINEMA / HIPPODROME / GAIETY / PRINCE’S / NEW ADELPHI MUSIC HALL Union Street  Opened August 1875. Architect: T. Crossley. 1880 pros. renewed. Architect: R. Owen. Re-named Prince’s for drama. 1881 re-named Gaiety – variety. 1906 re-named Hipp. Cinema use by 1910. Closed 1919. Converted to cinema. Architects: Roberts & Taylor. 1920 re-opened as Victory. 1937 as Vic: (BTP) Prop., H. D. Moorhouse Circuit. Phone Main 1120. 1941: (BTP) – Prop., Pavilion Cinemas (Oldham) Ltd. 7 Oxford Street, Manchester. 974 seats. Continuous evenings. Twice nightly Sat. and holidays. Mat. daily. Booked at H.O. Phone Main 1120. Station, Oldham. Re-named Continental. Closed to film 1970. Bingo. Closed. 1978 foyer to amusement arcade, auditorium empty.

COSY CINEMA Bridge Street  1937: (Private) Prop., Shaw’s Amusements Ltd. 420 seats. 1941: (BTP) – Props., Shaw’s Amusements, Ltd., Bridge Street, Oldham. 450 seats. Continuous nightly. Daily Mat. Twice nightly Sat. Prices 4d. to 7d. Station, Oldham (Mumps).

ELECTRACEUM King Street  1937: (BTP) Prop., Land and Buildings Ltd. 850 seats. 1941: (BTP) – Props., Oldham District Land & Builders’ Society. 820 seats. Booked at Hall. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices 4d. to 8d. Proscenium width 26ft. Phone Main 1216. Station, Central

EMERALD HALL CINEMA  Opened 1910.

EMPIRE THEATRE Waterloo Street  Opened 1897. Architect: Sir Sidney Scott. Cinema use by 1910. By 1941: (BTH) -Props., Pavilion Cinemas (Oldham) Ltd., Oxford Road, Manchester. Booked at H.O. 1,534 seats Continuous evenings. Twice nightly Sat. Mat. daily. Phone Oldham Main 4362. Station, Oldham Mumps, L.M.S. 1937: (BTH) Prop., H. D. Moorhouse Circuit    . Phone Main 4362. SG46: Prop.: Pavilion Cinema (Oldham) Ltd., Imperial Buildings, Oxford Road, Manchester, 1. Bookings: The H. D. Moorhouse Circuit, Imperial Build­ings, 7 Oxford Road, Manchester, 1. Cap.: O. stalls 221, C. stalls 252, arena 336, P. stalls 309, D. circle 416. Barring clause : Two weeks after. Six miles (including Rochdale & Ashton-under-­Lyne). Once nightly 7. Twice nightly 6.20 and 8.30. Stage : Pros. 32ft., height 26ft., min. depth from setting line 19ft. (with 9ft. apron stage) height under fly galleries 22ft., width between fly galleries 41ft., height of grid from stage 43ft. 6 in. No counterweight gear. 25 sets lines. Elec. equip.: 2301400 v. A.C., 50 cycles. Footlights, four circuits with ind. dimmers. Four battens, each with four circuits with ind. dimmers. Four dips with ind. dimmers. Also dips switch controlled. Two spots on stands. Four floods on stands. Nine f-o-h pre-set spots with ind. dimmers, One f-o-h following lime. Two perch following limes. Dressing rooms: Ten sing)e, one chorus, acc. 12. Orchestra: Acc. 14. Resident 11 with M.D. (three violins, piano, two trumpets, trombone, bass, ‘cello, clarinet and sax, drums). Amplifying equip.: Two turn-table re­producer. F-o-h and stage. Microphone. Refreshments are obtainable from Mrs. Green, facing stage door. Closed 1969. Demolished 1981.

GAUMONT  King Street  Opened 14^th June 1937 – reconstruction of Grand. Architect: W. E. Trent. 1,911 seats. 1937: Prop., A.P.P.H. Ltd. 1941: Props., Gaumont Super Cinemas Ltd. 1,842 seats. Prices 9d. to 1s. 10d. Continuous. Station, Mumps, Oldham. Fitted ‘Ardente’ Deaf Aids. Closed 2^nd December 1961. 1962: Bowling, then ballroom, later nightclub. Empty.

GEM PICTURE HOUSE Suffolk Street, Werneth   1937: (WE) Prop., J. Covell. 1,167 seats. Phone Main 1920. 1941: (WE) – Props., Gem Pictures (Oldham) Ltd. 1,167 seats. Booked at Hall. Con­tinuous nightly Mon. to Fri. Twice nightly Sat. Mats. Mon., Thurs. and Sat. Prices 4d. to 9d. Proscenium width 20ft. Phone Main 920. Station, Oldham (Werneth) L.M.S.

GRAND THEATRE & OPERA HOUSE King Street/Union Street  Opened 1908. Architect: Thomas Taylor (+ London specialist). Cinema operation by 1910. Bought by Gaumont-British and closed 1936 – total internal auditorium re-construction as Gaumont.

