~ Cinema's & Theatre's in the Local Area ~
~ The Electric Palace, Harwich, Essex (Opened 1911 ~ Closed 1956 ~ Re-opened 1981) ~
King's Quay St, Harwich CO12 3ER
The Electric Palace in King's Quay Street, Harwich was originally built at a cost of £1,500 and opened it's doors on Wednesday 29 November 1911.
The cinema was commercially viable and thrived through WW1 thanks to the presence of military personnel in the town. However almost as soon as the war was over, business at the “Palace declined alonside increased competition from the newer, plusher "Empire" & Regent cinemas in nearby Dovercourt Bay.
For the next 35 years the "Palace" just managed to keep going, but was damaged by the dreadful floods of 1953 forcing it to close, but never really recovered even after reopening, finally closing its doors on the 3rd November 1956.
In 1972 the "Palace" was fortunatly discovered & recognised by Gordon Miller a researcher from Kingston Polytechnic, who was leading a group of students on a survey of Harwich. He was also concerned to find out that Harwich Town Council was intending to demolish the entire block of which the cinema was a part of. I order to provide additional parking space for Lorries.
With the aid of the Harwich Society he obtained a Listing for the cinema as being “a building of sociological interest” in September of that year.
The cinema was commercially viable and thrived through WW1 thanks to the presence of military personnel in the town. However almost as soon as the war was over, business at the “Palace declined alonside increased competition from the newer, plusher "Empire" & Regent cinemas in nearby Dovercourt Bay.
For the next 35 years the "Palace" just managed to keep going, but was damaged by the dreadful floods of 1953 forcing it to close, but never really recovered even after reopening, finally closing its doors on the 3rd November 1956.
In 1972 the "Palace" was fortunatly discovered & recognised by Gordon Miller a researcher from Kingston Polytechnic, who was leading a group of students on a survey of Harwich. He was also concerned to find out that Harwich Town Council was intending to demolish the entire block of which the cinema was a part of. I order to provide additional parking space for Lorries.
With the aid of the Harwich Society he obtained a Listing for the cinema as being “a building of sociological interest” in September of that year.
01 The Electric Palace Prior to Restoration (1975) H&D FW
02 Kings Quay Street & Electric Palace 01 (1975) H&D F
03 Kings Quay St & Electric Palace, Harwich 02 (1975) H&D FW
04 Back of Electric Palace 03 (1975) H&D FW
King's Quay Street and the Electric Palace, Harwich, Essex (1975)
This front and back view of the Kings Quay Street from the 1970's, illustrates well the improvements that have been made, within the Harwich residential areas in the past few decades. Although the restoration of the Electric Palace has been well publicised, major restorations and repairs have been carried out to local properties, sometimes overshadowed by other more prominent projects. All conservation and restoration work should be widely applauded by all and maintained for future generations to preserve the towns rich heritage, particularly where the public purse is not directly involved.
This front and back view of the Kings Quay Street from the 1970's, illustrates well the improvements that have been made, within the Harwich residential areas in the past few decades. Although the restoration of the Electric Palace has been well publicised, major restorations and repairs have been carried out to local properties, sometimes overshadowed by other more prominent projects. All conservation and restoration work should be widely applauded by all and maintained for future generations to preserve the towns rich heritage, particularly where the public purse is not directly involved.
05 The Electric Palace Stage (1911) H&D FW
06 Electric Palace, Harwich Plan (1911) H&D F
07 Electric Palace Model (1911) H&D CIII
08 Electric Palace Model II (1911) H&D FW
The Empire Cinema, Dovercourt Bay, Essex (Opened 1913 ~ Closed 1938 ~ Demolished 1955)
52 Kingsway, Dovercourt, CO12 3JR
The Empire Theatre was opened on 29th March 1913 as a cinema. It presented stage shows as well as films. The proscenium was 29 feet wide.
By 1934 it was part of the Bostock Cinema Circuit, and had been fitted with a British Acoustic(BA) sound system.
The Empire Cinema was closed in the early-1950’s (it was listed as ‘Closed’ in 1954), so possibly never had CinemaScope installed. It was soon demolished. Shop units have been built on the site.
