The Plaza Theatre, Piccadilly Circus, London (original) (raw)
Later - The Plaza Paramount / Apollo West End, Lower Regent Street, Now Regent Street St James's
Introduction and Early History - Opening Report - Kinematograph Weekly Feature - 1967 Twinning and Present Day - Plaza Programmes
Above - The Plaza Theatre, London as originally designed by Frank T. Verity - From The Builder, 9th of May 1924.
The Plaza Theatre was situated on Lower Regent Street, London, today known as Regent Street St James's. The Theatre, which was was later renamed the Plaza Paramount, was built in 1926 and designed by Frank T. Verity for Paramount Pictures as a large and luxurious cinema with stage facilities.
The Theatre's grand foyer was lavishly decorated and furnished with genuine Italian antique pieces, and the splendid auditorium, in the Italian Renaissance style with plasterwork by Marc Henri, was capable of seating 1,896 people in some comfort and on three levels, stalls, royal circle, and balcony, and was equipped with a Wurlitzer 3 Manual 15 Rank Organ.
Right - The Plaza Theatre as originally built in 1926, from a period postcard.
A wallet containing an opening night brass ticket for the Plaza Theatre, London - Kindly donated by Kenneth Parton.
One of the Brass Tickets issued for the opening night performance at the Plaza Theatre, Piccadilly Circus, on March the 1st 1926 - Kindly donated by Kenneth Parton.
Brass Tickets issued for the opening night performance at the Plaza Theatre, Piccadilly Circus, on March the 1st 1926 - Courtesy Steven Matteson.
A Brass Ticket issued for the opening night performance at the Plaza Theatre, Piccadilly Circus, on March the 1st 1926 - Courtesy Steven Matteson.
Brass Tickets issued for the opening night performance at the Plaza Theatre, Piccadilly Circus, on March the 1st 1926 - Kindly Donated by John Harvey.
A Wallet for one of the Brass Tickets issued for the opening night performance at the Plaza Theatre, Piccadilly Circus, on March the 1st 1926 - Courtesy John Reid.
One of the Brass Tickets issued for the opening night performance at the Plaza Theatre, Piccadilly Circus, on March the 1st 1926 - Courtesy John Reid.
One of the Brass Tickets issued for the opening night performance at the Plaza Theatre, Piccadilly Circus, on March the 1st 1926 - Courtesy John Reid.
There was also a cafe, and the films were supported by the Plaza Tiller Girls who complimented each feature with a unique stage performance, and were renowned for their precision.
Left - A selection of Brass Tickets issued for the opening of the Plaza Theatre on the 1st of March 1926.
The Plaza Theatre officially opened on the 2nd of March 1926 with a showing of the film 'Nell Gwyn' with Dorothy Gish, and several live events on stage. However, there was a private performance the evening before and Special Brass tickets were issued for this performance on the 1st of March for all the seats in the auditorium. Several of these Brass Tickets have come to light recently and are displayed in the slideshow shown above left.
The Stage Newspaper reported on the new Plaza Theatre in their 25th of February 1926 edition saying:- 'Standing in Lower Regent Street, within a few seconds of Piccadilly Circus, the Plaza is London's latest "super" place of entertainment and one of the finest buildings devoted to the kinematographic industry in the world. Built from plans by Frank T. Verity for the American film producing firm of Famous-Lasky, the building has cost something like £350,000, the work taking over two and a-half years. The exterior of granite is dignified and in accordance with the heavy solidity of appearance demanded by the modern fashion in such things.
Right - The Plaza Theatre Exterior in 1926 - From The Bioscope, 25th of February 1926.
The important thing, however, is the interior and its decorative features, chief amongst which is the colour scheme, to get the fabrics for which the designers went to Italy. Failing to find what they wanted they executed their own designs, and from these the many fabrics used in the house were woven. On the walls of the orchestra stalls the material is of a peach shade, on which are gold fleur-de-lys. Two mediaeval-looking studded leathern doors are a feature of the back wall.
The walls of the royal circle - a seating feature unique not only in this country but in America, holding only 80 seats altogether, and known as millionaires' row - appear to be covered in antique Genoese velvet of ruby and golden hues. This colour scheme in shades of blue, gold, and ruby carried out more or less generally throughout the building.
Left - The Mosaic Dome, the Wurlitzer Organ, and FOH attendants learning about the treasures in the entrance hall of the Plaza Theatre - From the Sunday Pictorial of the Sunday Mirror, 28th of February 1926.
An attempt has been made successfully to get away from the conventional in seating, and the result of much experiment is an entirely restful chair, with new automatic tip-up action, which is noiseless. "Lugs" to support the seat when in use have been eliminated, and the risk of injury to dresses of delicate material abolished. The same type of seat is used throughout the building, except in the royal circle, whose 80 occupants will be favoured with a chair luxuriously upholstered. All the seating is upholstered in damask of a green tint embossed with a small gold design.
