Bygone Beverley
THE PICTURE PLAYHOUSE - SHOWING LEASE OF LIFE (1954). FILMED IN BEVERLEY.
During the golden age of picturegoing from the 1930s to the 1960s, Beverley boasted three cinemas, The Picture Playhouse, The Marble Arch and The Regal. Each was different and possessed its own character, both architecturally and in the experience they provided.
THE PICTURE PLAYHOUSE
Built in 1865, originally as a corn exchange in the Saturday Market, the building became the town’s first cinema in February, 1911. The Picture Playhouse was the creation of local film pioneer Ernest Symmons.
During its illustrious history, it was the first of the town’s cinemas to show talkies and 3D. In the blacked-out times of WWII, the building also served as a church.
With the advent of TV, like so many cinemas, it struggled financially and spent several periods as or doubling up as a bingo hall.”
Sadly, the Playhouse presented its last screening in 2003 and closed, eventually making way for a department store.
MARBLE ARCH
The Marble Arch opened to the townsfolk of Beverley in September, 1916. With its classical frontage and elegant interior, it was the epitome of the early picture palace. Located on Butcher Row, it seated over a thousand people and also had a stage for live shows. A cafe provided a favourite rendezvous for locals.
Harry Popple became the manager in 1942, having worked his way up from the role of projectionist. As a former RAF serviceman, he was keen to help the war effort and made use of the stage for a number of benefit concerts.
The Marble Arch, like cinemas throughout the country, was not immune to the downturns in attendance that marked the 1960s, and by May of 1964, the projectors fell silent and were replaced by the patter of bingo callers.
THE REGAL
The Regal was the last of Beverley’s three original cinemas to be built. Constructed in the Art Deco style of the era, the Regal opened its doors in November, 1935. From local ownership, it was soon acquired by Associated British Cinemas (ABC).
As well as a cinema, the Regal also housed a grand ballroom and cafe. During the years of WWII, it was a popular haunt of aircrew from the nearby RAF airbase at Leconfield. The dances were famous and spawned many a romance and even marriage.
Many Beverlonians of a certain age will have fond childhood memories of that Saturday morning highlight known as the ABC Minors.
The cinema closed in June, 1968, and the building went onto to be utilised as a bingo hall, a snooker club and a nightclub, before its eventual demolition in 1998.
ORIGINAL 1950s CINEMA FLYERS – MARBLE ARCH
