The Coronation Theatre, 501 High Street North, Manor Park, London (original) (raw)

Formerly - The Coronation Electric Theatre / Coronation Picture Palace - Later - Mecca Bingo Club / Snooker Hall / The Royal Regency Banqueting Hall

Above - A Google StreetView Image of the former Coronation Theatre, Manor Park London in March 2022 - Click to Interact.

The former Coronation Theatre is situated on High Street North in Manor Park, East London. The Theatre originally opened as the Coronation Electric Theatre, a small 600 seat early cinema, designed by the architect Stanley Burwood, in 1911, and operated by the Frederick's Electric Theatres circuit. This was later renamed the Coronation Picture Palace but would be demolished in 1920 to make way for a new much larger super cinema on the site, the Coronation Theatre, which opened on the 28th of May 1921.

Right - An overprinted German banknote for 20,000 marks here advertising the film 'Tons of Money' at the Coronation Cinema, Manor Park, which was released in March 1924 - Courtesy William McCreath who says that these bank notes from the period were often used for advertising as they were cheaper to obtain than blank paper and were eye catching.

The new Coronation Theatre, which had first been proposed for the site some years earlier in 1915 due to the cinema's success and low capacity, which even then was considered inadequate, was eventually constructed in 1920 on a larger plot of land consisting of the earlier cinema and an adjoining plot of land, and built for Abraham's Suburban Super Cinemas Ltd., at a cost of £100,000.

This was a large Theatre with nearly 2,000 seats on two levels, stalls and onc circle. It was designed in the Baroque Style by the architect Clifford A. Aish. The Theatre was built primarily as a Cinema but also had a large fully equipped stage, 20 feet deep with a 36 foot proscenium opening, there were three dressing rooms for artistes, and the Theatre had a small Theatre Organ to accompany the pictures and stage shows, and there was also a cafe for patrons.

Above - The Mayor of East Ham and other guests at the opening of the Coronation Theatre, manor Park in 1921 - From the Kinematograph Weekly, 2nd of June 1921.

The Kinematograph Weekly reported on the opening of the new Coronation Theatre in their 2nd of June 1921 edition saying:- 'The new Coronation Cinema, opened on Saturday last, is erected on the site of the old theatre of the same name, which had a seating capacity of 350 [sic]. The present building is a magnificent one, situated in one of the busiest parts of Manor Park. The total cost of the building with furnishings etc., was nearly £100,000. No expense has been spared in providing not only for the excellence of the entertainment but for the comfort and health of the patrons.

SEATING

The seating capacity is 2,000. All the seats are alike and are made on a handsome model with inlaid design on the arms. A perfect view is obtained from any part of the hall, care having been taken to see that the screen is unobscured by pillars or projections of any kind. The decorations are tastefully carried out and in keeping with the general scheme, are simple, dignified, and free from vulgarity. The projection from behind the balcony is on the very latest principles and a wonderfully clear picture is thrown on the screen.

VENTILATION

The hygienic arrangements of the theatre have received special attention. Fresh purified air cooled in summer and warmed in winter is pumped through the building. The vitiated air is likewise extracted simultaneously, so that at all times stagnation is impossible, the atmosphere is pure, and the temperature comfortable. The new Coronation is equipped with the Plenum system of ventilation. Fans and sprays are, of course, unnecessary. All dirt and dust is removed by vacuum cleaners operated from a central vacuum cylinder is the basement. The air comes into the building by means of grilles in the wall and the bad air is sucked up through the roof. The ventilation of the hall is one of its most striking features.

THE MUSIC

The beautiful organ has been the subject of much thought and experiment. The pipes are installed in the chambers on each side of the proscenium. The organ took many months to build and a great deal of time and money has been expended on making it as near perfection as possible.

The orchestra of twenty will be a great asset to the attractions of the hall. The prices are 5d., 9d., 1s. 6d., 2s., including tax, and in the afternoons patrons are supplied with tea and biscuits free.

The entrance hall is executed in marble and gives an air of stateliness to the hall. Tea rooms are not quite finished yet, but, when completed will be on the most up-to-date lines. The uniforms of the attendants are decidedly novel and are supplied by J. Hyman, of Leicester Square.

The architect was Clifford Aish.

On Saturday, the hall was opened by the Mayor of East Ham. Councillor A. H. Wiseman, .J.P., supported by the Aldermen and Councillors of the Borough.'

The above text in quotes was first published in the Kinematograph Weekly, 2nd of June 1921.

Above - An Advertisement for Douglas Fairbanks in 'The Three Musketeers' at the new Coronation Theatre, Manor Park in 1922 - From The Echo, Mail and Chronicle, 12th of May 1922.

The Coronation Theatre had first opened on the 28th of May 1921 under the ownership of Abraham's Suburban Super Cinemas Ltd., but in October 1929 it was taken over by Associated British Cinemas who had the Theatre wired for sound to enable the latest 'Talkie' films to be shown there. ABC also installed a new Compton Theatre Organ in 1932, see advertisement shown right.

Right - An Advertisement for Compton Theatre Organs mentioning their installation at the Coronation Theatre, Manor park - From the Kinematograph Weekly, 22nd of September 1932.

Live variety shows had been a feature of the Theatre along with films since its opening in 1921 but this was abandoned in 1938, and the cafe was also closed during the war in the early 1940s.

ABC ran the Theatre until 1969 when they closed it and it was then converted into a Mecca Bingo Club which ran there for several decades until that also closed in 1985 and the Stalls were converted into a Snooker Hall, with a false ceiling above, closing off the circle which remained unused but intact. The Snooker Hall closed in 2008.

The following year the former Theatre was altered for Banqueting use as the Royal Regency which opened in December 2009. These alterations saw the false ceiling over the Stalls being removed and the auditorium decorations restored to their former grandeur. The Theatre's former Circle was also brought back into use in 2012.

Left - The Auditorium of the former Coronation Theatre, Manor Park whilst in use as a Banqueting Hall called Royal Regency in October 2012 - Photo shown here with a Creative Commons (Attribution) License from Ken Roe at the Cinema Treasures Website.

The exterior of the now Grade II Listed Building has also been repainted and with its restored and opulant interiors the venue is looking very good indeed for a one hundred year old former Theatre. The Theatre today is billed as a Luxury Wedding Venue catering for Multicultural and Asian Weddings with accomodation for up to 750 guests, and also plays host to Music and Corporate Events, and is equipped with the latest audiovisual technology.

You may like to visit the Royal Regency's own Website here.

Some of the information on this Theatre was gleaned from the excellent Cinema Treasures Website where they have some very good images of the Theatre over the years here.

If you have any more information or Images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact me.