Local builder Edward Saunders and Harwich borough council mayor saw the potential of This form of entertainment, they commissioned an architect to design a theatre. A site in Kingsway was chosen and on the 29th of March 1913 without official ceremony The Empire opened its doors to the public; the cinema could accommodate 350 patrons and would show various stage shows and films. 1915 the Empire was still offering the best entertainment for the Harwich area with a bill of top acts. Silly comedienne Elsie Cross whose humour was described as “quaint in the extreme”. she was also well known for her funny songs which were guaranteed to bring the house down. Welda and Wynne were also lined up to top the bill at the Empire, the couple, particularly the male partner, were visual comedians who specialised in juggling. An evening of comedy would not be without funny film from keystone caper called laughing gas.
The Bostock cinema group purchased the cinema on the 1st January 1929, the new owners Considered the building too small to meet the growing cinema audiences and looked for a new site to build a larger cinema, on the 31st may 1938, Empire’s manager Mr Gilbert Smith locked up for the last time, the following day together with his staff they opened the new building the Regal.
By 1934 it was part of the Bostock Cinema Circuit, and had been fitted with a British Acoustic(BA) sound system.
The Empire Cinema was closed in the early-1950’s (it was listed as ‘Closed’ in 1954), so possibly never had CinemaScope installed. It was soon demolished. Shop units have been built on the site.
Local builder Edward Saunders and Harwich borough council mayor saw the potential of This form of entertainment, they commissioned an architect to design a theatre. A site in Kingsway was chosen and on the 29th of March 1913 without official ceremony The Empire opened its doors to the public; the cinema could accommodate 350 patrons and would show various stage shows and films. 1915 the Empire was still offering the best entertainment for the Harwich area with a bill of top acts. Silly comedienne Elsie Cross whose humour was described as “quaint in the extreme”. she was also well known for her funny songs which were guaranteed to bring the house down. Welda and Wynne were also lined up to top the bill at the Empire, the couple, particularly the male partner, were visual comedians who specialised in juggling. An evening of comedy would not be without funny film from keystone caper called laughing gas.
The Bostock cinema group purchased the cinema on the 1st January 1929, the new owners Considered the building too small to meet the growing cinema audiences and looked for a new site to build a larger cinema, on the 31st may 1938, Empire’s manager Mr Gilbert Smith locked up for the last time, the following day together with his staff they opened the new building the Regal.
09 The New Empire Theatre, Kingsway, Dovercourt (1913) H&D FW
10 The Empire, Dovercourt (1913) Wallis H&D FW
11 The Empire Film Showings (1913) H&D F
12 #76585 Kingsway, Dovercourt 01 (1913) Bells FW
The Empire, Kingway, Dovercourt.
Another Bell's classic postcard of the old "Empire Cinema" in Kingsway, Dovercourt around 1913.
The film being shown was a short comedy "Collecting the Bill" produced in April 1913, with a running of just 6 minutes.
The Director was Arthur Hotaling and the cast included Jack Ridgeway, Marguerite Ne Moyer, Walter Stull, George Reehm and Bobby Burns.
Not a lot of time to eat your popcorn
Another Bell's classic postcard of the old "Empire Cinema" in Kingsway, Dovercourt around 1913.
The film being shown was a short comedy "Collecting the Bill" produced in April 1913, with a running of just 6 minutes.
The Director was Arthur Hotaling and the cast included Jack Ridgeway, Marguerite Ne Moyer, Walter Stull, George Reehm and Bobby Burns.
Not a lot of time to eat your popcorn
13 The Empire Cinema, Dovercourt (1938) H&D F
The Regent Cinema, Dovercourt Bay, Essex (Opened 1927 ~ Closed 1959 ~ The Building Still Survives)
400 Main Road, Dovercourt, CO12 4DN
The Regent Cinema was opened in the 1920’s. It had a 32 feet wide proscenium. It was taken over by the small Bostock Cinema Circuit in the 1930’s, and they operated it until closure in the early-1960’s. The original frontage of the building has been removed at some time, and an extension has been added.
The building has been in use as a sail-making factory for many years.
The building has been in use as a sail-making factory for many years.
14 The Regent Theatre, Main Rd, Dovercourt Bay (1959) H&D FW
15 Regent Theatre Cinema Staff, Dovercourt Bay (1927) H&D FW
16 Regent Cinema Engines (1938) H&D FW
Regent Cinema Theatre Engines, Dovercourt Bay Essex (1938)
Possibly one of the most odd and boring postcards of Dovercourt unless you are an engineer.
