MOVIE PALACES #95 - The GAUMONT FINCHLEY NORTH LONDON - 1937
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ต.ค. 2024
- Movie Palaces #95 - THE GAUMONT, Tally Ho Corner, FINCHLEY, North London.
A splendid cinema designed by W. E. Trent with W. Sydney Trent and R. Golding.
2165 seats, 1390 in stalls and 725 in balcony.
An excellent three manual, nine unit and Melotone Compton Organ was installed
which spent many years, after removal from the Gaumont,
at the Plough Inn at Great Munden, Hertfordshire.
I enjoyed many happy Friday evenings playing the Compton at The Plough.
Sadly the organ is no longer at the Plough and the Gaumont was demolished in 1986.
Video presented by ComptonLodgeStudios.
I used to to to Saturday morning pictures at the Gaumont in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Thanks for the reminder.
Happy Days Stephen, Thank You for sharing your happy memories, PAUL ComptonLodgeStudios.
Saturday morning pictures and i saw Star wars when it first come out there ,,,, the open air pool , Owen and Owen ,, how times have changed . and all the music pubs have long gone .
Hi Roland, Thank You for sharing your memories of better and happier times. Best Wishes, PAUL ComptonLodgeStudios.
I used to go there through the late 60's through to the mid 70's
I live in Finchley and although never went here, I mourn the loss of this wonderful place (I used to go to Chester Gaumont). The replacement building is an abhorrent eyesore.
Ah! Finchley, Brings back happy memories for me as I studied music theatre with Lillian Eden and 29 Arden Road and had lessons with the wonderful theatre organist of BBC fame Charles Smart. Happy Days indeed Colin, PAUL.
Go to that cinema when I was a small girl my sister used to take me I still go to North Finchley I live around the area it was a treat for me all the old days have gone now nothing new in Finchley just restaurants and restaurants
Thanks Yvonne, Damn Shame! It's the same in most places, PAUL.
I saw my first films here as a child in the seventies, all Disney - 20,000 leagues under the sea, Petes Dragon, The Love Big! Wonderful memories, thanks for sharing!
Hi Adriano, Many Thanks for your interesting comments - PAUL.
How they ever got permission to knock this down I will never know. My father who watched this being built in 1937 when he was 7 had so many fond memories such a shame lovely to see this bought back memories for me Saturday morning pictures 😍
The morons at the Planning Department are the vilains as usual. Such a great shame. Thank You for comenting, PAUL.
Just seen this, thanks for posting
Me and my mates used to sneak in after it closed down. It was huge inside with some of the original features still intact.
Shame that none of that was ever reincorporated into the new Arts Depot, would have been easily done.
Thanks for commenting Eliza, we much appreciate your interest, All the Best PAUL, ComptonLodgeStudios.
used to sneak in when it was open :) replaced by a proper mess :(
I was an assistant manager aged 22 in 1975 when I used the name Martyn Butler
Derek Lumley was my manager and I adored him, to this day I think of him fondly, and without him, I doubt I would have gone on to be ODEONs north London Relief Manager
or gone onto The New Victoria - and finally ODEON Marble Arch
Why do they keep tearing down places I love? #itsAsin ;)
Thanks for commenting David. So sad that the cinema industry you worked in and entertained me has all but gone in the form we knew. Very sad! PAUL.
I used to go there for Saturday morning pictures in the 50's. Pity they pulled it down, even to use as an alternative venue, as the replacement nowhere near as good. My grandad worked next door as a trolley bus driver.
Love this cinema, watched Star Wars there . Beautiful
Thanks Jason, PAUL.
I would rush to be first in the queue for Saturday morning pictures in 1960.
Hi Bob - Happy Days! - thanks for commenting - PAUL.
There were two great betrayals to Finchley life. One was the destruction of the Gaumont and the other the sacking of Lido. Both were be replaced by brighter, better facilities, it was promised, but they never came.
I well remember the many visits here when I was a young lad just over from Ireland ('72 up to its closure) back in the days when you watched an enormous screen. I'd look up at the flickering beam of the projector and watch up for the reel change when the projectors ran in relay.
Sadly all the larger facilities such as the grand cafe and the live shows were a thing of the past. The entire building dominated the landscape not just because of its broad, imposing frontage but also because of the huge fly tower.
Among the films I can recall of that era were 'The Great Gatsby' (inc. intermission) The Four Musketeers, Slipper and the Rose, Live and Let Die and that all time classic - Carry on Dick (!).
The also had late night screenings of Bollywood films for the growing Asian community in North London.
The grand Compton organ had quite an afterlife being installed in a pub in Hertforshire. It was heard often on Radio 2's 'The Organist Entertains', but I understand it is now in storage.
Anytime I ever pass through North Finchley I always mourn the Gaumont's passing.
Hi Steviepics - Thank you for your very interesting and detailed memories of the Gaumont Finchley. I used to play the Compton Organ when it was installed at the Plough Inn at Great Munden. Many lively Friday sessions were enjoyed - all gone now I'm afraid. I also used to have lessons with Charles Smart at Lillian Eden's Academy of Music in Arden Road, Finchley. Seems a very long time ago! Thanks again for your comments. PAUL.
I'm with you !!
I grew up in north finchley..used to go to the gaumont every Saturday morning pictures..remember *old mother riley*😊..the other great building was the open air swimming pool..stunning!!..disgusting they were demolished as I bet if they were still around they'd both be listed buildings rather than the plastic forgetful crap they have there now..thank God I'm in Norfolk where it still feels like England 🐳🐧
@@mickfoskett6629 Haha, yes, memories - time never diminishes them. I remember Old Mother Riley like it was yesterday. Different town (Chester) but same happy days 😄
@@ComptonLodgeStudios [Paul] Well well, it is a small world. I too had piano lessons in Arden Road (no. 35?) with a Miss Sheila Carmichael from 1960 to 1964 (aged 10 to 14 - leading to an ongoing music career including bands such as The Love Affair, Mott the Hoople, Queen, etc.). Lillian Eden does ring a bell - perhaps I passed it en route to my lessons. I lived very nearby in Holly Park, 1958-1974. Of course I knew the Gaumont very well. Sad to see it has gone. Thank you for the video!
Saturday morning children’s cinema in the 50’s
Happy Days Barry!
Wow, like taking a trip back in time....I remember sneaking in underage to watch ‘Carrie ‘ in 1976 😆
Thanks for commenting homemovies1961 - PAUL.
I used to go there all the time as a kid. I saw Live and Let Die, Star Wars and many others. It was an art deco masterpiece the centrepiece of North Finchley, our Sistine Chapel. A scandal that it got knocked down only to be replaced by an ugly bus station.
I recall seeing the first Spiderman film at this cinema, which should never have been removed (although Art Depot isn't bad). I also remember there being advertisements for "Dressed to Kill" on display, which given that film came out the year the cinema closed, was likely the last film shown there.
Thank You for commenting Malcolm, PAUL.
Such a crying shame, lost but not forgotten eh.
Yeh!
A wonderful cinema building that should have been listed for preservation. We were promised that the carved stone relief that adorned the curved facade would be saved & incorporated into the new building.... but even that proved too much bother for the developers & it was lost to landfill.
Hi Tattyshoes Shigure - I couldn't agree more - A terrific cinema lost forever - Thanks for commenting - PAUL
Same Council that demolished this work of art, refused planning permission for my next door neighbours extension as it was "5cm too high".
I saw That’ll Be The Day and Diamonds Are Forever there.
Saw The Alamo with John Wayne also remember Saturday mornings for the kiddies and Opposite Growing up in the Back of theTobbacoist was my Barbers.