Declared open at a ribbon cutting ceremony by Eastenders star Anita Dobson on 20th July, 1989. Special guests were treated to a performance by musicians called Fingers & Frets and saw a preview of the film Lethal Weapon II starring Mel Gibson almost two months before the film was released, followed by Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
A second screen also showed this film, the other three remaining screens opening with The Land Before Time, Licence to Thrill and finally Police Academy 6.
Opened as the Picturedrome, address was 44 High Street, NN9 5TN. Name changed to Picture House when the facade was given a modernisation as per my pictures that I uploaded.
After being left in a perilous state (no pun intended) by Wetherspoons, and after being sold on by them, the lack of a secure dry building has finally meant that Thurrock Council have issued an enforcement order on the new owner to secure the building. It has been known for stalls exit doors to have been left wide open recently, with Urban Explorers not helping with a string of videos being posted online as well, proving as to how unsecured the building was.
Fingers crossed, this lengthy saga will come to a good ending…..
Announced today that Omniplex are to tr=open the complex after agreeing a lease with the Council owners. Refurbishment prior to opening will take up to 18 months though! Omniplex Cinemas Group is an Ireland based operator with the director being Paul John Anderson. There will be 12 screens as before, with up to 30 jobs created once opened again.
On the hour Father Time would rise out of a globe on his bicycle. Comedian Ken Dodd was the VIP asked to open the centre on October 30, 1987, but the crowds were so large - estimated at several thousand - that he was unable to get to the clock in time and up popped Father Time without him. The centre was further expanded, with the section built over the former cinema’s site. The cinema had been demolished shortly after closure in 1990.
Closure as a Gala bingo club came in February 2008 according to staff member Angeline Jenkins via a message on Facebook. She worked there until the end and states that it was a very sad day for all the staff.
Plans approved on proviso that the cinema and 2 lock-up shops were completed within 3 years, client named as Magnet Cinema (Newton Heath) Ltd., 1350 seats, stadium plan, references: Builder 19/11/1937.
1929 rebuild to plans by Ernest Ogden, client named as O & G Dewhurst. Reconstruction of existing cinema. The King George V was opened in 1912 with 700 seats. Closed 1929 and replaced by the Plaza Cinema on the same site.
Reference Builder 1 March 1929 page 451, hopefully, this helps explain things a bit!
The following description appeared in Builder dated 19/06/1936:
Restrained brick exterior, a design stripped of all historical decoration. Circular staircase tower of brick with glass blocks. Banded brickwork with Art Deco patterning above entrance. The proscenium broke new ground by dispensing with stage curtains and introducing a screen intended to ‘float’ on a blue background.
In it’s final years it was known as The Old Vic.
By 1955 it had become an auctioneers premises.
Hints of ABC triangle?!! Very nice indeed! Congratulations Mark on another great little cinema!
This building is nowhere on Cheltenham Mount! Correct location is Cheltenham Parade at the corner of Mount Parade, HG1 1BX.
The new business is known as Cardamom Black @ “The Old Empire Theatre”.
Declared open at a ribbon cutting ceremony by Eastenders star Anita Dobson on 20th July, 1989. Special guests were treated to a performance by musicians called Fingers & Frets and saw a preview of the film Lethal Weapon II starring Mel Gibson almost two months before the film was released, followed by Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
A second screen also showed this film, the other three remaining screens opening with The Land Before Time, Licence to Thrill and finally Police Academy 6.
Opened as the Picturedrome, address was 44 High Street, NN9 5TN. Name changed to Picture House when the facade was given a modernisation as per my pictures that I uploaded.
The architect was Joseph Gannon, the new cinema was designed in 1935, opening in 1936.
After being left in a perilous state (no pun intended) by Wetherspoons, and after being sold on by them, the lack of a secure dry building has finally meant that Thurrock Council have issued an enforcement order on the new owner to secure the building. It has been known for stalls exit doors to have been left wide open recently, with Urban Explorers not helping with a string of videos being posted online as well, proving as to how unsecured the building was. Fingers crossed, this lengthy saga will come to a good ending…..
Announced today that Omniplex are to tr=open the complex after agreeing a lease with the Council owners. Refurbishment prior to opening will take up to 18 months though! Omniplex Cinemas Group is an Ireland based operator with the director being Paul John Anderson. There will be 12 screens as before, with up to 30 jobs created once opened again.
On the hour Father Time would rise out of a globe on his bicycle. Comedian Ken Dodd was the VIP asked to open the centre on October 30, 1987, but the crowds were so large - estimated at several thousand - that he was unable to get to the clock in time and up popped Father Time without him. The centre was further expanded, with the section built over the former cinema’s site. The cinema had been demolished shortly after closure in 1990.
CMA operated this cinema upon closure.
Closed in 2020, and still ‘Permanently Closed’ in 2024, it should not be showing as ‘open’ on here…
Now operated by the Stag Community Arts Centre, a registered charity.
Closure as a Gala bingo club came in February 2008 according to staff member Angeline Jenkins via a message on Facebook. She worked there until the end and states that it was a very sad day for all the staff.
Still showing films according to the 1966 KYB on Thursdays and Saturdays only.
The former Miner’s Institute building located at 69 Newport Road was known as the Cinema. This still stands and is in use as an OAP Centre.
Opened for Messrs Moston and Lightbowne, who operated the earlier Ceylon in the area.
Plans approved on proviso that the cinema and 2 lock-up shops were completed within 3 years, client named as Magnet Cinema (Newton Heath) Ltd., 1350 seats, stadium plan, references: Builder 19/11/1937.
Postcode is M14 5LQ, conversion to a cinema was done for the Platt Picturedrome Company in 1912.
1929 rebuild to plans by Ernest Ogden, client named as O & G Dewhurst. Reconstruction of existing cinema. The King George V was opened in 1912 with 700 seats. Closed 1929 and replaced by the Plaza Cinema on the same site. Reference Builder 1 March 1929 page 451, hopefully, this helps explain things a bit!
Opened by the The Preston Palladium Cinema Co. circuit.
The following description appeared in Builder dated 19/06/1936:
Restrained brick exterior, a design stripped of all historical decoration. Circular staircase tower of brick with glass blocks. Banded brickwork with Art Deco patterning above entrance. The proscenium broke new ground by dispensing with stage curtains and introducing a screen intended to ‘float’ on a blue background.
The cinema’s License was refused for renewal in June, 1938. It was then sold to Brennan’s Cinema circuit.
The architect designed the cinema for a company called Associated British Properties.
Opened for Pavilion (Rochdale) Ltd. circuit.