Results 1 to 2 of 2

Thread: Gaumot Art Deco Cinema Dingle

  1. #1
    Creator & Administrator Kev's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Under The Stairs >> Under The Mud.
    Posts
    7,488
    Blog Entries
    4

    Default Gaumot Art Deco Cinema Dingle

    A DISUSED Liverpool art deco cinema could be restored to its former glory.

    Owners of the Gaumont estimate it will cost ?750,000 to restore and refurbish the Dingle landmark.

    Yobs who broke into the building badly damaged the interior decoration.

    George Koultis, who is driving the project on behalf of owner Michelle Stannard, said the restored building would be thrown open to the public and used as a theatre, cinema, music and community venue.

    Mr Koultis said: ?We want to get this place back open. If it was full and busy, we could employ as many as 44 people ? ushers and front of house, kitchen and bar staff and security.

    ?The plan would be to put on a Saturday and Sunday morning cinema club for children, and have bingo, plays, bands, and a hall for hire. We?re all trying to work together to pick the area up.

    ?Unfortunately, kids got in and vandalised all the ornate plasterwork.

    ?They hit the ceiling with poles and smashed the glass. ?We?d just finished plastering everywhere when it happened ? they came and destroyed everything. It?s very disheartening.

    ?What we can try and do is enough work to make it safe and perhaps put on performances to help raise the money for the rest of the work. ?We?d also like to try and get some unwanted cinema seating, or see if skilled craftsmen can help out.?

    The 1,500-seat Gaumont was designed by WE Trent, the chief architect for the Gaumont-British group, with a specific curved frontage to follow the shape of the corner of Park Road and Dingle Lane.

    It was built on the site of the old Dingle Picturedrome and opened in March, 1937, with what was said to be the first cinema in Britain to have the Gaumont ?projectomatic? system, which automatically changed the reels during projection of films, as well as controlling the houselights and stage curtains.

    The cinema also boasted an impressive Wurlitzer organ which is currently in a Manchester museum.

    Cliff Richard and The Shadows played there in 1961.



    In the 1960s, the building, which is not listed, was turned into a bingo hall..

    Anyone who can help should e-mail stannard-king@hotmail.co.uk

    catherine.jones@liverpool.com
    Become A Supporter 👇


    Donate Via PayPal


    Donate


  2. #2
    Senior Member Ross08's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Posts
    263

    Default

    Anything that is done to save any building (especially cinemas for me) has to be a good thing.

    This is a great building and I would love to see it preserved. Let's "Watch This Space".
    My Merseyside StreetView photos on flickr

Similar Threads

  1. Gaumont Cinema Dingle Liverpool November 2011
    By Kevsy in forum Buildings and Structures
    Replies: 30
    Last Post: 02-26-2012, 09:42 PM
  2. Art Deco Liverpool and wider area
    By Kev in forum Buildings and Structures
    Replies: 158
    Last Post: 09-29-2011, 07:08 PM

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •