CINEMA HISTORIANS TAKE A LOOK BACK AT CHESTER'S SUPER CINEMA

With the demolition of much of Chester’s former Mecca Bingo Club well underway, local cinema history enthusiasts have been revisiting the history of the building, which was originally Chester’s first “Super Cinema”.

Local cinema historians Peter Davies and David A Ellis have a wealth of knowledge and experience between them of the history of Chester’s long-lost cinemas as well as a treasure trove of memorabilia and archive photographs, including from the collection of the late Roger Shone, which forms part of an invaluable resource on their hugely popular website: 

www.chestercinemas.co.uk

The former bingo hall which closed its doors for the final time on Sunday 26th February 2023, originally opened 94 years ago, on Monday 2nd March 1931, as The Gaumont Palace, Chester’s first 2000 seat Super Cinema. 

Designed by Birmingham architect, William T. Benslyn and built by Mc Laughlin and Harvey of Highbury, the cinema was to be part of the Provincial Cinematograph Theatres circuit who intended that it should be named, The Regent. However, the company was taken over by Gaumont British and the cinema was re-branded to The Gaumont Palace before opening. 

For many locals, a palace it was, providing escapism from the troubled times of the early 1930s. The opulence of the ornate decoration was described as breath-taking. The auditorium was a masterpiece of plasterwork design, finished in pastel tones of orange, green, mauve, relieved in red and gold. The central ceiling feature was a dome that had concealed lighting. The cinema contained richly upholstered seats with luxurious carpet fitted throughout. The wide, 800 seat balcony, was promoted by Gaumont British as 'probably the largest in Northern England'. 

Customers sitting in the cheaper seats in the stalls would, from a point of view of comfort, be equal to those people in the balcony. A full working stage was included with the intention of providing stage performances together with big screen entertainment. 

A luxurious addition was the wood panelled, Tudor inspired Oak Restaurant which could accommodate 150 diners. It was to become a favourite dining venue for cinema goers and shoppers alike. 

The Mayor of Chester, Councillor John Morris, officially opened the building. The first feature film shown was ‘On Approval’ starring Tom Walls & Yvonne Arnaud. 

A John Compton 3Manual/8Rank Theatre Organ was installed at a cost of £10,000 and was played on the opening by renowned Organist, Leslie James. Many HMV gramophone recordings and radio broadcasts were made at the Gaumont, mainly by the famous Organist, Sydney Gustard. 

The cinema had the choice of all the main film releases and included many stage concerts, quickly establishing itself as Chester’s main entertainment venue. However, with the Odeon and ABC Regal opening in 1936/37, the Gaumont Palace’s film choice became restricted with the two new cinemas taking a large share of the first run feature films. After five years the cinema’s name was shortened to The Gaumont. 

Business was buoyant during the cinema’s heyday during the 1940s. Stage shows remained popular, even a spectacular ice show ‘Rose Marie’ was staged during the 1950s. Many top stars of the day like Cliff Richard and Billy Fury appeared at the Gaumont.  

Speaking about the demise of the cinema, Peter Davies, a former projectionist at the City's ABC Regal and Odeon cinemas said:

"Extended runs of films like ‘South Pacific’, ‘The King and I”, drew thousands of movie goers to see the films to full advantage on the giant CinemaScope screen. Unfortunately, television and other sources of entertainment were beginning to impact large cinemas, who began to struggle to keep the huge buildings viable. The Gaumont was one of several cinemas in the city that the then owners, The Rank Organisation, decided to close. The final film, ‘The Marriage-Go-Round’ was shown on Saturday 9th December 1961.  

At a cost of £100,000, the building underwent major internal structural alterations which included removing the balcony and transforming it into a 24 lane, ten pin bowling alley. Top Rank Bowling lasted little more than nine years when the company decided to move the bingo operation from what was once the Majestic Cinema, also on Brook Street, to the much larger capacity of the old Gaumont building during 1970. Despite name changes, bingo continued for more than five decades before the building was sold for re-development.

Despite the majority of the building being demolished to make way for the construction of a new 146 bed hotel, developers TAG announced that the mock Tudor frontage and the section of the building containing the historic oak room complete with its ornate ceiling, will be retained to form new office space within the building. Architectural features incorporated into the new building will reflect Chester's Tudor heritage whilst also celebrating the architecture of the Gaumont itself. Hotel Chester is expected to open in late 2026, creating approximately 80 jobs. 

The full history of The Gaumont Palace Cinema together with archive photographs and memories of all of Chester’s long lost cinemas can be found at: 

www.chestercinemas.co.uk 

Pictured - The original projection team at the Gaumont Palace Cinema in Chester.

Picture credit - Chestercinemas.co.uk