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 GREENFORD
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The Granada Theatre Greenford was built on the site of a Roman Catholic church. It is said that there was a ghost, named Charlie, that was seen occasionally backstage*. Cecil Audrey Massey was a consultant to the architects Charles Dixon and Henry Braddock during its building. The interior was once again the work of Theodore Komisarjevsky, who was apparently ill in Switzerland during the later part of the construction and communicated his directions through his doctor.
The interior of the Granada Theatre Greenford followed closely the template introduced at the Granada Theatre Maidstone. However there were some differences, which included the addition of fastoons above the side wall grilles of the auditorium. Although frescos were placed at the cornice level of the side walls, none appeared above the Proscenium Arch. Instead, the area was decorated with pierced grille work. Although the Cecil Audrey Massey was involved in the design of the theatre, the balcony rows were not in an undulating form.
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The Granada Theatre Greenford opened in November 1937 by Gracie Fields and was advertised as The Wonder Theatre of 1938. The number of seats in the theatre is questionable, but seems to be in the area of 2,000.
The opening films were Wake Up and Live with Alice Faye and King of Gamblers with Claire Trevor.
Left: Alice Faye; Centre: Poster for Wake Up and Live; Right: Claire Trevor
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The theatre closed as a cinema in 1966 and I can find no evidence that it was ever twinned or tripled or converted into a Granada Social Club. The building was purchased by Tesco PLC and converted into a supermarket. There is talk that the company wishes to demolish the building and replace it with a larger store.
The Granada Theatre Greenford
Top Left: a group of kids wait in line to see King Creole in 1958, Elvis’ fourth film;
I remember doing the same at the Granada Theatre Slough!
Top Right: the auditorium showing the Wurlitzer Organ and the side grille work with the fastoons and the Cornice above;
Bottom Left: design for the theatre’s conversion into a Tesco Supermarket;
Bottom Right: as a Tesco Metro.
This photograph is reproduced with the permission of the photographer, Joshua Abbott
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The Granada Theatre Greenford Wurlitzer Organ
This photograph is reproduced with permission of the photographer, Graham Atkinson
Click here to hear the Organ being played
When the Granada Theatre Greenford was sold, the Wurlitzer Organ was purchased by an Organ enthusiast who installed it in a building in the grounds of his home in Sutton Nottinghamshire. It was later sold to another Organ enthusiast who installed it, together with the Wurlitzer Organ from the Granada Theatre Mansfield, at the Scarborough Fair Collection at the Flowers of May Holiday Park at Lebberston Cliff, near Scarborough.
The Granada Theatre Greenford Wurlitzer Organ seen here
installed at the Flowers of May Holiday Park.
This photograph is reproduced with permission of the photographer, David Cresswell
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The Former Granada Theatre Greenford, now a Tesco Supermarket
In November 2014, I visited the erstwhile Granada Theatre Greenford, which is still a Tesco Supermarket, in an attempt to find anything left of the former cinema. The supermarket was a typical Tesco with nothing apparently left of the building’s former usage.
I asked one of the employees if there were any remnants of the cinema anywhere in the building. The woman, who was the assistant manager, told me that upstairs, in the storage area, the ceiling of the former Theatre auditorium could still be seen. I asked if I could see it for myself. She said that only the manager could give permission for non-employees to go up to the upper floor, and since he was not at the store that day, I would not be able to ask him. I realised that I was not going to be able to change her mind and, in addition, I did not want to get her into trouble, so I had to think of some other way of seeing the ceiling.
As I couldn’t go up to the upper floors, I had to enlist the aid of someone who could! And who better than to ask the assistant manager to come to my aid! I asked her if she would be willing to take my camera and take some photographs for me. At first she was reticent, but with a little coaxing and lots of smiles, she agreed.
The assistant manager took the camera and quickly disappeared into the lift and soon was winging her way to the upper floor. While I waited for her return, I spent the time walking around the store, but keeping my eye on the lift doors. After what seemed an age, the lift doors opened and she came out into the store. As she returned the camera to me, she said that she hoped that her photographs were O.K. I said that whatever she had taken I was sure that it would be fine. At that, I thanked her very much for her help and kindness and, as I turned and walked towards the exit, she returned to her work.
The Ceiling of the Erstwhile Granada Theatre Greenford
I am grateful to the Assistant Manager for her kindness in taking these photographs for me. And I think that they turned out just fine!
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Recently, Ms Jane Simonds (née Jane Barrington) wrote a comment regarding the Granada Theatre Greenford (see below). She has now kindly sent some information regarding the first Gramophone Record Shop opened in Greenford. The shop, named Granada Gram, was opened in 1957 by The Granada Circuit at the far end of the parade attached to the Theatre, and was officially opened by the singer and actress, Petula Clark (1932).
