The Park and old Picture House on Mill Lane in Billingham. 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
The Park and old Picture House on Mill Lane in Billingham.
It’s remarkable how little the picture house has changed since this photo was taken. I have been researching its history in the time when I’m not renovating or doing the admin for it. I would be really grateful to hear memories, ideas of films to play (once we have the film license), things that you remember about the decor or the feel of the building. If you have any interior pictures (or exterior)… I would love to see them. The Picture Stockton Team can give you my email address.
OH I REMEMBER THE PARK SO WELL, WE HAD TO RUN FOR OUR LIVES WHEN THE PARKY WAS AROUND BUT IT DIDN’T STOP US GOING IN THERE. THERE WAS AN AIR RAID SHELTER IN THE PARK. ONE NIGHT MY MAM AND I WENT TO THE PICTURES AND WE HAD JUST GOT OUT WHEN THE ALARM WENT OFF SO WE HAD TO RUN TO THE SHELTER IN THE PARK. WE HAD A GOOD TIME, EVERYONE WAS SINGING. IT WAS GREAT FUN IN MY EYES BUT NOT IN MY MAMS.
Way ahead of its time with a resident park keeper. ” Parky” caused us to run whenever his name was called. The old Picture House was a wonderful place. Downstairs either 6d at the front with your pals or 10d at the back with a girl (so they tell me). Happy Days!
I remember going to the Picture House one Saturday afternoon and while fidgeting about waiting for the films to start I found a hole in the seat. I put my hand into the hole and pulled out a dead and very dehydrated rat. I threw this long dead rat at a group of girls who squealed and did not seen to appreciate the prank. I never got my rat back.
Billingham Park,how many hours did I spend running around that park.many other young lads did the same,In pre war days it was cheap to do, it cost nothing,we must have run a marathon every other night,plenty of bushes to hide in games we played.The picure house, manager a mr Lewis,I can still see him in my minds eye even now.and got thrown out by him ,,,, often.the two penny rush on a saturday, Flash Gordon, Tail spin Tommy and his partner “jellybeans” for ever eating them,Buck Jones ,quick on the draw, Tom Tyler,The best western ever, “The Thunder Riders”when you came out and you were wearing sandshoes ,you”d get on your horse and run home,giving yourself a crack accross your rear, Gid up,I could ,I swear reach home in Wharfdale in a minute.Before you went in if you had a penny to spend in the fruiters below the picture house ,you could buy nuts and raisins before you went in, on the way out past the three rows of wooden forms)those were the threepenny seats for the evening show)there must have been two ton of nuts on the floor , we had been throwing them in the show. Happy days.