Rokeby Street, Prince of Wales Cinema

HER Number:
12852

District:
Newcastle

Site Name:
Rokeby Street, Prince of Wales Cinema

Place:
Lemington

Map Sheet:
NZ16SE

Class:
Recreational

Site Type: Broad:
Cinema

Site Type: Specific:
Cinema

General Period:
20TH CENTURY

Specific Period:
Early 20th Century 1901 to 1932

Form of Evidence:
Extant Building

Description:
Opened 14 July 1924. Designed by architects W.J. Clark of Lemington and E. Jackson of Gateshead. The builders were Straker Bros. of Lemington. The owner was John Grantham. The cinema had a stadium plan with 534 seats in the stalls and 256 in the balcony. There was a small stage with dressing rooms below and an orchestra pit. The cinema was opened by Major J.B. Rowell, chairman of Newburn Urban District Council. Once a year the local Amateur Operatic Society hired the cinema for a stage show. Cinemascope was installed in 1956. The cinema closed around 1960 and became a bingo hall.

Easting:
418660

Northing:
564860

Grid Reference:
NZ418660564860

Lats/Lons:

Sources:
Frank Manders, 1991, Cinemas of Newcastle, pages 135-136; Frank Manders, 2005, Cinemas of Newcastle, pages 132-133, 160