The Theatres Trust

Gem Picture House

  • Theatre ID
    1879
  • Built / Converted
    1910
  • Dates of use
    • : Not actually a theatre
  • Current state
    Extant
  • Current use
    Bingo
  • Address
    New Road, Gravesend, Kent, England

Details

Opened as a cinema, but design has a strong theatrical flavour. Recessed arched entrance from New Road. The building is well to the rear of this, occupying a site on a corner of Barrack Row, from which it can be seen to have an octagonal roof, rather suggestive of a cattle auction ring. It has a pleasant auditorium with a single balcony and looks as if it might make a tolerable playhouse, but the stage is very small and the site gives little scope for enlargement.


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  • Other names
    Regal, Coral Bingo, Gala Bingo
  • Events
    • Use: Not actually a theatre
    • 1910 Design/Construction:
      • Charles Lovell - Architect
    • 1968 Alteration: converted to bingo
      • Unknown - Architect
    • 1910 Owner/Management: Gem Picture House
    • 1931 Owner/Management: Gem Theatre Co
    • 1933 Owner/Management: Union Cinemas
    • 1968 Owner/Management: EMI
    • Owner/Management: Later: Gala Bingo
  • Capacities
    • Original: 1080
    • Current: est. 600
  • Listings
    • Grade Not listed

Of the period

Streetscape showing The Palace, East Ham
Palace (London)
London

Have you seen?

Stage and proscenium detail, Festival Theatre, Cambridge, 1987
Festival (Cambridge)
Cambridge

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