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Bingo Hall History - The Kingston Gala - Part 1

Cinema architecture fan and photographer Ian Grundy returns with another article focused on an individual bingo hall. After his overview of the history of Bingo in the UK he has moved on to cover the unique histories of some of Britains oldest and most loved bingo halls. In this article Ian looks at how the Kingston Gala has developed since it's initial conversion from a church in 1909, through it's life as a cinema, and on to the present day.

Author: Ian Grundy

From Church To Cinema

Page 1 | Page 2

In 1909 a church on the corner of Richmond Road and Canbury Park Road was converted to a small cinema with accommodation for 600 patrons, 100 of whom sat in a small balcony. It was converted to sound around 1930, but was acquired by the County Cinema Circuit shortly after to be closed and demolished between May and July 1931 to allow for the construction of the massive Regal Theatre.

The exterior of The Kingston Garrick
The present day exterior of the Gala Club, formerly the Regal Cinema.

The new cinema was designed by Robert Cromie, one of the foremost architects of the super cinema era. In addition to the Kingston venture, Cromie designed such prestigious venues as the Davis Theatre in Croydon, The Hammersmith Gaumont Palace (now the Apollo Theatre) and The Prince of Wales Theatre in London’s West End. The Regal Kingston was to be his fourth largest cinema behind Hammersmith, Croydon and the Regal Hull. It held 2,445 patrons split between the stalls and the single large balcony. It was designed in the art deco style and many of the original fixtures and fittings remain in the bingo hall today.

The exterior of the Regal under Coral ownership in 1988.

The Regal opened with a flourish on 15th February 1932, with the films “Splinters of the Navy” and “Keepers of Youth” with a Laurel and Hardy short in support. An elegant tea room on the first floor provided refreshments and had a small stage to enable the space to be used as a ballroom, complete with sprung dance floor. Appropriately this is now in use as a dance studio, separated from the main theatre.

One of the art deco light fittings in the circle.

In addition to the film fare, the Regal was equipped with a large stage, orchestra pit for 30-40 musicians, and an unlucky thirteen dressing rooms. Odd days or entire weeks of live entertainment were common. At Kingston in 1954 Variety was tried, but appears to have met little success. The touring pop bands however proved a big draw. The stage was twenty seven metres wide and there were 17 counterweight lines for flying scenery.

The spacious interior of the Gala Club, photographed in 2009.

Part 2: Up To The Present Day >>

Bingo Hall History - The Kingston Gala - Part 1

From Church To Cinema

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