Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'

Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'
[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]

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The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle

Posted by Peter on May 1, 2022, 15:56:54

There is an advert on eBay for a cinema poster for 'A Farewell to Arms' at the Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle on Sunday 30 March 1958.
If you are interested, the eBay reference number is 224652418614; pop it into the eBay search box and it'll show.

Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle

Posted by Brian on May 1, 2022, 16:47:55, in reply to "The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle"

A friend of mine was the last manager at the Essoldo and had to do the close down of the theatre, he said there was hundreds of posters and publicity material going back years, it was a bit of a rush to close it down and lots of stuff was dumped, some staff took their pick of the stuff but looking at the prices these posters go for now he reckoned looking back they must have binned thousands of pounds worth of publicity material and posters. He said it would have made a canny pension pot now.

Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle

Posted by Sheila on May 1, 2022, 17:18:59, in reply to "Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle"

Memories, I remember going to the Essoldo with a date from a meeting at Oxford Ballroom. Must have been the late 1950’s Happy days, although I don’t remember his name😊

Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle

Posted by Brian on May 1, 2022, 17:45:47, in reply to "Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle"

I always liked the Essoldo, a nice auditorium, the pavilion and the Stoll just a little further up Westgate Road now it's miles to a cinema for most people.

The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle

Posted by Peter on May 1, 2022, 18:47:28, in reply to "Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle"

Didn't The Stoll show 'Continental' pictures?!?

Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle

Posted by Brian on May 1, 2022, 19:01:48, in reply to "The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle"

They did eventually, but it was a mainstream cinema for a long time.

Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle

Posted by Mac Cummings on May 1, 2022, 19:22:43, in reply to "The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle"

The Essoldo had a fabulous Hammond Organ.
My Dad played it from time to time, whenever he could, even for free.
I can remember seeing him emerge from the floor at the interval........!
I think that he loved Hammonds. He once got his hands on the one in the Tower at Blackpool.

Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle

Posted by Brian on May 1, 2022, 19:40:22, in reply to "Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle"

The Odeon had quite an impressive organ although I don't know the make

Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle - Odeon Organ

Posted by Brian on May 1, 2022, 19:46:51, in reply to "Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle"

The organ at the Odeon was a Wurlitzer 3Manual/19Ranks theatre organ. and rose up on the left hand side of the screen

Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle - Odeon Organ

Posted by Stan Wears on May 1, 2022, 22:02:49, in reply to "Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle - Odeon Organ"

I know it's not the Essoldo but speaking of traction engine rallies where fairground organs go too, it began in Pickering in a field. and sadly has now moved to Whitby. I was lucky enough to grab the last poster of that last rally at Pickering. I have been offered cash for it but it is now framed and on a wall at home. Posters like this are rare and I wouldn't part with it..

Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle - Odeon Organ

Posted by Brian on May 1, 2022, 22:55:40, in reply to "Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle - Odeon Organ"

Most of those posters would be put up outside in all weathers so not many would survive at all.

Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle - Odeon Organ

Posted by Geoff on May 2, 2022, 16:01:43, in reply to "Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle - Odeon Organ"

The Odeon Wurlitzer organ was removed in late 1960 and reinstalled and working by 1972 in Kitchen Bros car showroom in Diss in 1982 it moved again to an unknown location in Northampton

Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle

Posted by Sheila on May 2, 2022, 9:26:37, in reply to "Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle"

My favourite piece of organ music, is Widor Toccata Symphony 5 in F Major. It was played at the end my daughters wedding as she and her husband came out if the church. It is beautiful. I love to play it loudly.

Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle

Posted by Brian on May 2, 2022, 12:44:54, in reply to "Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle"

A very good pipe organ player was Fats Waller. He did some recordings in London around 1930, I believe they are on YouTube, the are so gentle compared to his stride piano style which made him famous.

Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle

Posted by Norman Dunn on May 2, 2022, 13:52:37, in reply to "Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle"

When I worked at the Royal Ordnance Factory in Birtley mid 70s, there was a nightshift Foreman that lived in Tudhoe Village in County Durham. He told me that their Working mens Club bought Newcastle Odeon's Electric Organ.

Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle

Posted by Brian on May 2, 2022, 15:41:44, in reply to "Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle"

I know most of the cinema organs were gone from the Newcastle cinemas by the the mid 1960s. The Queens sold theirs in the mid 50s. It was cheaper to play a tape of music than pay an organist and maintain an instrument. I reckon a good few clubs did this.

