Jazz: Opening Of The Cecil Theatre, Hull Videos

Added: Jul 5, 2008

From: MrNeelix690

Duration: 4:11

Old cinema newsreel item to mark the official opening of the new Cecil Theatre, Hull, Monday 28th November 1955. The orginal building was destroyed by enemy action on 8th May 1941. The new theatre, which was designed by local architects Gelder & Kitchen, for their client Hull Cinemas Ltd, featured the latest techology available for both film presentation, and customer comfort. Managing Director of the company, Mr Brinley Evans must have felt very proud as he watched the Cecil rise like a phoenix, and declared it to be one of the finest buildings in Hull. The Theatre had an impressive seating capacity. 1,374 in the stalls and 678 in the balcony, meaning that a total of 2052 patrons could be accomodated in the spacious, air-conditioned auditorium. At the time, it boasted the largest Cinemascope screen in the Country. The screen was mounted on a wheeled frame and could be drawn back, away from the apron to reveal a large stage. Beneath the stage were green rooms, and storage areas. The new Cecil opened on Monday, 28th November 1955. An official opening ceremony was performed by Chairman of the Rank Organisation, Mr John Davies, accompanied by his wife, the well known actress Dianh Sheridan, before a specially invited audiance, after which the capacity crowd settled down to watch a special presentation of the first film to be shown, " The Seven Year Itch ", starring Marylyn Monroe. A newsreel camera crew recorded the event, and the opening of the new Cecil was featured in cinema newsreels around the country soon afterwards. Mr Davies, was clearly very impressed by the new cinema, and said at the time, that the Rank Organisation, (famed for it's Odeon cinemas), had " Nothing to compare with the Cecil ! "

Channel: Entertainment

Tags: cecil  cinema  hull  kingston  theatre  upon 

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