GROSVENOR SUPER CINEMA Union Street  1937: (WE) Prop., Picture Hse. (Oldham) 1927 Ltd. 1,114 seats. Phone Main 4423. 1941: (WE) – Props., Picture House (Oldham) 1927, Ltd. 1,072 seats. Three shows daily. Booked by C. Ogden, 196, Deansgate, Manchester. Prices 6d. to 1s. 6d. Proscenium width 26ft. Phone Main 4463. Station, Oldham (Central) L.M.S.

IMPERIAL  Featherstall Road North  1937: (WE) Prop., J. Cheetham. 801 seats. Phone Main 1498. 1941: (WE) – Props., Palatine Cinema Co., Ltd. 801 seats. Booked at Hall. One show nightly. Two on Sat. Prices 3d. to 8d. Phone 1498. Station, Oldham (Werneth) L.M.S.

KING’S PICTURE HALL Fairbottom Street   1937: (BTH) Prop., Albion Picture Hall (Oldham) Ltd. Phone Main 1403. 1941: (BTH) – Props., Albion Picture Hall (O/M) Ltd.: man. dir., A. F. Rountree. 1,600 seats. Continuous evenings from 6.30p.m., Mats. daily from 2.30. Phone Main 1403. Station, Oldham Mumps.

ODEON THEATRE Union Street (BTH)  Opened 19^th August 1936 – The Baxter Millions. Architect: (Harry Weedon) – internal reconstruction of Palace. 1,689 OR 1,707 seats (1,122/585). Phone Main 1328. By 1941: Props., Odeon Theatres, Ltd., Old County Cinema, Marlow,  Bucks. Phone Marlow 695-9. Booked at Moor Hall, Cookham, Berks. Continuous. Prices 9d. to 1s. 10d. Stage. Eight dressing-rooms. Main 1328. Tripled 14^th July 1974. Closed 29^th October 1983. Empty. Demolished 1992 for council building.

Osborne Hall  Opened as cinema by 1910.

PALACE THEATRE of VARIETIES Union Street  Opened 1908. Architect: Bertie Crewe. Cinema operation by 1910. Bought by Odeon and closed c.1936 for reconstruction as Odeon.

PALLADIUM  Union Street  Opened September 1913. Architect: Thomas Hilton. To ABC c1935. 1937: (WE) Prop., A.B.C. Ltd. 1,918 seats. Phone Main 1027. 1941: (WE) – Props., Associated British Cinemas, Ltd., 30/31 Golden Square W1. Gerr. 7881. 1,841 seats. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Phone Oldham Main 1027. Station, Oldham (Central) L.M.S. Closed 1958. Re-constructed 1959. 1,456 seats. Closed 1^st October 1977. Sold. Bingo. Re-opened as circle cinema December 1985. 420 seats. Closed 5^th June 1986. Bingo. Demolished 1990.

PAVILION PICTURE PALACE  High Street, Lees   1937: (El’cord) Prop., H. Ward. 600 seats. Phone Main 1768. 1941: (BTH) – Prop., Harold Ward, 6 Brown Street, Manchester 2. Phone Deansgate 3542. 600 seats. Booked at H.O. Continu­ous. Prices 4d. to 9d. Phone Main 1768. Station, Lees, near Oldham.

QUEEN’S CINEMA  Opened 1910.

ROXY Hollins Road, Hollinwood  Opened 1937.  7 screens Seats: 1:470 2:130 3:260 4:260 5:320 6:96 7:? Closed end September 2005. Demolished immediately.

ROYAL COURT (1)  Opened 1892. Destroyed by fire 1906. Replaced by R Ct 2.

ROYAL COURT (2)  Opened 1907. Architect: -. Turner. Closed 1960. Demolished 1966.

SAVOY CINEMA Huddersfield Road  1937: (BTP) Prop., Savoy Entertainments Ltd. 850 seats. Phone Main 2618.        1941: (BTP) – Prop., Savoy Entertainments (Oldham) Ltd. 735 seats. Booked at Hall. Continuous. Twice nightly Sat. Three Mats, weekly. Billiards room attached. Prices 6d. to 10d. Sats., 1s. 2d. Phone Main 2618. Station, Oldham (Mumps).

St. George’s Hall  Open as cinema by 1910.

TEMPERANCE HALL  Open as cinema by 1910.