Left: Exterior view of Granada Gram;
Right: Petula Clark seen cutting a ribbon to officially open the shop
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Ms Simonds informs me that her sister, Myra, worked at the store while it was open.
Ms Myra Barrington seen behind the counter of the Granada Gram Greenford
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On St. Valentine’s Day (14th February) in 1957, a 5-year, Jane Barrington, was called upon to present a bouquet of flowers to the singer, Marion Ryan (1931-1999), when she came to the Granada Gram Greenford to publise her latest gramophone record, an Extended Play (EP) entitled That Ryan Gal, and to sign autographs.
Ms Marion Ryan being presented with a bouquet by Miss Jane Barrington
Ms Ryan sat at a window of the Granada Gram signing autographs
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Although Ms Ryan had appeared on a number of television programmes, she is perhaps best remembered for her appearances between 1956 and 1973 on the musical quiz programme, Spot the Tune, which was produced by Granada Television. The programme also featured Peter Knight (1917-1985) and his Orchestra together with a number of hosts, however the only host that I remember was the Canadian singer, Jackie Rae (1921-2006).
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Ms Ryan best selling gramophone record was Love Me Forever, which was released in 1958.
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Ms Ryan was married twice: her first marriage was to Lloyd George Frederick Sapherson (1913-2001) and they had twin sons, Barry and Paul, born in 1948. In 1969 she married the theatrical agent, Harold Davison (1922-2011) and they had a daughter, Caroline.
Barry (1948-2001) and Paul Ryan (1948-1992) entered show business, however, the stress of public attention caused Paul Ryan to withdraw from singing, but he did write his brother’s best selling gramophone record, Eloise and a number of songs for other artists.
Barry Ryan – Eloise
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Unfortunately, I have no information as to how long the Granada Gram remained open at Greenford and whether any other such shops were opened.
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* REGARDING THE CATHOLIC CHURCH THAT WAS PRESENT ON THE SITE BEFORE THE THEATRE WAS BUILT & THE GHOST, CHARLIE:
I have learned from the Ealing Local History Centre that the church in question was probably the temporary church of Our Lady of the Visitation, listed a year after a Catholic parish was first registered in Greenford in 1928. A permanent site for the church was acquired in 1937. The Pallotine Fathers ministered here and the temporary church was located on Greenford Road from 1934-1936. The Granada Theatre was built on this site and opened in 1937.
There appears to be no official information available regarding the presence of Charlie!
I would like to thank Dr. Oates, Archivist at the Ealing Local History Centre for providing this information who states that most of this information came from Frances Hounsell’s Greenford, Northolt and Perivale Past (1999).
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Thank you for showing me the pictures of the organ from the Granada, Greenford. Child and youth, I attended the cinema frequently and heard the organ played during the interval, including singalongs during the war while the anti-aircraft guns were firing not so far away. Later on, the saturday morning children’s pictures – Roy Rogers, Tarzan and all that. And a manager, Uncle Jack, who hated kids! Beautiful pictures and happy memories.
Thanks again
I lived in Locarno Road in the 60s, opposite the Greenford Odeon cinema so used it a lot.
I was a Visitation kid.
I remember seeing Dr. No. with my parents. We queued up the ramp at the side of the building.
The cinema installed Mini cars in the foyer for The Italian Job. No idea how they got them up the steps!
Saturday morning picture show was 3d. Some kids snuck in the exit, hid in the toilets then ran in when the lights went down.
We saw the Rolling Stones, Swinging Blue Jeans, Johnny Kidd and the Pirates in a concert.
Mick Jagger was giving out flyers down our street.
Sad day when it closed. Nearest cinema was the Odeon Flea Pit in Bond St Ealing or the X-Rated one on Northfields Ave!
Miss World (India) and Manny Cohen opened Tesco. Got a photo of her head.
Behind one of the ripped film posters on the r/h side of the entrance someone had painted
“Walls have ears” , followed by “They also make ice cream” on the brickwork. My lasting memory of a great place.
I loved the greenford granada with all its live shows it was part of my youth, not forgetting the saturday morning pictures for kids.
what is not mentioned is the record shop, inside on the left hand side wera you could listern to in a booth be buying.
such loverly memories.
Mr. Pooley: Thanks so much for visiting my website and for leaving a comment. Regards. Charles
My grandparents lived in a second floor apartment that was across the alley from the Granada. My grandfather, who was a musician played an instrument, I think a trumpet, whenever they had bands play. My mother was a war bride, we moved to the states when I was six months old in 1946.
We came back to visit twice when my grandparents still lived in Greenford. The Granada was always a place for entertainment, never missed an opportunity to go. Thank you for the memories.
