Title:
'On Screen Colchester: The Story of Colchester's Cinemas'
Level: Category
Parish history
Level: Fonds
ESSAYS RELATING TO COLCHESTER
Scope and Content:
Typescript history of cinemas in Colchester by Bernard Polley.

Discusses the following cinemas.

Electric Theatre (later called Headgate Cinema and Cameo Cinema), St. John's Street; opened 1910; closed 1976.

The Vaudeville Electric Theatre, (later called the Empire Cinema) Mersea Road; opened 1911; demolished 1971.

Hippodrome, High Street; opened 1905 and initally used as a theatre until 1920. Closed 1961; later used as bingo hall and then nightclub.

The Playhouse (later ABC), St John's Street; opened 1929. Also used as theatre; includes list of some weekly shows 1949-1954 and cast list for a production of 'The Emperor Constantine' by Dorothy L. Sayers, performed at The Playhouse, 1951. Closed 1981; later used as Gala Social Club.

The Regal (later Odeon), Crouch Street; opened 1931. Included live shows in addition to films.

Volume includes map showing locations, photographs of properties, copies of plans, adverts for films, names and photographs of some of the cinema staff.

Dates of Creation:
1991-1992
Extent:
1 volume

Key terms

TypeKey termsDescription
Subjects Cinemas 'On Screen Colchester: The Story of Colchester's Cinemas', 1991-1992
Place Names Crouch Street
Odeon
Colchester 		'On Screen Colchester: The Story of Colchester's Cinemas', 1991-1992
Place Names Crouch Street
The Regal
Colchester 		'On Screen Colchester: The Story of Colchester's Cinemas', 1991-1992
Place Names High Street
Hippodrome
Colchester 		'On Screen Colchester: The Story of Colchester's Cinemas', 1991-1992
Place Names Mersea Road
Empire Cinema
Colchester 		'On Screen Colchester: The Story of Colchester's Cinemas', 1991-1992
Place Names Mersea Road
Vaudeville Electric Theatre
Colchester 		'On Screen Colchester: The Story of Colchester's Cinemas', 1991-1992
Place Names St John's Street
ABC
Colchester 		'On Screen Colchester: The Story of Colchester's Cinemas', 1991-1992
Place Names St John's Street
Cameo Cinema
Colchester 		'On Screen Colchester: The Story of Colchester's Cinemas', 1991-1992
Place Names St John's Street
Electric Theatre
Colchester 		'On Screen Colchester: The Story of Colchester's Cinemas', 1991-1992
Place Names St John's Street
Headgate Cinema
Colchester 		'On Screen Colchester: The Story of Colchester's Cinemas', 1991-1992
Place Names St John's Street
The Playhouse
Colchester 		'On Screen Colchester: The Story of Colchester's Cinemas', 1991-1992