Gateshead Cinemas 4

A search for Cinema at Gateshead Local Studies brings 139 results




Title:  Ritz Cinema, High Street, Gateshead
Photographer:  Wilkinson, C
Date:  May 1968
Historic Images Ref:  GL007803
Gateshead Cinemas 4


Projection room at Ritz Cinema, High Street, Gateshead
Photographer:  Wilkinson, C
Date:  May 1968
Gateshead old photos Ref:  GL007805
The second and last Gateshead cinema for one of the large circuit chains (ABC). Opened 25/7/1938 & comfortable but not as sumptuous as the rival Black's Regal. Located at the junction of High Street & Argyle St. it closed on 18/5/1968 when it was demolished to make way for the A1 viaduct which was being driven through the town.




Title:  Scala Cinema and Metropole Hotel, 246 High Street, Gateshead c.1955
Photographer:  Unknown
Date:  C.1955
Old Gateshead Pictures Ref:  GL007781
Item Description:  Founded by Weldon Watts this was the largest theatre in Gateshead, opening in 1896 and seating 2,500. The décor was sumptous with a marble staircase. Prices covered a wide range from 4d in the gallery to private boxes at 31/6d.
The original doors can still be seen today but the building is now the Metropole Public House. This was one of the first buildings to have the electric light and the power was supplied direct from a gas engine. If the engine stopped, the lights went out immediately. The theatre was built on the site of Johnson’s Quay. Sydney Bacon, who was the manager from its opening went on to found the Sydney Bacon chain of cinemas. The theatre became the Scala cinema in 1919.



Title:  Scala Cinema and Metropole Hotel, High Street, Gateshead
Photographer:  Unknown
Date:  October 1956
Pictures Ref:  GL007779

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Title:  Scala Cinema, High Street, Gateshead
Photographer:  Unknown
Date:  Date Unknown
Images Ref:  GL001188
Item Description:  This building was the largest Gateshead theatre, opening in 1896 with a performance of The Sign of the Cross by Wilson Barrett. It seated 2,500. Weldon Watts, the owner had previously owned the Queens Theatre lower down on the High Street and he brought with him Sydney Bacon as manager. (Syndey Bacon later went on to found his own chain of cinemas and was one of the youngest of Gateshead’s Councillors) The Metropole Hotel was built adjacent to the cinema and this building replaced an old public house ‘The Mason’s Arms’ on the site of Johnson’s Quay. The Metropole Hotel still exists.. The entrance to the cheap seats was on the High Street whilst the more expensive seating entrance was in Jackson Street.The building was elaborately decorated with a marble staircase with brass handrails, the ceiling being covered with cupids and festoons. The architect was Willliam Hope of Newcastle, the main contractor being S F Davidson of Heaton. Admission prices ranged from 31/6 for a private box to 4d for a seat in the gallery.This was one of the first buildings to have the electric light and the power was supplied direct from a gas engine. If the engine stopped, the lights went out immediately.. The theatre became the Scala cinema in 1919.This became the first cinema in the country to use rear projection. It had a large orchestra for silent films and was the first cinema in Gateshead to install a cinema organ costing more than £3000. The organist was Albert Evans, a music teacher.



Title:  Shipcote Cinema Staff, Durham Road, Gateshead
Photographer:  Unknown
Date:  C1914
Photograph Ref:  GL007822
Gateshead Cinemas 4
Item Description:  Management and staff of the Shipcote Hall which was located on the corner of Durham Road and Dryden Road. The first owners were Reed, Brown and Co. For many years the Shipcote was famous for the quality of its orchestra which was advertised as the 'Famous Shipcote Orchestra'. During the First World Was there was usually a musical act in addition to the films.





Title:  Shipcote Cinema, Durham Road, 1960
Photographer:  Unknown
Date:  April 1960
Photograph Ref:  GL001199
Gateshead Cinemas 4
Item Description:  Shipcote Picture Hall opened in 1911 and was the first picture hall in the south of the borough. For many years the Shipcote was famous for the quality of its orchestra which was advertised as the 'Famous Shipcote Orchestra'. During the First World Was there was usually a musical act in addition to the films. In the 1930s the Shipcote was extended to hold over 1200 people and showed its most successful film, Follow the Fleet in 1936. The Shipcote closed on 16 April 1960 with Journey to the Centre of the Earth (Manders, 1973).


Title:  Shipcote Cinema, Durham Road, 1960
Photographer:  Unknown
Date:  April 1960
Picture Ref: GL000290





Title:  Shipcote Cinema, Durham Road, Gateshead
Photographer:  Unknown
Date:  Unknown
Photo Ref:  GL007824
Gateshead Cinemas 4




Title:  Shipcote Hall Cinema, Durham Road c.1911
Photographer:  Unknown
Date:  C.1911
Image Ref:  LS000053



Title:  The demolition of the Palladium Cinema, Bensham. C1970.
Photographer:  Paul, C
Date:  Unknown
Photo Ref:  GL007791
Item Description:  "The cinema, complimented in the trade press as a 'smart little house', opened its doors towards the end of September 1911. Phyllis Hawkins, who worked in the paybox and played piano there in 1920-21, remembered that when the audience did not like the film, they pelted her with apple cores and anything else which came to hand." (Manders)



Title:  The Imperia Cinema, Wellington Street, Felling
Photographer:  Unknown
Date:  Date Unknown
History Photograph Ref:  LS000031
Item Description:  The Imperia Cinema was built in Victoria Square in 1930 and later the Palais de Danse was added. It is currently a bingo hall. Previously, in Felling, there had been a People’s Theatre, later known as the Paragon Theatre, which was demolished by 1905. The Imperial was erected in Wellington Street in 1910 and destroyed by fire in 1929. In 1911 the Corona Picture Hall opened in Coldwell Street. This closed in 1960.




The Palace Cinema, Sunderland Road, Gateshead
Photographer:  Unknown
Date:  C.1920
Photograph Ref:  LS000036
Item Description:  "The Palace Cinema. Sunderland Rd. Still in existence (not as a cinema)."



Title:  Victoria Cinema, Derwent Street, Chopwell
Photographer:  Manders, F
Date:  27/07/1977
Picture Ref:  GL005589
Gateshead Cinemas 4

Item Description:  Opened 1912 - closed in 1954. The building became a supermarket thereafter.



Title:  Kings' Cinema, Derwent Street, Chopwell, 1977
Photographer:  Manders, Frank
Date:  27/07/1977
Picture Ref:  GL001009

Several public buildings erected in Chopwell during the late Victorian early Edwardian period. The Chopwell Hotel in 1895, Derwent Street in 1909, King's Picture House in 1910 and the Roman Catholic church in 1912. The council erected the west school in 1901 and the east school in 1910.

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