THEATRE ROYAL  Opened 1898. Architect: -. Cook. Cinema use by 1910. 1937: (WE) Prop., Theatre Royal (Oldham) Ltd. 1,044 seats. Phone Main 2549. 1941: (WE) – Prop., Theatre Royal (Oldham) Ltd., F. E. Spring, 3 The Parson­age, Manchester. Phone Bla 7905. 1,200 seats. Variety, Repertory, Revue. Twice nightly. Booked by Prop. Prices 5d. to 2s. Proscenium width 30ft. Stage 40ft. deep; twelve dressing-rooms. Phone Main 2549. Station, Oldham (Mumps) L.M.S. SG46: Prop., Theatre Royal (Oldham) Ltd., Horsedge Street, Oldham, Bookings: Mannie Jay, Chandos House, 45-46, Chandos Place, London W.C.2. Cap.: Stalls 181, P. stalls 200, D. circle 180, U. circle 201, gallery 400. Twice nightly 6.20 and 8.20. Saturday matinée on special occasions. Repertory at present. Stage : Pros. 30ft., height 50ft., min. depth from setting line 40ft., height under fly galleries 20ft., width between fly galleries 50ft., height of grid from stage 70ft. No counterweight gear. 60 lines. Elec. equip.: 230 v. D.C. and A.C., 50 cycles. Footlights, three circuits with ind. dimmers. Four battens, each with three circuits with ind. dimmers. Spot bar with six spots, each with ind. dimmers, Eight dips with ind. dimmers, Eight dips switch controlled. Six spots on stands. Four floods on stands. Three f-o-h pre-set spots with ind. dimmers, Dressing rooms : One single, ten chorus, acc. 30. Band room. Orchestra : Acc. 12. Resident, for repertory three. Amplifying equip. : Microphone. Two bars, dress circle and stalls. Closed 1954. Demolished 1967.

VENTO’s PALACE of VARIETIES / PEOPLE’S  Opened 1891. Demolished.

OLD HILL  Staffs

GRAND THEATRE  1922 - Prop., B. P. Priest. Res. Man., Geo. C. Smith. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 4d. to 1s. Phone, Cradley, 161. Station, Old Hill, G. W.R. By 1941: (WE) – Prop., B. P. Priest. 890 seats. Booked at Hall. Continuous Tues., Wed., Thurs. and Fri. Twice nightly. Mon. and Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices 8d. to 1s. Phone Cradley 6161. Station, Old Hill, G.W.R.

OLLERTON Notts

PICTURE HOUSE

OLNEY Bucks

ELECTRIC CINEMA  82 High Street  1937: (Mihaly) J. E. Poyntz. 400 seats. 1941: (Mihaly) – Prop., J. E. Poyntz. 400 seats. Booked at Scala, Oxford. Once nightly. Three shows Sat. Prices 6d. to 1s. 3d. Stage 20ft. deep; two dressing-rooms. Station, Olney, Former chapel. Now converted to residence.

NEW HALL, PICTURE HOUSE  1922 – Prop. and Res., Man,, Harry Clifford. One show nightly, two on Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. 3d. Station, Olney M.R.

ONCHAN I.o.M.

The AVENUE / AVENUE KINEMA  1937: Prop., Onchan Picture House, Ltd. 850 seats. 1941: (BTH) – Props., Onchan Cinemas, Ltd., c /o Gaiety Theatre, Douglas, IO.M. Continuous Mon., Thurs. and Sat, only, once nightly Sun. 875 seats. Prices 6d., 1s. and 1s. 3d. Proscenium width 34ft. Booked at Liverpool. Stage 13ft. Three dressing-rooms. Phone Douglas 1331. Sta­tion, Douglas.

ORFORD Suffolk

-Wed. Travelling show – H. Sultings.

ORKNEY

Kirkwall

NEW PHOENIX (1999)

PHOENIX  Opened 1955. Closed 1998. Demolished 2004.

ORMSKIRK  Lancs

PAVILION Moorgate  Opened c.1911. Architect: Herbert Langman, ARIBA, Southport. Prop., Lancashire Picturedromes Ltd. 500 seats. By 1927 Prop., E. W. Locke, Liverpool. Sound: Culey. To F. Donaldson 1936: (WE) Prop., F. Donaldson. 550 seats. Phone 269.          1941: (WE) – Prop., F. G. Donaldson, Ormes Buildings, Parsonage, Manchester. Phone Blackfriars 7242. 524 seats. Booked at Manchester. Continuous evenings, Mon. to Fri. Twice nightly Sat. and holidays. Prices 8d. to 1s. 2d. Phone 269. Station, Ormskirk, L.M.S. 1955 to Arthur Prince. 1959 to Mrs Lillian Prince. 1979 adult prices, 85p. and 75p. Closed Saturday 19^th December 1981 – Friday 13^th Part 2 and The Warriors. Incorporated into indoor market with upstairs bar – Brahms & Liszt.

REGAL  Church Street  Opened 1935. 1,000 seats. 1937: (WE) Prop., Regal (Ormskirk) Ltd. 1,100 seats. 1941: (WE) – Props., Regal (Ormskirk) Ltd., 10 Dale Street, Liverpool. Phone Central 4757. Continuous nightly. Two shows Sat. Daily Mat. Prices 8d. to 1s. 2d. evenings. Mats., 5d. and 8d. Booked at Clubmoor Cinema. Proscenium width 34ft. Phone 444. Station, Ormskirk. Closed mid-60s. Now Tesco.
ROSE THEATRE Opened for occasional film 7^th February 2007 – The Warriors.

