I too have fond memories of the Essoldo. When it was a cinema we would go into Maynards beforehand for some sweets. Later when it became a Bingo Hall my Mum (Molly), Grandad (“Red” Shread) and Aunt Eilleen all worked there. My Uncle Don (Clarkson) was the manager. We would often go and visit as they lived above the cinema in what I remember to be a huge flat. We would chase each other round and round the place there were so many disused rooms above.
A lovely cinima and you could order tea and fruit cake at the cash desk. It was served on a tray and you sat in an end seat. The tea always arrived in the middle of an exiting film. Happy days, and the tea and cake were 10 pence.
Paul Dee is correct in remembering the tea and biscuits served at The Cinema during matinee performances in the 50`s. I believe that this service was a feature of The Cinema which was resumed after the war and continued into the 50`s. My dear Grandmother and mother partook of this treat after a long day at Stockton market on Wednesdays. They would be mortified to hear Paul remembering them as “rather plump ladies”. I dreaded being forced to accompany them as my Grandmother would make comments throughout the film performance much to the annoyance of the audience unfortunate enough to be seated near her. All very embarrassing for a young lad. Today I can look back on those visits to The Cinema and laugh at my Grandmother`s belief that what she saw on the screen was actually happening. Of course she had been born in the days when heroes were cheered and villains were hissed.
As a boy in the 1940″s I was a regular visitor to the picture houses of Stockton, usually twice a week. At that time and into the 50″s the name above the canopy and the one that we all knew it by was “The Cinema”. Your list omits the Plaza known earlier as the Grand but usually refered to as the “Flea Pit”.
Maynards 101 The High Street was from 1851 to 1865 the home of James Samuel Noad an engraver and printer. His wife Elizabeth (nee Manners) was the first mistress of Holy Tinity School.The Essoldo was the Cinema.
The Essoldo”s previous name in the fifties was”The Cinema”. Another picture house in Stockton was “The Plaza” or The Fleapit as it was affectionatly known.
In the 1950″s it was simply called “The Cinema” One of the oddities of the place was that during the matinee performances they would serve tea and cakes on a tray to members of the audience (usually rather plump ladies as I remember )
The Ladbroke Social Club used to be the Essoldo, one of Stockton”s many cinemas. What a lot of cinemas our small town had with the Empire, Globe, Hippodrome and Odeon. I think that the Essoldo had a different name in the 1950s – can anybody remember what it was ?
I too have fond memories of the Essoldo. When it was a cinema we would go into Maynards beforehand for some sweets. Later when it became a Bingo Hall my Mum (Molly), Grandad (“Red” Shread) and Aunt Eilleen all worked there. My Uncle Don (Clarkson) was the manager. We would often go and visit as they lived above the cinema in what I remember to be a huge flat. We would chase each other round and round the place there were so many disused rooms above.
A lovely cinima and you could order tea and fruit cake at the cash desk. It was served on a tray and you sat in an end seat. The tea always arrived in the middle of an exiting film. Happy days, and the tea and cake were 10 pence.
Paul Dee is correct in remembering the tea and biscuits served at The Cinema during matinee performances in the 50`s. I believe that this service was a feature of The Cinema which was resumed after the war and continued into the 50`s. My dear Grandmother and mother partook of this treat after a long day at Stockton market on Wednesdays. They would be mortified to hear Paul remembering them as “rather plump ladies”. I dreaded being forced to accompany them as my Grandmother would make comments throughout the film performance much to the annoyance of the audience unfortunate enough to be seated near her. All very embarrassing for a young lad. Today I can look back on those visits to The Cinema and laugh at my Grandmother`s belief that what she saw on the screen was actually happening. Of course she had been born in the days when heroes were cheered and villains were hissed.
As a boy in the 1940″s I was a regular visitor to the picture houses of Stockton, usually twice a week. At that time and into the 50″s the name above the canopy and the one that we all knew it by was “The Cinema”. Your list omits the Plaza known earlier as the Grand but usually refered to as the “Flea Pit”.
Wasn”t it called the Cinema or was that a nick name?
Maynards 101 The High Street was from 1851 to 1865 the home of James Samuel Noad an engraver and printer. His wife Elizabeth (nee Manners) was the first mistress of Holy Tinity School.The Essoldo was the Cinema.
Do you have paperwork showing this was the case? They may be my great great great grandparents and I am looking for information on them. Thank you!
The Essoldo”s previous name in the fifties was”The Cinema”. Another picture house in Stockton was “The Plaza” or The Fleapit as it was affectionatly known.
Cliff, The old name was the Cinema. Don,t forget also the Plaza,the “flea pit” down towards the river.
In the 1950″s it was simply called “The Cinema” One of the oddities of the place was that during the matinee performances they would serve tea and cakes on a tray to members of the audience (usually rather plump ladies as I remember )
The Ladbroke Social Club used to be the Essoldo, one of Stockton”s many cinemas. What a lot of cinemas our small town had with the Empire, Globe, Hippodrome and Odeon. I think that the Essoldo had a different name in the 1950s – can anybody remember what it was ?