Showing today

Hands up all those who remember where the Gaumont Cinema was.  Not as many as would have at one time pointed to the right place.  On the railway side of Stanhope Road.  That's the problem with memory.  It slowly drifts away from us.  Then, of course there are new generations in the city – young and incomers – who never knew the wonderful place.

It was only when I spotted an article in a copy of the Herts Advertiser from 1972 that I was taken back to those blue days, name change days (it was previously known as the Grand Palace), the discreet lighting days, and the really big poster-on-the-side-fence days.  Meanwhile, for the enjoyment of all, here is part of the article as it appeared.

"Fifty years ago Eddie Whiting's father built the Gaumont Cinema in St Albans, then called the Grand Palace Cinema.  A few days ago, to mark its golden jubilee, Mr Whiting visited St Albans from his home on the south coast.  And sadly he said, 'it is so disappointing; it looks so dejected from outside compared with the spick and span appearance it had in those days.'

Mr Whiting, now 64, who managed the cinema – where some famous stage turns gave live shows as well – recalled the early days of the building, built by his father, George Whiting, a former city councillor, at a cost of £35,000.

'My father and I had planned a small cinema for about 500 people, but the architect, Mr Harry Finn, said there was sufficient space for a larger place.'  Yellowing photographs show that the Grand Palace was a grand and comfortable place of entertainment when it was opened in 1922 with seating for 1,500.

The cinema opened with three-hour shows, a big picture plus variety entertainment, and two houses per day.  'We booked 14 big pictures for the cinema, and the first one was Squibs, featuring Betty Balfour and Fred Groves.  The stars made a personal appearance for the opening.'

The cinema was a great success and was playing to packed houses with the prices at 6d, 9d, 1/3d downstairs, and upstairs was 1/10d and 2/4d [all prices less than 15p in today's money!].  Of course, there was a 14-piece orchestra with Dave Purviss from the Palace Theatre, Luton, as the conductor, and also a tea room."

The cinema was long with a seemingly endless number of quite short rows gently sweeping down to the Granville Road end.  The frontage was very impressive with a portico in a Greek style with pillars holding up the curved roof.  To complete the style a Greek figure sculpture on a shallow plinth stood between the two entrance doorways under the portico.

I do not recall the sculpture at all, and presume that it was moved before World War Two.  Was it moved inside for greater protection, perhaps up to the tearoom; or did it disappear from the building altogether?  If anyone knows the answer to that question do please contact the site: saoee@me.com

We can no longer enjoy entertainment at the Gaumont
for the building is no longer standing.  After a period as a bingo hall it was demolished, to be replaced with blocks of flats called Chatsworth Court.

Photos courtesy HALS.