Working Men’s Institute f., E. A. Poole (1907) Early film shows. Ceased when Pavilion opened.

ORPINGTON Kent

Perry Hall  Messrs. Hawthorne & King. Licensed. (KYB14)

CARLTON / PALACE / PICTURE PALACE  Opened 1914. Prop. & Res. Man., A. Spencer-May. 400 seats. 1917 prices, 4d to 1s. 1922 – Prop. & Res. Man., A. Spencer-May. Two shows daily. Two changes weekly. 1941: (Kamm) Booked at 243 High Street, Orpington. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices 6d. to 1s. 6d. Phone Orpington 1000. Station, Orpington, S.R.  Re-named 1951. Closed 19^th September 1959 – The Admirable Crichton and Song of India. Demolished.

COMMODORE THEATRE Sevenoaks Road (Kamm- c.1946 GB-Kalee) Opened 4^th December 1933. Architects: Kemp & Tasker. Prop., Commodore Cinema (Orpington) Ltd. (A. Spencer-May) 1,000 seats (actually 820). Organ; Christie 3c/5. 1941: Prices 9d. to 2s. Café attached. Phone Orpington 1000. Station, Orpington, S.R. CinemaScope c.1955. To Shipman & King. To EMI. Closed 8^th May 1982 – The Challenge and Budo – The Art of Killing. No bingo. Demolished 1983.

Village Hall  f., F. G. Hodsoll (1907)

ORRELL   nr. Wigan Lancs

MAJESTIC Sefton Road  1937: Prop., Vickers Entertainments (Liverpool) Ltd. 490 seats. 1941: (RCA) Sefton Road, Orrell  - Props., Vickers Entertainments, Ltd., 11–13 Victoria Street, Liverpool. Phone Bank 4860 – 1; 491 seats. Prices 5d. to 9d. Once nightly, Mon., to Fri.; Twice Sats. Mats. Mon., Wed. and Sat. Booked at Lyceum, Garston. Phone Upholland 129. Station, Orrell.

ORTON  Cumb

CINEMA 16mm. ?part-time 1954 J. M. Wheatman of Kendal.

OSSETT Yorks

PALLADIUM Town Hall Square  Opened 22^nd December 1913 - Greater love hath no man. Prop., The Newtown Picture Palace Co. Ltd. Cross Stamford Street Leeds.  The Ossett Observer described is as ‘a comfortable, pleasant building’, and noted that it was well ventilated with an electric fan in the roof and that it was warmed by a ‘hot water apparatus’. It could seat 800 principally on plush-covered tip-up seats. (Kate Taylor) 1920: Res. man. Mrs. E. F. Wilson. Two shows nightly, 3 on Mon. & Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices 5d. to 1s. Licensed for music. Voltage 230. 1922 – Prop., Newtown Picture Palace Co., Ltd. Res. Man., Archie Wilson. Two shows nightly. Mat. Mon. & Sat. Three changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. Phone 157. Station, Ossett, G.N.R. WE sound installed c.1930. c.June 1934 – External re-decoration and frontage and name sign outlined in red neon. (CTGC) 846 seats. By 1941 – Prop., Palladium (Ossett) Ltd. 700 seats. Booked by Mr. Friedman, 2, Bristol Street, Leeds. Twice nightly. Mat., Mon. and Sat. Prices 8d. and 1s. Phone 157. Station, Ossett, L.N.E.R. By 1955 680 seats. Closed. Demolished.

Temperance Hall  f., W. Hainsworth (1907)

Town Hall Town Hall Square  Opened June 1908. Town Hall Pictures (KYB14) Not in KYB20. Organ: Compton 3/13 (10 units Compton, 3 Christie) movable console+piano installed 1970.

OSWALDTWISTLE Lancs

EMPIRE PICTURE PALACE Union Road  1937: (B.T.P.) Prop., T. C. Whittaker. 475 seats. Phone Accrington 3073. 1941: (BTP) – Props., J. C. Whitaker & W. Reader. 560 seats. Two shows nightly. Mats., Mon., Wed. and Sat. Two changes weekly. Prices 4d. to 9d.

PALACE CINEMA  Rhyddings Street  1937: (B.T.P.) Prop., E. Wardle. 840 seats. Phone Acc’ton 2980. 1941: (BTP) – Prop., Queen’s Hall (Church) Ltd. 721 seats. One show nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices 5d. to 8d. Phone Accrington 2980.

PALLADIUM Union Road  1937: (W.E.) Prop., Regent Circuit Ltd. 1,058 seats. Phone Accrington 2825. 1941: (WE) – Prop., Associated British Cinemas, Ltd., 30-3 1, Golden Square W1. Phone Gerrard 7887. 1,027 seats. Continuous. Mats. Mon. Wed, and Sat. Booked at H.O. Two changes weekly. Proscenium width 18ft. Phone Accrington 2825. Station, Church and Oswaldtwistle, L.M.S. For sale 2004.

PLAZA  1937: () Prop., Oswaldtwistle Picture Hall Ltd. 969 seats. Phone .