In the grand foyer will be found many antiques of the Renaissance period (an age apparently giving the motif to the whole house), and several Old Masters. Chief among the articles of interest here, however, are two pilasters more than 400 years old, but still in the glory of their original gilding.
The proscenium opening is one of the widest in London, and above it black glass has been introduced, reflecting the hanging electric light fittings and enriched ceilings of the auditorium and emphasising the great arch above.
A noticeable decorative feature of the side walls leading to the proscenium consists of two great arches. Fitted with grille screens 28 ft, high by 16 broad, these are replicas of old Italian ironwork with rich tapestries behind them. In front of each hangs a large lantern.
Right - Packing the Plaza, a photographic feature from the opening of Beau Geste at the Plaza Theatre in 1939 - From the Cinema News and Property Gazette, 9th of August 1939 - Courtesy Peter Pollard.
In planning its building, the management have by no means neglected the stage, a fault not unknown in the building of kinemas. With a depth of 22 ft., the Plaza's stage is fitted with every possible device known to theatrical and electrical engineering, and is capable of taking any type of production. It is the intention of the management to stage prologues with each star picture, and vaudeville acts will also be introduced into the programme.
In connection with the engineering side, it might be mentioned that the two enormous spot lights specially built for the house are acknowledged to be the most powerful in the world. The Wurlitzer organ, which is a feature of the orchestral arrangements, cost £15,000, and the organist Hay M. Mallotte, will have to combine some of the science of this skilled showman with his art as a musician. The instrument is the largest in Europe. The keyboard is in the centre of the orchestra pit, and for ordinary purposes will be on a level with the other members of the orchestra. For solo performances it will be raised by special mechanism, so that every member of the audience will obtain an uninterrupted view of the player. The musical director is Frank Tours.
_
_The house opens to the public on March 2, when the British picture "Nell Gwyn" will be shown, preceded by a prologue. The seating prices run from 2s. 4d. to 7s. 6d. For the time being at least the destinies of the house will be directed by Al. Koffman, but an Englishman may take over the management shortly.'
The above text in quotes was first published in the Stage Newspaper on the 25th of February 1926.
Left - A Poster for the Film 'Crack in the World' which premiered at The Plaza Theatre in 1965 - Courtesy Louise Camby whose grandfather Johnny Douglas composed the music for the film and later founded Dulcima Records in 1983.
Details about the opening night of the Plaza Theatre can be read below.
The Plaza Theatre went on to have an illustrious career for four decades, often showing major film premiers, including one called 'Crack in the World' in 1965, shortly before the Theatre was twinned in 1967.
A Film poster and a photo of Johnny Douglas, who wrote the music for the film, standing outside the Plaza Theatre, can be seen above left and right. A track from the film's soundtrack can be found here.
Right - Johnny Douglas, composer of the music for the film 'Crack in the World, which premiered at The Plaza Theatre in 1965 - Courtesy Johnny Douglas's Granddaughter Louise Camby of Dulcima Records which was founded by Johnny Douglas in 1983.
A contemporary image and article about the Plaza Theatre from the Picturegoer of March 1926 is shown below, followed by some lovely contemporary photographs of the Plaza Theatre itself, and a Ground Plan, all from the Academy Architecture and Architectural Review of 1926. This is followed by a Kinematograph Weekly Feature on the Theatre here. The Plaza Theatre was twinned in 1967 and you can read about this and the Theatre's later history below.
Above - An Article on the new Plaza Theatre, Lower Regent Street, London - From the Picturegoer, March 1926.
Above - The Auditorium of the Plaza Theatre, London - From the Academy Architecture and Architectural Review 1926.
Above - The Foyer of the Plaza Theatre, London - From the Academy Architecture and Architectural Review 1926.
Above - Wall Decorations in the Auditorium of the Plaza Theatre, London - From the Academy Architecture and Architectural Review 1926.
Above - A Plan of the Plaza Theatre, London - From the Academy Architecture and Architectural Review 1926.
The Supplement to Kinematograph Weekly Feature on the Plaza Theatre, 25th February 1926
Above - The Supplement to Kinematograph Weekly Feature on the Plaza Theatre, 25th February 1926. Click the thumbnails or swipe to view all 12 pages.
The Twinning of the Plaza Theatre in 1967 and Further Conversion
In 1967 the Theatre was converted to a twin cinema at great expense by Verity & Beverly but sadly most of the original decor was destroyed in the process leaving behind just a few fragments in the highest parts of the building. The organ was removed at this time and the new auditoriums could seat 820 in the upper cinema and 972 in the lower.
