The Essoldo opened as the Kings in 1905 and became the Empire in 1918 and used to show short films during the variety performances It was taken over by the Essoldo Cinema chain in 1946 but continues as a variety theatre til 1950 and following a refurbishmant was renamed the Essoldo Theatre with a reduced capacity of just under 1100. It had cinemascope was installed in 1954 making the first Gateshead cinema to do so ahead of the Odeon the premier cinema in the town. It still put on occasional live shows and its last professional show was the the 1965 Pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk starring Sandy Powell although a few local am dram shows followed. The Essoldo closed its doors on 30th December 1967 with the gangster double bill of 'Al Capone and 'Dillinger' and was demolished on early 1968.