Located in Spalding, Lincolnshire and adjacent to the Prince’s Cinema. The Savoy Cinema opened on 10th June, 1937 with Irene Dunne in “Theodora Goes Wild”. The seating capacity was 1,500, with 1,040 in the stalls and 560 in the circle levels. It was built by George Aspland Howden for his Spalding Picturehouse Co.
The architect for the Savoy Cinema was Alfred J. Theaves who designed the grand Streamline Moderne style building with a fine Art Deco interior. It was built to replace the original 1912 Spalding Picture House.
At the time the cinema was built, it was the largest purpose built cinema in Lincolnshire.
By the early-1960’s, its cinema audience’s had declined rapidly, and the popularity of bingo became apparent and the Savoy Cinema by now was only showing film two nights a week, with bingo on other nights.
The Savoy Cinema closed on 3rd July 1970 with Burt Lancaster in “Castle Keep”. It became a permanent bingo club, and is now known as Regent Bingo Club. The Regent Bingo Club now has now been operating bingo from the building for over 40 years, much longer than it being a cinema.
Sometime during the 2000’s, to save heating costs, a false ceiling was inserted in the auditorium, with the circle partitioned off. Source Cinema Treasure
What Memories do you Have??
4 Responses
I visited Spalding a couple of years ago to locate the Odeon, but it had been demolished. I briefly mistook the Savoy for it because of it’s strong Art Deco lines and use of tiling including the green.
Unfortunately I didn’t look inside but what a lovely survivor. The fins have been cut short at the top but still a great building.
Thank you for the memory. Please tell us more. Regards Geoff
My cousin, John Ferrio, was a projectionist there in the early 1960s. As a young boy I was allowed to sit in the projection box and watch John work the projectors as well as watch the films.
It was exacting work in those days having to manage emergencies such as a film reel breaking while the patrons booed and called out in a generally good natured way.
Switching from one reel to the next almost seamlessly (you could always tell) was a bit of an art form and needed great timing.
Great memories and great times.
Thanks for memory. Please tell us more. Regards Geoff