Right - The former Plaza Theatre housing a Tesco Metro store and a small basement cinema multiplex in 2005 - Photo M.L.
In 1974 the stalls Cinema was split into three and all the remaining decoration from the Plaza Theatre was lost at this time.
Further conversion in 2001 saw the Theatre all but destroyed with only the outer walls remaining.
A Tesco store was built into the ground floor, with offices constructed above, and a 5 screen cinema complex was constructed in the basement called Apollo West End (Shown here and below).
Left - The entrance to the Apollo West End Multiplex and part of the Tesco Metro store residing in the shell of the old Plaza Theatre - ML 2005.
The new cinemas opened in 2004 and were all luxuriously fitted out but very small, the largest being only 168 seats. In 2013 the Cinema complex was renamed Vue Piccadilly. Thankfully the exterior of the old Theatre remains and is Grade II Listed. Above the old exit doors and the stage door remain stone signs revealing their original purpose.
Above - The former Plaza Theatre, now a Tesco Metro store and small cinema multiplex, in a photograph taken in 2005 - Photo M.L.
The Opening Night of the Plaza Theatre
Text from the opening night programme, 1st of March 1926
Above - The original Safety Curtain and Auditorium of the Plaza Theatre, Piccadilly Circus.
The Plaza has been designed in the confident hope that it will prove a real home of entertainment in the heart of London for all who seek relaxation and amusement.
Right - The opening night programme for the newly built Plaza Theatre in 1926 - Click to see this programme.
After an intensive study of all the modern improvements which make for comfort and enjoyment in a motion picture theatre, we have adopted what we believe to be the most suitable for the Plaza.
If we have been successful it is due to the whole hearted co-operation of the many who have helped in the work. We should, therefore, like to express our thanks here to the architect, MR. FRANK Verity, F.R.I.B.A.; the builder, MAJOR ARTHUR VIGOR ; and to all others who have contributed towards the erection of the Plaza.
Left - A Plaque commemorating the opening of the Plaza Theatre, from Universal Pictures, March 1st 1926 - Courtesy Hugh McCullough of CinePhoto.co.uk.
The Plaza will be the London home of Paramount productions and others of equal merit, where it is hoped to present all that is best and most worthy in motion picture art. The Theatre was conceived and constructed for this purpose by the Famous Players / Lasky Corporation. Adolph Zukor, President.
Above - The original Foyer of the Plaza Theatre, Piccadilly Circus.
There will be an entire change of programme every week, commencing each Monday. A continuous performance from 1.30 pm. to 11p.m., presenting four complete shows daily.
The Theatre opens at 5.30p.m. on Sundays with a continuous performance commencing at 6.0 pm. presenting two complete shows.
Feature films presented at the Plaza each week cannot be seen elsewhere for a period of from three to six months with the exception of "THE WANDERER, - Paramount's latest spectacle.
Right - A view of the Plaza Theatre taken on the 11th of April 1955 during the run of George Pal's 'Conquest of Space' - Courtesy Allan Hailstone.
ADMISSION PRICES,
Including Government Tax:
500 Balcony Seats at 2/4
1155 Orchestra Stalls at 3/6
190 Grand Circle at 5/9
84 Royal Circle at 7/6
For the PLAZA THEATRE COMPANY LIMITED
J. C GRAHAM. Chairman and Managing Director
A. KAUFMAN.
A. HIRST.
B. HICKS.
The Above Details are from the opening night programme for the Plaza Theatre, 1st of March 1926 - Click to see the entire programme.
Above - The original Auditorium of the Plaza Theatre, Piccadilly Circus.
Above - The Auditorium of the Plaza Theatre from the stage - From an Advertisement for Waring & Gillow, Theatre Decorators and Furnishers, in the Kinematograph Weekly, 8th May 1930.
Above - An Advertisement for the film 'Murder By The Clock' at the Plaza Theatre in 1931 - From the Bioscope, 7th of October 1931.
A Selection of Plaza Theatre Programmes
Above - Two 1930s programmes for the Plaza Theatre - Mae West in 'Every Day's A Holiday' and Errol Flynn in 'The Perfect Specimen' - Courtesy Hugh McCullough of CinePhoto.co.uk.
Above - Plaza Theatre information - From a 1930s programme for 'The Perfect Specimen' - Courtesy Hugh McCullough of CinePhoto.co.uk.
Above - Three Programmes for 1930s features - Click to see programmes in detail.
Above - A Programme for the Royal World Premier of 'Yangtse Incident' at the Plaza Theatre, London, on Monday the 1st of April 1957 - Kindly Donated by Siobhan Craven-Robins.
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