Benwell, Condercum Road, Grand Palace Cinema

HER Number:
11350

District:
Newcastle

Site Name:
Benwell, Condercum Road, Grand Palace Cinema

Place:
Benwell

Map Sheet:
NZ26SW

Class:
Recreational

Site Type: Broad:

Site Type: Specific:
Cinema

General Period:
Modern

Specific Period:
C20

Form of Evidence:
Demolished Building

Description:
Opened 7 August 1911. Designed by Messrs. Gibson and Stienet. The interior décor was crimson, white and cream. The ceilings, walls and proscenium had plaster work in 'Louis Quinze' style with fruit and flowers by Andersons of South Shields. The stage scenery was by Albion Studios. The lessees were Messrs. Jack Grantham and Eddie Cant. Along one side of the building there was a long verandah canopy to shelter queuing customers. The Grand seated 448 people in the stalls and 192 in the circle. In September 1932 the Grand became a theatre for a few weeks, then was taken over by the Stanley Rogers Cinemas circuit in April 1933. Actress Beryl Reid recalled that in 1937 there was wire netting over the top of the orchestra pit because the audience threw objects at the artists. During the war the Grand declined. It closed on 29 September 1956. The cinema became a warehouse for Ferodo. The site is now a supermarket car park.

Easting:
2180

Northing:
6412

Grid Reference:
NZ21806412

Lats/Lons:

Sources:
Along The Terrace Memory Map - a local area heritage guide, Age Concern, Newcastle City Council, Newcastle Community Heritage Project Down Your Way?; Frank Manders, 1991, Cinemas of Newcastle, pages 69-70; Douglas Bond, 1992, Bygone Benwell Revisited; Frank Manders, 2005, Cinemas of Newcastle, pages 30-32, 43, 95, 112, 151, 158