Thanks to EMI (and Sean Currell’s “The Dream Palaces of Oxfordshire”) for these pictures of the Picture Palace / Kinema / Pavilion Cinema that was in Stert Street in Abingdon from 1911 until 1949.
That cinema was joined in Abingdon, in 1935, by the 1000 seat Regal Cinema. The Regal carried on showing films until Bingo took over the building in 1976. Bingo ran for about 8 years, then further attempts were made to run The Regal as a cinema again.
Elizabeth sent me this picture of the final film to be shown at the Regal. It was the 1989 Batman film.
She also sent me this picture showing the Regal when it had become an eyesore – before demolition in 2003.
There have been other plans since for cinemas in Abingdon.
The Regal and land all the way to West St Helens Street was owned by the Co-op and Southern Electric, and locals pressed for a studio cinema to be part of any redevelopment of the area. (Herald 19.9.96)
The Vale of White Horse District Council then purchased the Regal site and lots of other land behind which they planned to regenerate. So when in 1998 the owner of the Regent Cinema in Wantage approached them with a plan to re-open the Regal as a three screen cinema he was turned down, as it compromised their bigger plans for the area. (Herald 5.2.98)
In 1999 there was a lot of excitement about plans for a 7 screen multiplex on Marcham Road. The Vale of White Horse District Council was fully behind the plan, but Oxfordshire County Council opposed the plan. In the end John Prescott in Westminster decided for them and turned down the project.(Herald 27.6.99)
Thoughts then turned to the Old Gaol with plans to redevelop the sports centre as an arts complex – possibly including a cinema, which never happened.
The latest plans for a cinema comes from Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council and forms part of the Guildhall redevelopment. The Guildhall would have a dedicated 100 seat cinema, and a multi-use assembly hall which could also show films. The Town Council has done a survey with the vast majority of people in favour.
Spotted Abingdon, Abingdon’s most liked facebook Site with 6640 likes to date, has created a different survey where people can express their opinions about various choices for Abingdon including the proposed cinema https://www.surveymonkey.com/
Unfortunately there seems very few pictures of the old Regal, that I have seen. I remember my mum working there in the 80’s, so i got many a free showing.
why did they ever knock the old one down?
lack of foresight and vision, shame.
“They” probably knocked the old one down because cinema-goers wanted a different experience (better seats, better sound and projection systems) which was going to be too costly with the footfall.
If there is to be a cinema facility in the Guildhall, I would gladly go if “they” can guarantee that I won’t find myself in a popcorn-surround atmosphere which leaves my clothes smelling for days afterwards. Probably better than ciggie smoke – but not much!
Curiously on the aaahs.org.uk website there is report about the flood water entering the Stert St Cinema while people were watching the film. This was due to a flash flood coming down the River Stert.
Corrected URL aaahs.org.uk
in fairness the regal was pretty horrendous – I saw a few films there and you really had to concentrate to make out the dialogue – it really was that muffled.
and as for the marcham road one -they wanted to build it in the field that’s been underwater twice since xmas!
and shortly after planning permission was turned down for obvious reasons a number of people in the nearest street had paint stripper thrown over their cars by a person unknown – not that I am suggesting the two were linked…..
The Old Gaol should have been an Arts Complex with an area for live music, theatre and a gallery.
Not surprisingly, the VOWH went for the money and built fancy apartments and denied a great opportunity to offer culture and leisure facilities in Abingdon.
Now the powers that be are trying to ‘bolt on’ a cinema in the Guildhall!
VOWH appear not care a damn about cultural and leisure facilities in Abingdon. One would think that they are just interested in stuffing the place full of housing. Didcot has got it right. They have a large car park, interesting retail units, a cinema and restaurants. Abingdon would benefit from an entertainment centre such as the Cornerstone in Didcot. People could be entertained and then have a meal in one of the many restaurants Abingdon has. Abingdon does not have the space for the demand for more car parking that a facility such as a cinema would bring.
Janet, well where would you build a car park in the town centre, there are too many car here as it is? There are plenty of places to park cars in Milton Keynes, Basingstoke and other modern soul less new town. Didcot is a different place, and its pointless to compare it. I for one would like a cinema I could walk or cycle too. Abingdon is a small town, and we need less cars, not more.
Janet has hit the nail on the head! The Guildhall (the new bit anyway) should be demolished and replaced with something like Cornerstone, It could even still incorporate the ‘Cinema’.
I just really think that concrete eyesore should be obliterated!
Has everyone seen the previous thread on this blog re a new cinema? Its about 2-3 pages back with about 70 odd comments attached to it. Sort of saying what a couple are saying here, with a few other ideas thrown in to the mix for good measure.
@Chris L
What date was this on, Chris? I went back over a dozen pages and missed it.
Ppjs – “Town Centre Shop Changes 2013” from 28th December. There is a fairly thorough overview of some of the issues.
There’s an outside chance that there may be a meeting/forum/discussion at some point to raise/address/allay concerns…although, if it’s a done deal, then there won’t be any point I guess.
I also guess, it would be good to have a similar town wide discussion regarding the towns future in general – the “vision”, the hopes, the aspirations…ideally before our destiny is determined for the next 50 years by the charter development….but again, only if it isn’t too late! (I fear it is)!
Just heard on the news that the Westway development in Botley has been changed after public opinion has been sought, their views listened to, and their aspirations taken into account. How novel !
PPJS sorry im having great problem posting anything on this article .
Mods… Spam alert!!!
From Parajumpers Outlet
Now gone.
Old Gaol would have made a nice cinema ….. library too, few shops etc …….. just saying 😉
On the car parking point I agree with Peter – apparently Abingdon already has as many parking spaces within the same distance of the Guildhall as the Cornerstone is from the Sainsbury’s car park. There may need to be some improvements in lighting etc for some of the but that shouldn’t be a big deal.
Re knocking down the modern bit of the Guildhall (which incidentally may look like concrete but is actually Portland Stone!) I know that it was considered but the cost would be astronomical and there would be many more regulatory hoops to go through. Like a lot of other things it is a question of whether to do what is achievable with the resources you have and in a reasonable timescale or hold out for the “ideal”…
The Old Kinema in Stert Street was taken over after closure by The Abbey Press, John Hooke Limited. It still had some of the original plush seats, the cameras were still in position in the projection room, there were a few old programmes and the odd film reel. Indeed there was a piano still in place, from the silent movie days, the floor sloped from back to front and throughout its use by the Abbey Press, the area where the screen once stood, was known as the stage. In the roof space there was a water tank which had a number of very old programmes pasted onto it.
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I had connection with the Regal Cinema from 1973 until 1987and think it was a shame that Paul Kirwins application was refused by the Council. We would have had a three screen cinema and restaurant/bar in operation by now. The cinema itself, although very tired by the time it closed, was always full during school holidays but empty at other times. It is odd that the cinema was demolished and now there are proposals to build a one screen cinema at the Guildhall. Let’s hope they call it the “New” Regal. Personally, I feel it was demolished for financial reasons.