When town’s fine cinema had its real Regal moment in the spotlight
IN ORMSKIRK, buildings have come and gone but their existence can hopefully be recorded through these pages.
The Regal Cinema, in Church Street, Ormskirk, with its ruched metallic curtain across a wide panoramic screen, officially opened on February 10, 1936, although the Ormskirk Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society had used the venue for a performance of the Yeoman of the Guard in January.
With peacock blue crushed velvet, silver trimmed covers, deep sprung seats and distinctive silver panels at the end of each row, the 800 seat lower stalls and 300 seat balcony must have seemed like a palace to cinema-goers in the town,
The cinema was designed in the Art Deco style with elaborate features and rich colours that reflected the glamour of Hollywood Hills.
The foyer was decorated with blue woodwork and doors with silver metalwork, which must have looked very glamorous.
A concierge was employed at the entrance, complete with cap and uniform, quite probably in livery matching the blue and silver colour scheme.
The venue was also used for grammar school speech days and in 1949 there was a special guest.
On Tuesday, April 29 1949, Ormskirk town centre was packed with people awaiting the arrival of Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal.
Princess Mary’s parents, as King and Queen, had passed through Ormskirk in 1913; in 1949 Ormskirk was the destination point for The Princess Royal.
The purpose of her visit was to collect on behalf of the YMCA the donations from local people to the War and National Service Fund, which were needed to support the work of the YMCA.
A formal presentation ceremony had been organised by the local committee responsible for running the appeal, jointly run by Ormskirk Urban District Council and the West Lancashire Rural District Council, the ceremony took place at the Regal Cinema.
Huge preparations had been completed for the event, the foyer of the Regal had been decorated with flowers and ferns provided by JL Clucas Ltd.
The stage was also decorated with a bright array of spring flowers and a huge Union Flag covered the screen at the back of the stage, with red, white and blue ribbons surrounding it.
A large line of civic dignitaries and group representatives waited in the foyer for the arrival of The Princess Royal, while hundreds of townspeople lined the streets outside in anticipation.
Outside the cinema was a guard of honour made up of Girl Guides from the district, The Princess Royal having been the honorary president of the Girl guides Association since 1920.
The local Territorial Battalion, made up of men and women, was also called to attention as the royal car pulled up outside the cinema.
Ch Supt RC Floyd promptly opened the door of the car to assist The Princess Royal.
First to step forward to greet her was the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, Lord Peel, and his wife, the countess.
The official greeting was then performed by the chairman of Ormskirk Urban District Council, Cllr DCM Scott, who was accompanied by his wife.
This was followed by an introduction of Francis Victor King, chairman of the West Lancashire Rural District Council and his wife and also Mr HG Gerrard, divisional head of the YMCA.
The princess then turned to inspect the Girl Guide contingent and walked over to speak to the District Commissioner, Mrs PH Parker, and Miss LockwoodBunce.
Turning to the Territorial Detachment, she spoke to Capt Armstrong and Junior Commander Hewitt.
Then the Commander, Capt F Webster, was presented to the princess.
The Regal closed on
November 23, 1963 (the Day after JFK was assassinated) and for a short time it was used as a bingo hall and the seats were still in place.
The frontage was remodelled in 1963/64 when it became a supermarket, prior to Tesco taking over.
In about 1965, the 1,100 seats were removed and presumably split into lots for sale.
About 100 seats which had been bought by a Liverpool church and have been in use in the church ever since were being sold on an online auction site in 2015.
Ormskirk Bygone Times manager Chris Bentley was able to purchase a run of five of the seats for his collection of Ormskirk memorabilia.
Tesco occupied the premises from Tuesday, November 26 1968 to Saturday, April 4 2015.
The building has been empty after a short time as a discount store and is now to be demolished to make way for a residential and commercial building.