Town Hall  f., C. H. Ogden.

OSWESTRY Shropshire

CENTURY / KING’S THEATRE (2) New Street (BTH)  Opened 17^th April 1933. Architects: Bradley & Clarke. 1,100 seats. 1^st Chief: Richard Thomas Smith. Kalee 8s. 1934: Granada as share-holder. By 1941 – Prop. Wm. C. Hill Black. Booked at Hall. Continuous. Prices 7d. to 1s. 8d. Proscenium width 27ft. Phone Oswestry 148. Station, Oswestry, G.W.R. Granada take-over. By 1945 mgr. R. N. Jones. 1955, re-named. Closed to film 4^th January 1966. Bingo to 1998. Empty. Converted to Wilkinson’s store.

CINEMA PALACE Salop Road  1922 – Prop. & Res. Man., Arthur Browne. Continuous. Mat, Sat, Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. 3d. Station, Oswestry, G.W.R.

Circus Pitch (1907)

GRANADA / REGAL Cross Street (WE)  Opened 22^nd May 1933. Architect: Lionel A. G. Pritchard. 1,080 seats. Prop., Oswestry Regal Cinema Co., Ltd. 1934: Granada as share-holder. By 1941: Controlled by The Granada Theatres Ltd., 36, Golden Square W1. Gerrard 3554. Booked at H.O. Continu­ous. Phone Oswestry 230. . By 1945 mgr. R. N. Jones. Granada take-over 1955. V. W. Freeman, House Manager. Closed, re-furbished. Re-opened as Granada 1956. Closed 194. Re-opened as Regal by independent 1976. Twinned 1985. 3^rd screen 1987. Then 1 screen & nightclub. Closed 16^th June 1994. Empty. Now store.

KING’S THEATRE (1) New Street  Prop., Wm. C. Hill Black. Closed c.1933. Demolished for King’s (2)

PLAZA Oswald Road (BTH) – Prop., Wm. C. Hill Black, King’s Theatre, Oswestry. Booked at King’s Theatre. Continuous. Prices 7d. to 1s. 2d. Phone 148. Station, Oswestry, G.W.R.

Public Hall  f., Manager  (1907)

Victoria Rooms  Wallace Ollerhead  (1907)

OTLEY nr Leeds Yorks

BURRAS LANE PICTURE HOUSE / PICTURE HOUSE  Burras Lane Opened 25^th November 1912 – Charge of the Light Brigade, Lion Let Loose (in Gaumont colour), and The Redemption of Red Rube. Conversion of printer engineer’s works. 500 seats – one raked floor. Prices 2d, 4d, 6d, and 9d reserved. Continuous 6.30-10.30pm. Power: 14½h.p. ‘National’ gas engine & dynamo. Two projectors ‘Kalee’, and ‘a powerful machine from the New Century Film Services’. Closed on 22nd April 1922 as same company opened Picture House Kirkgate. Reopened Monday 18^th September, under new management, re-named. Iris from Monday to Wednesday, and The Silent Avenger remainder of the week. Probably closed 28^th February 1931 – road widening.

KING’S HALL     Station Road  Opened c.5thMay 1911 – Racing at Epsom, Flying at Brooklands, Paris Fashions, True to his Post, The Faith of a Child, and Pathé Gazette. Owner/lessee J. N. O. Lawson. 500 seats – single floor. Hall 60ft long, 50ft wide, 18ft floor to ceiling. Power: 13hp gas engine & dynamo. Pathé projector. Prices 3d, 6d, and 1/-. Once nightly at 8pm; 3pm, 6.30pm, and 8pm Saturdays. Closed end June 1912, reopened 22^nd August – Mrs ‘Enery ‘Awkins and A Trail Through the Hills. 1919 prop. Mrs. Lumby, mgr A. L. Horton, February replaced by C. Pickard. Closed Saturday 5^th July 1924, reopened 25^th August – The Old Nest. New Years Day 1925 re-named ‘The Kings’. 2^nd May closed – ‘alterations and improvements’. Reopened Monday 31^st August – Ghosts of Yesterday. Closed to film 30^th April 1927. Various entertainments. Now industrial use.

Mechanics’ Insti­tute  Opened 31^st October 1871. Cost £4,000. f., Curator (1907)  Films shown at intervals from 27^th March 1897 to November 1910.

PICTURE HOUSE Kirkgate  Opened Saturday 22^nd April 1922 Through the Back Door and The Mollycoddle. Prices 3d, 5d, 9d, 1/3, and 1/10. 1925: 7pm Monday to Friday, 2pm, 6pm, and 8pm Saturdays. Closed 11^th April 1931, re-opened 12^th October – A.W.H. sound – The Big Pond. 25^th November 1932 taken over by Otley Entertainments Ltd., man. dir. H. Watkinson, others Fred Waite, P. Raymond, and A. H. Taylor. Closed during summer till 1940. To Star circuit 1945 with the Beech Hill. CinemaScope 4^th July 1955 – Ring of Fear and Sitting Bull. Closed 1959. Converted to shops.

