The Roker Cinema opened on the 15th October 1915. The Roker was the first cinema in Sunderland to use ordinary electricity in the 1920’s. The Roker also had an organ which was built in Sunderland. The Roker closed on the 8th April 1961.
The Victory Cinema was formerly the Smyrna Chapel at the junction of Borough Road and Smyrna Place. It opened in 1920 and was an alternative cinema to the Gaiety for the people of the East End. It was damaged by bombs on 15th April 1941 and never re-opened.
Tyne & Wear Heritage website has this extra information for this venue:
Imperial Theatre and Cinema opened in 1926 built on the site of a building called The Laurels. Although built as a cinema it was also used for live shows, the first production being performed by the Hetton Opera Company. ‘Isle of Lost Ships’ was the first sound film to be shown on March 4th 1930. In 1960 Stall Cinemas took over the ownership of the Imperial and films came from the offices of the Tyne Theatre, Newcastle. The Imperial closed October 10th 1962 - the last film was ‘The Hangman’. Now demolished.
Full description from Tyne & Wear Heritage website giving date of closure and final film…
Pavillion Theatre built on land known as the show field off Richard Street by Ralph Barton, salt works owner in 1909. The manager was William Travers of Houghton. The theatre doubled as a cinema. Two films were shown each night. Silent movies were accompanied by live music. The last film to be shown when the Pavillion closed on June 6th 1959 was ‘Home after Dark’.
Last operated by the Shann family, according to the website memorylane.co.uk which has a great selection of internal pictures of the family at work during its final year of operation as a cinema.
Also, it was operated by J. B. Milne Theatres Ltd as an All Square Bingo Club, it’s listed in a 1966 Christmas Greetings poster that was on display in all of his cinema and bingo clubs at the time.
From the Tyne & Wear Heritage website:
The Roker Cinema opened on the 15th October 1915. The Roker was the first cinema in Sunderland to use ordinary electricity in the 1920’s. The Roker also had an organ which was built in Sunderland. The Roker closed on the 8th April 1961.
From the Tyne & Wear Heritage website:
The Victory Cinema was formerly the Smyrna Chapel at the junction of Borough Road and Smyrna Place. It opened in 1920 and was an alternative cinema to the Gaiety for the people of the East End. It was damaged by bombs on 15th April 1941 and never re-opened.
Initially converted into Dee’s Supermarket.
Tyne & Wear Heritage website has this extra information for this venue:
Imperial Theatre and Cinema opened in 1926 built on the site of a building called The Laurels. Although built as a cinema it was also used for live shows, the first production being performed by the Hetton Opera Company. ‘Isle of Lost Ships’ was the first sound film to be shown on March 4th 1930. In 1960 Stall Cinemas took over the ownership of the Imperial and films came from the offices of the Tyne Theatre, Newcastle. The Imperial closed October 10th 1962 - the last film was ‘The Hangman’. Now demolished.
Full description from Tyne & Wear Heritage website giving date of closure and final film…
Pavillion Theatre built on land known as the show field off Richard Street by Ralph Barton, salt works owner in 1909. The manager was William Travers of Houghton. The theatre doubled as a cinema. Two films were shown each night. Silent movies were accompanied by live music. The last film to be shown when the Pavillion closed on June 6th 1959 was ‘Home after Dark’.
Eastern Daily Press has a photo of this venue called Picture Palace….
The name reverted back to the Palace under the United Varieties Syndicate Ltd.
Architect was Arthur W. Kenyon
A Mollo & Egan interior, the swimming fish grilles were repeated in several other cinema interiors for Shipman & King.
Has the ‘look’ of a Mollo & Egan interior…
The facade of this cinema masqueraded as the Coliseum in the film The Blue Lamp released in 1950.
Architect? Interior by Mollo & Egan….
Now back in business as Oscars Bar.
garypainter’s link is broken.
Postcode is SW8 3RX, and is now the Fairlee Pharmacy.
Even the last shop has gone now. A Sainsbury’s Local now stands at this location, with the address of 29 Patcham Terrace London SW8 4EX
As always, Ron has excelled himself with these archive pictures he’s added!
For a picture of the stage when the Jowett Hall, check out RIBApix numbered RIBA60687, and for the facade RIBA60688.
Last operated by the Shann family, according to the website memorylane.co.uk which has a great selection of internal pictures of the family at work during its final year of operation as a cinema.
Also, it was operated by J. B. Milne Theatres Ltd as an All Square Bingo Club, it’s listed in a 1966 Christmas Greetings poster that was on display in all of his cinema and bingo clubs at the time.
An independent has taken over the bingo club, it’s really-opened under the Regal Bingo name once more.
With thanks to Jenny King (my mum) for the research that found this early venue!
Theatrecard is correct, it’s 102 High Street, now occupied by Arbour House, postcode is SW18 4LA.
Housed a bingo club at the end too, last incarnation was as Buckingham Bingo before they moved the club to a new build.
The modern day venue is also known as the Roebuck Theatre, as well as the HMS Raleigh Cinema.