Visit to see Savoy Picture House, curtesy of McDonalds, Victoria Street Grimsby
On Sunday 9th February, some Members met up at Grimsby’s Victoria Street branch of McDonalds, which has been part of the old Focus cinema for 35 years. The cinema, which a lot of local residents remember visiting as youngsters, began life as Savoy Picture House in 1920 (built by local firm Wilkinson and Haughton) as Grimsby’s first luxury cinema, for 1,000 cinema goers and enough room to house a 10-piece orchestra! It later became The Gaumont (1948) and then Odeon (1962) before Focus (1975) and closed for good in 1979.
After enjoying breakfast and coffee, we were showed around the existing parts of the cinema’s auditorium above McDonald’s upstairs restaurant, by Mr Novock, Business Manager, who pointed out the various features which remain.
Essentially the old cinema has gone and could never be reinstated even if there was demand. Whilst McDonalds own the building, they lease to both Savers and the current franchisee of the restaurant.
We did enjoy the opportunity to revisit what was for some a bit of nostalgia, and for others, a glimpse of what had been. We thank Mr Norvock for his help in us achieving this visit – a local man and one too young to have experienced the cinema himself!
PRM
another decorative detail in the ceiling
decorative air conditioning! The 'plain plaster' on view is in fact the new wall which sections off Savers store.
The half-glass inner doors that many of you will have used are still intact
plasterwork detail