QUEEN’S THEATRE / GRAND THEATRE / QUEEN’S HALL / Recreation Hall  Opened as Rec. Hall 1895. Prop. Henry Dacre. Interior decorated as Winter Garden. 6^th February 1911 Globe Cinematograph Company two shows daily. Films ceased beginning of May when King’s Hall opened. Grand Theatre opened in the Queen’s Hall 5^th July 1915. Sole Mgr  John Chippendale, ass mgr George Beasley – Mrs. H. Sherwood’s Company Never Worry. Twice nightly 6.30pm and 9pm. 1919 lessees Horace West & Walter Cunliffe, also manager, Thornbury Avenue, Bradford. Saturday night concerts, Tuesday special dances, and Wednesday concerts. Hall could be hired for balls, reception, and meetings. 1921 lessees Bentley & Stead. Mainly variety. Queen’s Theatre closed 25^th February 1928, re-opened 2^nd April, lessee J. A. Hesseldean. September 1929 management Tom Fleming. Revue and variety, musical comedy, pantomime. Prices orchestra stalls 1/-, balcony 1/6, side balcony 1/-, stalls 6d, and pit 3d. Closed c.February 1933. Various uses.

STAR / BEECH HILL CINEMA Beech Hill (WE)  Opened 20^th October 1930. Prop., Otley Entertainments Company Ltd., who also owned the Otley Picture House. Architect: Oswald Holmes. 750 persons (later 600). Holophane colour lighting. Screen l6ft by l3ft 6ins. Prices 1/3d, 1/-, 9d, and 6d. Manager H. Watkinson (also director). To Star circuit 1945 & re-named. Fred Watson mgr. Cinemascope 21^st February 1955 - Lucky Me. Part-time Star bingo from Thursday l6th November 1967. Closed to film Saturday 3^rd February 1968 – Triple Cross and Payment in Kind. Bingo. Closed. Empty. Demolished autumn 1999.

WESTGATE CINEMA Westgate (AWH)  580 seats. Demolished January 2005.

OTTERY St. MARY Devon

SCALA PICTURE THEATRE / The PALACE  / PALACE THEATRE CINEMA 8 Jesu Street  Opened 1918. 1922 – Prop. E. R. F. Coleberd, Res. man. J. H. Moyam. One show nightly and Sat, mat. Winter, three shows weekly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 2s. 4d. 1937 as Scala: (Morrison) Prop., Wessex Cinemas Ltd. 217 seats. By 1941: (Morrison) – Honiton Cinema, Ltd., High Street, Honiton. 220 seats. Booked at H.O. Once nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices 6d. to 1s. 6d. Proscenium width 21ft. Stage 10ft. deep. Phone 100. Station, Ottery St. Mary (S.R.). Films by Road Transport. Closed 1960s, now a shop.

Town Hall J. Warne  (1907)

OUNDLE Northants

VICTORIA / Queen Victoria Hall f., R. Knight  (1907)   Built . Pop., Council. General entertainment inc. early films. By 1941 – Two shows Sat. only.

Town Hall  A. King  (1907)

OUTWELL Norfolk

CINEMA  Closed. Empty. Sold. Auditorium to residence, foyer retail. (Maurice Brader)

OUTWOOD nr Wakefield Yorks

EMPIRE  Opened 1921. Prop., Rothwell Empire, Ltd. Mgr. Reg. Harrison. (BTH) – Prop., Rothwell Empire, Ltd., Leeds Road, Outwood. 750 seats. Booked at Hall. One show nightly, Prices 4d. to 10d. Pros.width, 28ft. Phone Lofthouse Gate 7169. Station, Lofthouse for Outwood. Closed to film 1^st August 1964. Empty. Sold for bingo 1967. By 2006 – fish & chip emporium.

OVENDEN Yorks

RITX / PIONEER PICTURE HOUSE  Whestley Lane  (BTH) Prop., Ovenden Pioneer Picture House Co, Ltd., Wheatley Lane, Lee Mount, Halifax. 700 seats. Booked at Hall by Man. Con­tinuous. Prices 4d. to 1s. Phone Halifax 2004. Station, Ovenden (Parcel Office).

OVERTON-on-DEE

VILLAGE HALL CINEMA

OWSTON FERRY Lincs

Coronation Hall High Street – touring cinema run by  -. Booth & Wilf Lindley; showed films one night a week

Public Hall T. Clark  (1907)

OXFORD Oxon

CINEMA High Street Watlington  Opened late 30s. Props., local businessmen George & Ernest Worley. Community hall 700 – 900 seats in stalls & balcony. Programme change twice weekly. Sold c.1946 but continued as a cinema, interspersed with some stage shows.