I misspent much of my childhood and youth in the Granada Greenford a really cosy cinema. The style was roman, rich red velvet and gold. The sound system had RCA on the front of big speaker bronze grills and by the side were the organ pipes. The organist would rise from the pit behind a chunky guard rail, and at every opportunity and smile / wave at the audience children or adults. Inside the floor sloped downwards so seated you had good vision over those in front. The seats cast iron frames with soft red velvet cloth with backs that contoured in an arc. The screen was the academy 4×3 format (set by the american academy of motion pictures & arts, who present the Oscars each year). In 1953 they fitted a the Cinemascope screen supposedly 2.4:1 ratio, the outside had bunnting and huge banners saying CinemaScope is here ! The new very wide screen came down lower than the organ pit guard rail, which gave Cinemascope an immersive experience, so much so, that sunny films like Blue Hawaii were so immersive, it was a real shock to go out to a grey rainy evening. The foyer consisted of a twin set of steps all part of a white marble floor.
For balcony users (2 shillings and 3 pence) you went upstairs on the left hand side of the foyer floor, where they had two, over large red velvet chaise lounges, again in a roman style iron scroll ends.Behind each lounges, were huge solid looking mirrors 12 feet or so high. The last film shown on the Satuday night was the indifferent “Anderson Tapes”, to hardly any audience. After the performance, the organist played for his last time, a selection of tunes from the musicals, after some 15 minutes, he turnedand thanked the few people there for their support over the years, – very sad.
Alan:
Thank you very much for sharing your memories. You ought to check out, if you have time, my other website where I write about THE ESSOLDO BETHNAL GREEN and THE EXCELSIOR KINO also in Bethnal Green – here I ‘wax-lyrical’ at widescreen formats and the films. When I read about places like the Granada Greenford, I realise how much I miss the old cinema days!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for writing. Charles
PS My other website can be reached by following the link: eastend-memories.org
I very much enjoyed reading & looking at the pictures of the theater it brought back lots memories when i used to go there i was also
a Saturday morning kid pictures. Yes i was a Grenadie kid back in 1939. I now live in Australia.
Many thanks for visiting my website. It is much appreciated. Charles
I spent many a Saturday morning in the Granada. The favourite fun was to buy a frozen Jubbly eat half of it and throw the rest either at uncle Jack or anywhere on the crowd. AS an aside my best friend Eric his aunt used to play that very same organ before many films. I never experienced that to my knowledge but she could certainly knock out a tune on the piano. Pity I can’t remember her name but it was in the 60s
I will do my best to help you find out the answer to your question. But I doubt that we will have success. Charles
I went to see Cliff Richard at the Granada in 1958. It was a Xmas gift from my uncle Pat. Also Saturday morning pictures. my sister and younger brother had to take the bus from Hanwell. We were so young. About 7 or 8 at the time.
Thank you very much for visiting my website and taking the time to write a comment.
Charles
I loved the Granada. As children we went to Saturday and the Organ was played. Later when we were young teens the usherette took us
to the first few rows. My sister said “We paid 1 and 9 pence we want a better seat.” The usherette said “Oh I thought you would like to be with the boys.” My Uncle Evans stood in line outside and saw my Aunt Joan in front of him and fell in love with her. My Aunt Joan
and Grandma had the White Hart Pub Greenford Road with Peacocks in the Garden opposite the golf park. It is now a block of flats. I now live in USA. I became American Citizen 1776-1976 Bi Centennial. My sister and husband still live in Shoreham by Sea UK,
Well here I am reminiscing with all of you who remembers the great
Granada Greenford Cinema, so, so many memories for me
and my family. My mum worked for the Granada Greenford as the
head usherette and they had Marian Ryan coming on Valentines
Day, and if my memory services me correctly to promote her record
in their Granada Gram record shop where my sister worked, which
was a couple of doors along from the Granada Cinema. The Manager
asked my mum would I like to present Marion with a beautiful flowered
heart for the occasion. So hear I am, 5 years old, looking rather shy,
many, many moons ago. How lovely to reminisce, the good old days
My mum was Joan Barrington, my sister was Myra Barrington if anyone
remembers or worked with them. I have a few more photos
I will have to find, if you would like see.
Ms. Simonds: many thanks for visiting my website and taking time to write. If you have any photographs that you would like me to upload on my site, please send. Again, thanks for visiting and writing.
I remember the Granada so well queuing for the Norman Wisdom film and also the Bond films with my parents, going to Saturday morning flicks. At 11 years old my friend and I got second row circle to see the Rolling Stones it cost 10/6 then how much would it cost now . Susan
Susan: Thank you so much for visiting my website and taking time to write. I appreciate it very much. I hope that you find other stories to interest you here. Regards. Charles