For Geoff

Posted by Norman Dunn on May 2, 2022, 18:13:05, in reply to "Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle"

Geoff posted that the Wurlitzer Organ went elsewhere when I'd said I'd been told it had went to Tudhoe Victory Club in Co Durham 1970s.
I was curioius so Ive just been intouch with the Club and the lady agreed that their Organ, which is still in use, came from the Odeon in Newcastle.
It could be that there were 2 organs in the Cinema because the lady I spoke to went over to see if it has a name but all she could find was 'Technics'.

Re: For Geoff

Posted by Geoff on May 2, 2022, 19:56:35, in reply to "For Geoff"

For Norman,I Googled Newcastle Odeon Wurlitzer organ and thats where the info came from, it even gave the model number etc, perhaps there was two and the other one ended up in Tudhoe

Re: For Geoff

Posted by Brian on May 2, 2022, 20:30:00, in reply to "For Geoff"

It certainly wasn't the original organ Norman, I wonder if it was a back up machine, the Odeon was the flagship cinema in Newcastle for the chain so it wouldn't do to be without back up.

Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle

Posted by Sheila on May 2, 2022, 18:26:12, in reply to "Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle"

I’m sure it is true Brian to use a tape, but I have to say at my daughters wedding in Chagford on Dartmoor, she had an organist As well as Widor, he played William Boyce Symphony No4 in F major, arriving at the church, then Praise my soul the King of Heaven, He would be valiant be and finally,I vow you to me my country. He was brilliant, Brought up Catholic I didn’t know sone if the hymns, but thought they were beautiful. I had no say in it but they were lovely.

Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle

Posted by Brian on May 4, 2022, 14:14:12, in reply to "Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle"

Some cinemas had gone over to records/reel to reel tapes by the late 1940s all worked from the projection room. The cinema chains sent out the same tapes one track that I can always remember was Charmaine played on an organ, as a kid, I found it morose.

Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle

Posted by Norman Dunn on May 4, 2022, 16:14:13, in reply to "Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle"

Charmaine was played in the Gem for years Brian. It was a tune from 1927 and I liked it.
If I heard it now it would take me back to my Gem days.

Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle

Posted by Sheila on May 4, 2022, 17:32:33, in reply to "Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle"

Norman, Charmaine, that brings back memories.Mantovani. Yes like you I remember it being played constantly.

Specially for Sheila

Posted by Norman Dunn on May 4, 2022, 18:00:14, in reply to "Re: The Essoldo Theatre, Newcastle"

Hi Sheila, click on 'The Gem' start the video, close your eyes and we are back in the Gem 1950s.
Brian isnt coming though as he didnt really like it

Link: The Gem

Re: Specially for Sheila

Posted by Brian on May 4, 2022, 18:13:44, in reply to "Specially for Sheila"

That's ok Norman I'll got to the Rex, I remember Mantovani's version but the organ version was awful. It's played on harmonica in the Dirk Bogarde film The Password is Courage and let's not forget The Bachelors hit in the 1960s.

Re: Specially for Sheila

Posted by Norman Dunn on May 4, 2022, 18:30:54, in reply to "Re: Specially for Sheila"

You cant got to the Rex Brian as we are back in the 1950s listening to Charmaine.
You'll have to go to Jarrow Regal, Picture house or Empire

Re: Specially for Sheila

Posted by Brian on May 4, 2022, 18:44:55, in reply to "Re: Specially for Sheila"

As I wasn't born til 1957 it doesn't apply , I'm sti only a twinkle in my dad's eye.

Re: Specially for Sheila intermission time

Posted by Brian on May 5, 2022, 10:57:15, in reply to "Re: Specially for Sheila"

While you are waiting for the film to start or queuing for an ice cream in the intermission here's something you may have seen over the years.:

and some Pearl and Dean from the early 1970s

And those generic adverts for curry house etc that had the local curry house transposed and the voice over added it was the same all over the UK

Re: Specially for Sheila intermission time

Posted by geordieboy NS on May 6, 2022, 3:13:24, in reply to "Re: Specially for Sheila intermission time"

Young love & Morris Minor add certainly touched a heart string and forgotten memory. Thank you for showing.

Re: Specially for Sheila

Posted by Sheila on May 6, 2022, 8:24:58, in reply to "Specially for Sheila"

Just catching up Norman. Thanks for the link. Mantovani’s Charmaine. It certainly brings back memories of the interval in east we used to call the Picture House.

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