Clarendon Assembly Rooms S. W. Buris  (1907)

ELECTRA PALACE  Queen Street  Opened 25^th March 1911. Prop., Electra Palace (Oxford) Ltd. Mgr. L. F. Belcham. Cap. 1,000. Frontage widened 1913. Enlarged c.1920. 1922 – Prop., Electra Palace (Oxford), Ltd., Res. Man., G. E. B. Parr. Continuous. Two changes weekly. To Union June 1931. 1,078 seats. By 1941: (WE) – Props., Union Cinemas, Ltd., Union House, 15 Regent Street, London, S.W.1. Phone Whitehall 8484. Continuous, Booked at H.O. Café attached. Phone Oxford 2990. Stations, Oxford, G.W.R. Films by Road Transport. Closed 23 August 1958. Annexe to Co-op. Demolished for M&S.

GEORGE STREET CINEMA / CINEMATOGRAPH THEATRE 32 George Street  Opened 23^rd March 1912. Architect: Gilbert W. Booth. Prop., Oxford Cinematograph Theatre Ltd. 608 seats. 1922 – Prop., Oxford Cinematograph Theatre Co., Ltd. Res. Man., H. G. Wilson. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. 10d. Phone 676. Station, Oxford, G.W.R. Closed 27^th March 1935. Demolished as part of Ritz site.

MAJESTIC Botley   Built 1930 as skating rink. Architect: J. R. Wilkes. Converted to cinema 1932. To Union, thence ABC. By 1941: (BTH) – Props., Union Cinemas Ltd., 15 Regent Street, W.1. Phone Whitehall 8484. Booked at H.O. Continuous. Dance Hall attached. Phone Oxford 3727. Requisitioned at WWII outbreak. Never re-opened. Evacuees – Industrial/ retail. Demolished c.1990.

NOT THE MOULIN ROUGE / MOULIN ROUGE / HEADINGTON CINEMA New High Street  Opened 1910. Prop., E. J. Hall. Cap. 500. Prosc. 22ft. wide. By 1941: (FI) – E. James Hall. 600 seats. Booked at Hall. Continuous from 2 p.m. Prices 8d. to 2s. 6d. Proscenium width 21ft. Phone Headington 6718. Station, Oxford, G.W.R. To W. Maelor-Jones 1970s. re-named Moulin Rouge.  Prices, 4s. to 6s. 509 seats. Closed 27^th August 1977. re-opened 29^th August. closed again soon after.  1981 to Penultimate mgment. Re-opened as Not the MR. Closed 1991 through lock-out. Demolished immediately. 

NEW THEATRE (1) George Street  Opened 1868. Burned down c.1885.

NEW THEATRE (2) George Street (No 2)  Opened 1886. Architect: Drinkwater. T. Lucas  (1907) Altered c.1908. Architect: W. G. R. Sprague. Pictures & variety. To Stanley Dorrill – Oxford Theatre Co. Closed 1933 & demolished for New (3).

NEW THEATRE / APOLLO THEATRE / NEW THEATRE (3) George Street  Opened 26^th February 1934. ‘England’s Finest Theatre’ on façade. Architects: W. & T. R. Milburn, interior T. P. Bennett. SG46: Prop.: The Oxford Theatre Company, Ltd., New Theatre, Oxford. Cap.: Stalls 719, circle 568, balcony 423. Barring clause: Within 30 miles of Oxford prior to or for one month after engagement. Once nightly 6.30 (subject to alteration). Matinées Wednes­day and Saturday 2. Twice nightly 6.30 and 8,50. Saturday matinée occasionally. Theatrical, variety, revue and celebrityé Stage: Prosc. 45ft., height 24ft., 6 in., min. depth from setting line 36ft., height under fly galleries 23ft., width between fly galleries 60ft., height of grid from stage 60ft. Counterweight gear installed. 62 sets lines in all (50 working sets). 20 hemp lines. Revolving stage 35ft. dia. Elec. equip.: 230-400 v. A.C., 50 cycles. Footlights four circuits with ind. dimmers. Five battens each with four- circuits with ind. dimmers. Spot bar with 12 spots, each ind. dimmer controlled. Four spots on stands. Six floods on stands. Four towers. Eight f-o-h pre-set spots. Three f-o-h following limes. Dressing rooms: 10 single, five chorus acc. 71. Sep. room for orchestra. Orchestra: Acc. 24. Resident 12 (three violins, ‘cello, bass, flute (sax.) clarinet (sax.) two trumpets, trombone, piano, drums and tymps.). Amplifying equip.: Equipment for stand­ard and table microphones available. Bathrooms for artists. Lift. 1970s to Howard & Wyndham. To Apollo Leisure. GK 21s installed – periscope projection. 1,692 seats. Still open as tour date.

 ODEON Magdalen Street / MGM / CANNON / ABC Magdalen Street / SUPER / OXFORD  Magdalen Street  Opened 1^st January 1924 – The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Architects: Frank Matcham (the office – he had died) & J. C. Leed. Prices, 9d, 1/3, 1/10, & 2/4d. 1,300 seats. 1928 organ: Spurden Rutt 2/8. WE sound January 1930 – Broadway Melody. To Union & re-named 1931. 1,195 seats. Closed July 1971. Luxury lounge treatment & re-named ABC July 1971. 860 seats. To Cannon. To MGM. To ABC until May 2001; conversion to two screens completed at that time by converting circle to luxury screen. Twinned: seats: 1:596 2:61.

