Seated 368. Constructed in 1920, the structure was
originally a Nissen hut which was first used as an entertainment centre
during WW2. The frontage where the box office projection room and
managers office was added in the late 1940's. The frontage was in the
style of a Dutch building just about twenty feet high from pavement to
roof level. There were three rounded steps leading to the front doors.
The doors were of heavy oak with heavy glass. Access to the projection
room was by a ladder on the north side of the frontage. Inside the
managers office was to the right with a kiosk on the left. The paybox
was between the two doors leading into the Hall.
The cinema had stalls and balcony seating; the "balcony" was in fact a
raised bleacher of twelve rows of better quality seating than the
stalls and affording a better view of the single screen. The stalls
were flat floored - the seats were taken up for weekend dancing during
the War when the building was essentially a NAAFI. The Hall was about
120 feet long so it was not a big cinema. The screen was covered by
large purple velvet curtaining…
Seated 368. Constructed in 1920, the structure was
originally a Nissen hut which was first used as an entertainment centre
during WW2. The frontage where the box office projection room and
managers office was added in the late 1940's. The frontage was in the
style of a Dutch building just about twenty feet high from pavement to
roof level. There were three rounded steps leading to the front doors.
The doors were of heavy oak with heavy glass. Access to the projection
room was by a ladder on the north side of the frontage. Inside the
managers office was to the right with a kiosk on the left. The paybox
was between the two doors leading into the Hall.
The cinema had stalls and balcony seating; the "balcony" was in fact a
raised bleacher of twelve rows of better quality seating than the
stalls and affording a better view of the single screen. The stalls
were flat floored - the seats were taken up for weekend dancing during
the War when the building was essentially a NAAFI. The Hall was about
120 feet long so it was not a big cinema. The screen was covered by
large purple velvet curtaining to the left was a Railway Clock somewhat
obscured by a false Palm Tree, there was another tree on the right with
an exit door adjacent.
The building closed as a cinema in 1968, and after being used for
restaurant use for many years, was demolished for flats in 1989.
Information courtesy of Daniel Fernie & Jean Goodwillie.