The Regent Cinema was opened on the 26th January 1927. It had a 32 feet wide proscenium, seating an audience of 500, with the latest heating and ventilation systems. It was taken over by the small Bostock Cinema Circuit in the 1930’s, and they operated it until closure on the 3rd October 1959. The original frontage of the building has been removed at some time, and an extension has been added.
The building has since been in use as a sail-making “Dolphin Sales” factory for many years.
Possibly one of the most odd and boring postcards of Dovercourt unless you are an engineer.
The Regent Cinema was opened on the 26th January 1927. It had a 32 feet wide proscenium, seating an audience of 500, with the latest heating and ventilation systems. It was taken over by the small Bostock Cinema Circuit in the 1930’s, and they operated it until closure on the 3rd October 1959. The original frontage of the building has been removed at some time, and an extension has been added.
The building has since been in use as a sail-making “Dolphin Sales” factory for many years.
17 Regent Cinema Engines (1938) H&D RW
18 The Regent Building, Main Rd, Dovercourt (2012) H&D F
The Regal Cinema. Dovercourt Bay, Essex (Opened 1938 ~ Closed 1969 ~ Demolished 1989)
296 High Street, Dovercourt, CO12 3PE
19 Regal Cinema, Main Road, Dovercourt (1965) H&D FW
~ The Regal (1,496 Seats), Main Road, Dovercourt Bay ~
The Regal Cinema close to Patrick's Lane, Dovercourt was a classic "Art Deco" style building. It was the largest of the town’s cinemas and was built by the Bostock Cinema Circuit. It opened in June 1938. The plain façade was broken by a set of horizontal windows, above which were large letters spelling out the cinema’s name, and there was a semi-circular tower feature on the left-hand side. Seating was provided in stalls and circle levels. The proscenium was 40 feet wide and the stage 7 feet deep. It was equipped with a Western Electric(WE) sound system.
The Regal Cinema was closed in 1969 and was converted into a bingo club and in 1972 became the Coronet Bingo Club & "Concord" Snooker Centre. It closed in the mid-1980’s. The building stood empty for a while, and was demolished in July 1989. The site lay vacant for several years, and today a Co-Op Retail Outlet has been built and operates from the site.
The Regal Cinema close to Patrick's Lane, Dovercourt was a classic "Art Deco" style building. It was the largest of the town’s cinemas and was built by the Bostock Cinema Circuit. It opened in June 1938. The plain façade was broken by a set of horizontal windows, above which were large letters spelling out the cinema’s name, and there was a semi-circular tower feature on the left-hand side. Seating was provided in stalls and circle levels. The proscenium was 40 feet wide and the stage 7 feet deep. It was equipped with a Western Electric(WE) sound system.
The Regal Cinema was closed in 1969 and was converted into a bingo club and in 1972 became the Coronet Bingo Club & "Concord" Snooker Centre. It closed in the mid-1980’s. The building stood empty for a while, and was demolished in July 1989. The site lay vacant for several years, and today a Co-Op Retail Outlet has been built and operates from the site.
20 Regal Cinema, Main Road, Dovercourt (1968) H&D FW
Back in the 1950's the Regal was managed by a Mr and Mrs Watson. Mrs Watson normally sold the tickets whilst Mr Watson would be stationed in the Foyer and he was always dressed in an evening suit complete with black bow tie. They would often appear doing the same jobs at the dear old 'Palace' so it seemed they may have managed that as well. The Regal was always seen as the 'poshest' of the three cinemas in the town at that time, whilst the 'Regent' always seemed to put on the X rated films, whilst the 'Palace' usually had the children's favourite heroes such as Tarzan, Roy Rogers and Gene Autrey!
21 The Regal Cinema Building, Dovercourt, Essex (1988) H&D FW
22 The Regal Just prior to Demolition 01 (1986) H&D FW
23 The Regal Demolition 02 (1989) H&D FW
24 The Regal Demolition 03 (1989) H&D FW
25 The Regal Demolition 04 (1989) H&D FW
26 The Regal Demolition 05 (1989) H&D FW
27 The Regal Demolition 06 (1989) H&D FW
28 The Regal Demolition 07 (1989) H&D FW
29 The Regal Demolition 08 (1989) H&D FW
30 ~ The Future ? ~
