The Atherstone Regal Cinema was opened on 28th September 1937. The cinema replaced the former Atherstone Workhouse which was demolished earlier in the decade.
The building was designed by architect Harold S. Scott. Unfortunately we do not have any reference to what the building actually looked like, we can only assumed it was similar in appearance to other cinemas of the time. The architect Harold S. Scott was responsible for designing cinemas all over the country, including Birmingham and London. His work was often grand, art deco in style and considered typical of the time.
Upon opening the Atherstone Regal Cinema featured 744 seats and admission prices ranged from 9d. to 1s. 6d. . The cinemas Proscenium was 40ft wide.
A Proscenium theater is a theater space whose primary feature is a large archway (the proscenium arch) at or near the front of the stage, through which the audience views the play. The audience directly faces the stage, which is typically raised several feet above front row audience level. The main stage is the space behind the proscenium arch, often marked by a curtain which can be lowered or drawn closed.
Prices ranged from 9d. to 1s. 6d. and films were shown every evening. Matinees took place on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 7.30pm.
Mayfair Circuit/ABC purchased the cinema in 1943 and held onto it until 1960, when it was sold on to an independent. The cinema was finally closed for business in 1987 and was subsequently demolished. Regal Court, a several story building containing retirement flats was erected in 1989 and now stands in its place.
Last updated: February 12, 2007
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July 9th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
Iam the newest member———hallo everyone.
I also ‘belong’ to Warwickshire on line, which for some reason is offline at present.
Iwas an evacuee from 1939-1945 in Atherstone and was familiar with almost every blade of grass.Well not every blade of grass but you will understand what I mean.
Icannot believe that no-one has a photo of the Regal–it was everyones life blood during the war–especially when the Yanks came to town. It had an electriclal shop built in on the left had side which had a television set in the window all the time Ilived there.We marvelled at it, even as it got dustier and more grimy with time .The shop was closed ”for the duration” said a notice on the door. The set was probably 4foot high and the screen was about7″x6″
Iremember it well —we queued outside it about 3 times a week and more if we had the money and of course there was a Saturday morning club which terrified me at first–a 6 year old from a shelterd home in Coventry, but I soon learned to scuffle, and push and yell as loudly as the rest. The queues were enormous and sometimes we drifted to the Picturedrome which was nicknamed the ‘cornick’. Ifound out some years later that it had been the old corn exchange. The fist film Isaw there was ‘The maid of the mountains’ it was in sepia.
Anyone remember the ‘Atherstone News’newspaper?. When did it close.
September 27th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
My late grandfather (Sidney Barnes) was a keen photographer who photographed and collected many pictures of Atherstone.
Some of these were displayed at the Atherstone Gala show a few years back.
I believe I have a picture of the Regal Cinema if you would like to see it.
September 29th, 2007 at 6:12 am
Have you by any chance any photos of The White Lion Pub, which was on Long Street/Station Street, Atherstone in c1817. My 9xGreat Grandad owned the pub at this time. He also owned a Bakery which I assume was adjacent to the Pub. This information being taken from the Will of my Ancestor, George Biddle b.1740/d.28.03.1818. Any information would be very much appreciated.
October 8th, 2007 at 10:59 am
Iam still hoping to hear whether anyone remembers ‘THE ATHERSTONE NEWS’ and when it closed
It was also used as headquarters for the billiting officer for evacuees during the war.
October 25th, 2007 at 9:45 am
cathidaw:
The closest I can get to finding the close of the Atherstone News is 27th Match, 1959. The following week the paper was the Atherstone News and Herald, the last edition of which appears to have been 1st April, 1966.
December 14th, 2007 at 6:31 am
I have a set of drawings by Harold S Scott for a Regal Cinema in Bradford on Avon(Wilts)for thwe Regal Bradford on Avon Ltd which was never built, dated 1936. If any one is interested I could get a copy to forward.
January 23rd, 2008 at 1:27 am
I am trying to find the name of the man who used to advertise cinema spares in the 60’s and 70’s and used the regal atherstone as his address
August 17th, 2008 at 2:30 am
can anyone in atherstone remember the building oppersite the regal cinema whitch
used to sell 16mm films if so can you tell
me what happened to all the films
thank you
michael
January 20th, 2009 at 3:42 am
In answer to Malcolm Crow’s query, the small ads which appeared in Kine Weekly which he refers to said “Sankey, Regal, Atherstone” as his business address. He was quite well known in the trade I gather.
March 20th, 2009 at 5:50 am
The Regal was indeed built on the site of the old workhouse. In 1928, due to carer problems an aunt of mune was temporarily incarcerated in the Infirmary department. The ward was bleak and almost inhumane,- it needed to be closed. Mr Richards (a kind man) was Workhouse Master. I attended with his son at the Boys’ school in Arden Hill, Headmaster Mr W Essam.The earlier cinema (The “Cornic”) was in the Corn Rxchange at
the corner of “Dog Lane” and Long Street owner Mr John Briggs; silent films, wooden benches,monkey nut shells,smell of oranges, rising seats at sides of projection box, known as the Chicken Run -all very dusty and basic. We saw Tom Mix, Jack Oxey and Charlie Chaplin. Admission for Saturday kids 2d, reduced to 1d in the 1926 strike. In the strike the Cornic got a rival in the shape of Holloway’s Travelling Theatre (The Blood Tub)erected near the New Bridge and the Park gates, accessed via the cattle arch. They showed much the same, but for 1d one got a free strip of liqorice. The Blood Tub did not survive the depression and Mr Teddy Holloway spent his last days chopping up the timber and hawking it around the town as firewood. Mr Ernest Hallam, local wit, who wrote as “Will o’ the Wisp” in the Atherstone News (Published by Baxters, Long Stret) lamented that the “smellies” would be invented before Atherstone got the “talkies” However in 1928/9 Johnson’s coaches ran to the Hippodrome, Nuneaton where I saw Al Jolson in “The Singing Fool” I attended the firat showing at the Regal.It was a Saturday Matinee, free admission with a cup of tea and a cake. Normal lowest admission fee was 6d. It did great business at once, and during and after the war but succumbed to the “Tele”. The Cornic was refurbished and survived for some time as “The Picturedrome”