THE GRANADA THEATRE CIRCUIT
The Granada Theatre Bedford during the days of the Second World War
Top Right: Both American and British Servicemen are seen walking past the theatre, and if you look carefully, a Granada Sergeant is on duty and standing at the entrance.
Bottom Right: poster from a 1960s Stage Show
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PART TEN: STARTING ANOTHER CIRCUIT
THE GRANADA THEATRE KINGSTON
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Although The Granada Theatre Kingston was the last Theatre to open as a Granada, it was in fact a take over.
The Hyams Brothers, Phil and Sid, & A. J. Gale had planned a State Cinema at Kingston, which was to form part of a group of State Cinemas to join those of Kilburn and Holloway. The State Kilburn opened in 1937, as a Gaumont Super Cinema and was the largest purpose built cinema in Britain. The cinema at Holloway with a seating capacity of over 3,000 opened in 1938 as the Gaumont. Although George Coles was the Hyams Brothers’ architect, the Bernsteins decided to have the interior redesigned and charged Theodore Komisarjevsky with the task along with Cecil Audrey Massey as consulting architect.
The facade of the Theatre was of three tall round-headed windows with a small porthole window above each. There was a canopy and a fin with the name Granada positioned longitudinally on it. There were no steps up to the entrance doors.
The Granada Theatre Kingston
I have been unable to find a photograph of the theatre prior to its tripling in 1973
The photograph of the theatre after tripling was taken by dusashenka
Right: as the building was until recently, as the Oceana Nightclub
This photograph was taken by Scottish Cinemas (Gary Painter & Gordon Barr)
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From what I can gather from photographs, the theatre was impressive. The foyer was large and tall and well-lit from the three tall windows. The walls were decorated with rounded mirrors. Staircases on either side of the foyer led up to the circle, which had a long waiting area also decorated with mirrors.
The foyer after tripling
Photographs taken by dusashenka
The foyer following the opening of Oceana
These photographs were taken by Scottish Cinemas (Gary Painter & Gordon Barr)
The auditorium had seating for some 1,800, although the exact number is unclear. This made it larger than the Standard auditorium set out at the Granada Maidstone.
There was frieze work at the Cornice above the three decorative grilles on either side of the stage and above the Proscenium Arch. The circular decoration (i.e. Rondel) surrounding the main chandelier is set in a saucer dome in the style seen at the Phoenix Theatre. The ceiling over the circle was coiffed in a decorative style. A projection box was present at the back wall, which also was different to other Standard Theatres
Top: the auditorium showing grille work and central chandelier with saucer-like dome
These photographs taken by dusashenka and appear with permission
Bottom: the ceiling of the back stalls; this photograph was taken by Scottish Cinemas (Gary Painter & Gordon Barr) and appear with permission
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The theatre opened in November 1939 with the screening of The Story of Alexandra Bell (The Modern Miracle) with Don Ameche and Home from Home with Sandy Powell, but without any special opening ceremony. The fact that Britain had been at war since September may have been the cause of this.
Left: Don Ameche; Middle: Film Poster; Right: Sandy Powell
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The Theatre had full stage facilities and was used often in the 1960s for Rock ‘n’ Roll Stage Shows.
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The Theatre as a Gala Bingo Hall
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The Wurlitzer Organ from the Picture House, Edinburgh was installed at the Theatre and is said to have been played on the opening night by Reginald Dixon, but Allen Eyles does not mention this fact in his book. The Wurlitzer Organ is currently installed in a private home in Penzance, Cornwall. It is of interest to note that this organ was the final installation in the U.K. made by The Wurlitzer Organ Comapny.
I have been unable to find any recording of Reginald Dixon at the Granada Kingston Wurlitzer Organ.
Here is a recording made during the Second World War where he is heard playing the Granada Slough Wurlitzer Organ.
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In December 2014, I was fortunate enough to be shown around the erstwhile Granada Theatre Kingston, now the Pzymn Nightclub, by a member of staff. I would like to thank the staff member who showed me the building for his kindness. The photographs that I took during this visit may be seen by
CLICKING HERE
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Hi, I remember going to the Granada Theatre in Kingston in 1962 when Bobby Vee was appearing. Ive looked up the date, 15 February 1962. I dont suppose you could point me in the right direct to find a billboard/poster with whom else appeared at that concert? Im 65 now and my older brother of 10 years took me and he cannot remember it at all so I would love to show him. Happy Memories of that theatre and obviously it has stuck in my mind. Thank you.
Many thanks for visiting my website and sharing you memory of the Stage Show at the Granada Theatre Kingston.
It seems that Bobby Vee appeared here in February 1962 and had terrific support from:
Clarence ‘Frogman’ Hentry’
Tony Orlando (pre-Dawn days!) and
The Springfields
Hope that this jogs your brother’s memory.
As a lad of thirteen, in 1957, I got a part-time job in the advanced booking office selling tickets for stage shows. I discovered there was a Wurlitzer organ below the stage. It was in poor condition. Eventually I got it to play, with the permission of the manger. There were two grand pianos in the pit in front of the stage. I got my next door neighbour, Mr Hetherington, a piano tuner by profession, to tune them and do some repairs. If I remember correctly, both could be played from the consul. One had a fixed volume by operating the keys with the same force and the other could have the force varied by a knee operated lever. I think I last played it in 1961 when I became an apprentice with the British Aircraft Corporation at Weybridge. I have fond memories of the instrument. I remember one Saturday morning turning off the vibratos and playing classical music, the cleaners were surprised by what a good classical organ it was as well as a theatre organ. Three Coins in s Fountain and Autumn Leaves were my favourites to play on that mighty Wurlitzer. I wish it well in it current resting place.
Mr. Kirby: Thank you very much for your interesting comment.
Many thanks for your posting. Charles
as a young kid in the sixties my mum used to take me to the granada in kingston to see a lot of touring sixties bands and and artists,i remember seeing big dee irwin manfred mann, also i think johnny kid and the pirates would you have any idea of the the month and year.
I have stumbled across this web page and it has bought back a lot of memories, I started work at 15 in 1969 as a
trainee protectionist at this cinema the chief protectionist was roy whymer the co-chief barry took the manager
George looker i transferred to Granada engineering as an apprentice electrician I travelled and worked at all
Granada’s I worked on the convertion of the Kingston Granada from a single screen to a triple screen and then
later the addition of the nite club
Unfortunately nowadays to experience a full house in a single screen cinema weather it be a new release film
or a live performance on stage is in the past only people of my age can remember the enjoyment we had in these
theatres thank you Granada
Many thanks for telling us about your involvement with the glorious Granada Kingston. Charles