ODEON George Street / ABC / MGM / CANNON / ABC / RITZ  George Street  Opened 20^th April 1936 – The Guv’nor + variety. Architect Robert Cromie. Organ: Compton 3/6+melotone with illuminated console on lift and phantom grand piano. 1,654 seats. Prices 9d. to 3s. Re-named c.1962. Stalls fire April 1963. Repaired, organ removed. re-opened October 1963. Closed August 1975. Tripled from November 1975 (screens 2& 3 in December). Re-named Odeon May 2001 converted to 6 screens. Seats: 1:260 2:260 3:111 4:140 5:239 6:129

OZONE Ozone Leisure Park, Genoble Park:  12 screens planned, only nine opened. 1:378 5:194 6:451 7:119 8:156 9:194 10:153 11:102 12:102 To Vue Cinemas autumn 2005.

PALACE CINEMA / EAST THEATRE / EAST OXFORD THEATRE / EMPIRE Cowley Road  Built as Assembly Room 1890. 1902 converted to Emp. Architect: Ward. Albany Ward’s first theatre. Albany Ward  (1906). Opened as East Oxford Th 1906. 1910 650 seats. 25^th March 1911 re-opened as E O Pic Th. 400 seats.1922 – Prop., Brayne & Morley. Res. Man., W. T. Brayne. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. 5d. Phone 102. To Union c.1932. To independent 1938. By 1940: (WE) – Con­tinuous. Prices 6d. to 2s. Phone 4022. Station, Oxford, G.W.R., or  Road Transport. Closed c.1940. Demolished 1982. Offices.

PHOENIX PICTURE HOUSE  / STUDIO 1 & 2 / SCALA / NORTH OXFORD KINEMA  58 Walton Street  Opened c.March 1913.  Prop., R. H. J. Bartlett. Cap. 500. May 1913 mgr. William Bex. Gaumont Chrono installed. 1918 to Pooles. 1922 – Prop., C. W. Poole’s Entertainments. Res. Man., F. G. Poole. Continuous. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. 6d. Phone, Oxford 867. Station, Oxford, G.W.R. 2 screens 1: 220 2: 105. By 1939 prop. J. E. Poyntz. To Star circuit 1960s. twinned 1971. Re-opened as Studios – 236/140 seats. to Contemporary Films 1977. Re-named. 234/95 seats. By 1985 to City Cinemas Ltd. Re-furbished. Seats: 1:220 2:105

PICTURE HOUSE / OXFORD ELECTRIC Castle Street  Opened 1910. Cap. 300. 1922 as PH – Prop., Malcolm Hamlet. Res. Man., L. J. Belchman. Two changes weekly. Prices, 5d. to 1s. 5d. Station, Oxford, G.W.R. Closed c.1924.

PLAYHOUSE  Beaumont Street  Opened 1938. Architect: Edward Maufe. SG46: Cap.: 800. Lesseeship in abeyance, January, 1946.

PREMIER PICTURE PALACE Middle Barton

REGAL  Cowley Road/Magdalen Road Cowley  (WE)  Opened 19^th April 1937. Architect: Robert Cromie. Prop., Union circuit. Organ: 3c/5+melotone with illuminated console on lift. 1,674 seats. To ABC October 1937. 1938 organ removed (to Keighley). By 1941 – Props., Union Cinemas, Ltd., Union House, 25 Regent Street, London, S.W.1. Phone Whitehall 8484. Continuous. Booked at H.O. Phone Oxford 4234. Station, Oxford, G.W.R. & L.M.S. Films by Road Transport. Fitted ‘Ardente’ Deaf Aids. Closed to film July 1970. Bingo. Listed Grade II. Closed 2004. Gala bingo relocated. Empty.

Town Hall and Corn Exchange The Curator  (1907) Early picture shows – Albany Ward & others.

ULTIMATE PICTURE PALACE / SECTION 6 CINEMA / PENULTIMATE PICTURE PALACE / NEW PICTURE PALACE  Jeune Street  Opened 1911. Prop., Oxford Picture Palace Ltd. Closed August 1914 by WWI call-up. Storage. Re-opened as Penult. 1976. Prop., Bill Heine & Pablo Butcher. Seats: 185. Closed 17^th March 1994. Listed building. To Picture House Co. Re-opened. Seats: 185.

 OXTED Surrey

SCREEN / PLAZA Station Road West  Opened 1929. 460 seats. 1936 balcony added. 600 seats. By 1941: (WE) – Gen. Manager, Richard Eggleton. Continuous. Booked at Hall. Phone Oxted 567. Films by Road Transport. Station, Oxted, Surrey, S.R. CinemaScope screen in front of orig, pros. 442 seats. To Mainline Cinemas 2002 & re-named Screen. Foyer enlarged by taking in adjacent shop. Closed 2004.