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Blyth, the multiplex of years gone by.
Four town centre cinemas, another in Newsham, grand old theatres and a connection to Laurel and Hardy. This is how we did the movies and stage in days gone by.
The Theatre Royal stood in Trotter Street, which was off Bridge Street. Not only the theatre but the street itself are now completely gone.
It was built in 1899/1900 for the father of Stan Laurel, who was a famous comic of the day.
opened on 5th February 1900 with a production of the play “The Geisha”. It was designed by architectural firm Hope & Maxwell of North Shields, with decorative plasterwork supplied by A.R. Dean & Co. of Birmingham. Originally seating was provided for 2,000 in orchestra, dress circle and upper circle levels, with boxes beside the proscenium. The stage was 30 feet deep and there were eight dressing rooms. It was equipped with a Bioscope box from the very beginning, and films were shown as part of the variety programmes.
The theatre was mainly used as a cinema from 1914 and became part of Essoldo Cinemas in 1931. It continued in operation until 1959 when it became a bingo hall. Closing in 1964, it stood derelict for many years before being demolished in 1983.
The Wallaw. Union Street.
The Wallaw opened it's doors in 1937 and at the time the local press described it as "Blyth's new luxury cinema" It could seat 1600 people and was describes as luxurious.
The Wallaw closed in 2004.
The last film screened was The Passion of the Christ. It then sat unused until 2013 when it reopened as a Wetherspoon pub, it retains the Wallaw name.
The building is grade two listed.
The Essoldo, Beaconsfield Street.
The Essoldo opened in 1938 with a screening of The Buccaneer.
It was situated in Beaconsfield Street on the site now occupied by the Central Methodist Church.
Closing as a cinema in 1973, the building was converted into a skate board centre but was finally closed permanently in 1977 and was demolished in 1980. The Essoldo replaced an earlier cinema which was on the same site - more on that below.
Quick Fact
The Essoldo was converted into an x-rated (naughty movies) cinema in 1972.
There doesn't seem to have been any great demand for such scandalous screenings as it lasted less than a year.
The Empire,
Beaconsfield Street.
The Empire, which stood on the site of the Essoldo, was built in 1911, opening on the 4th September 1911. It had an attractive tower feature above the corner entrance, and the building was designed by architectural firm Gibson & Stienlet of North Shields.
It had a capacity of 1050.
It closed ii 1937, was demolished and replaced by the Essoldo.
The Central Cinema.
The Central stood in the market place on the site of the Central Hall which had been destroyed in a fire in 1923.
It was built in 1924 and could sit 1400. It closed as a cinema in January 1961 and was converted into a bingo hall.
The Central was demolished in 1974 after being bought to redevelop the market place.
The photo on the right appears to have been taken a year after the cinema opened as the film being shown that day dates from 1925.
The Splendid Road was a historical drama set in the 1849 California gold rush.
The Roxy Cinema and Ballroom.
The Roxy Cinema was located in Rink Street. The building today is the Mecca bingo social club. The Roxy was built on the site of the Hippodrome cinema which had closed in 1940 and was demolished in 1948.
The Roxy opened in 1955 and had a ballroom attached. Closing in 1964 the cinema was converted to a bingo hall and continues that role today.
The Roxy Ballroom was attached to the Cinema and was a favourite with the younger generations in the 1950's and 1960's.
Dancing to big bands from around the country, many people met their husbands or wives there.
The plaza - Newsham.
The Plaza was located in Cramlington Terrace, just off Newcastle Road.
The smallest of Blyth's cinemas
Although it's unclear when it opened and closed, it was open by 1940 and closed between 1954 and 1963. If you have more detailed information we'd love to hear from you. The building is now used by a church.
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