A poster for The Grand Variety and Opera House on Bishop Street in Stockton dated Monday, March 21st, 1892. Poster courtesy of Jennifer Heward. 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
A poster for The Grand Variety and Opera House on Bishop Street in Stockton dated Monday, March 21st, 1892. Poster courtesy of Jennifer Heward.
I saw my first picture at the Plaza. My mother took me one cold November night and the picture was called “Moon over Miami” with Don Ameche. Couldn”t afford the best seats finished up in the Gods bitten to hell. I can remember it like it was yesterday.
The Grand was re-named the PLAZA, but as kids we re-named it THE LAUGH AND SCRATCH, for obvious reasons, if you went to the Plaza you were lucky to get home without getting a flea bite you had done very well. I remember the first film I saw there was one starring Eddie Cantor of the big staring eyes. I also believe there were plenty of rats in the bulding although I never ever saw one. You could sit in the best seats for sixpence so it was popular with the kids.
I assume I am correct in saying that the Grand was the early name for what eventually because the Plaza. Can anyone confirm this?