Gaumont Cinema - North Street

Of the three purpose built cinemas in Exeter that were constructed in the 1930's, the Gaumont was the earliest when it opened on 16th May 1932. Built on a site off North Street, it had a grand entrance gate on the street itself that opened into the courtyard in front of the cinema. The site was cramped and had previously been occupied by the Yacht Beverage Co Ltd, a producer of fizzy drinks. 

The cinema, designed by William H Watkins, could accommodate an audience of 1,499 in what was known as a stadium-type layout in which the stalls and circle were on the same, raked floor. The walls of the auditorium were covered with painted panels showing Medieaval life with a ceiling dominated by a central dome of ribbed plaster and a central light. In common with most other cinemas of the 1930's, it had a grand secondhand, 2 manual, 9 rank Wurlitzer organ installed to entertain the audience between shows and in the intervals, and the 'Ardenie Earphones' system fitted to the seats for the use of the deaf.

It was originally called the Gaumont Palace under its owners, the Gaumont British Picture Corporation, who were partners with Albany Ward in the Palladium Cinema, Paris Street. The Gaumont was their answer to the opening, in 1931, of the Plaza in London Inn Square. When, in the 1950's Gaumont merged with the owners of the Odeon, the Rank Organisation, it became known as the Gaumont Theatre. Unlike the Plaza, the Gaumont was purpose built, with its architect, William Henry Watkins and designer Percy Bartlett creating an unusual Scandinavian, Art Deco hybrid.

The first picture show

The first films to be shown were the 80 minute musical, Sunshine Suzie, starring Owen Nares and Jack Hulbert, and the 47 minute long, Once Bitten with Ursula Jeans. The newly developed sound system was by British Acoustic Films Ltd. At that time, the typical cost of going to the cinema was 2/- (10 pence) for the Front Circle, 1/6 for the Back Circle, 1/- for the Centre Stalls and 7d (3 pence) for the Front Stalls. Performances were continuous between 2.30 and 10.30 daily.

In 1937 its name was changed from Gaumont Palace to just Gaumont.

Bomb Damage

The cinema suffered some damage during the bombing of 4th May 1942, with its main ceiling collapsing. The report stated:

"North St. Direct hit on Gaumont Cinema. B(last) damage to the rear of the cinema. C(onsiderable) damage to School, 100' from impact."

It reopened on 24th May 1943 after extensive repairs, although the organ was damaged and had to be removed. In 1946, the cinema employed 46 personnel with managers, projectionists, front of house staff and usherettes. All the staff with contact with the public wore uniforms.

The 1950's Rocks On

When the film, Rock Around the Clock was shown during the 1950's, the audience leapt into the aisle and started to dance, much to the consternation of the staff and against local authority by-laws. The Gaumont also ran a Saturday morning children's club with cartoons, comedies and the inevitable, cliff hanger serial. The noise must have been deafening as 700 children would sing the club anthem before the show.

We come on Saturday mornings
Greeting everybody with a smile
We come along on Saturday mornings
Knowing it's well worth while
As members of the Gaumont 'Club'
We all intend to be
Good citizens when we grow up
And champions of the free
We come on Saturday Mornings
Greeting everybody with a smile
Smile, SMILE!
Greeting everybody with a smile.

The advent of television dealt a blow to cinema and when Westward TV and BBC TV opened in the westcountry, the writing was on the wall for many cinemas. The Gaumont was converted into the Top Rank Bingo and Social Club in 1963, when Tommy Trinder and Westward TV presenter Shelagh Kennedy performed the opening ceremony. Not everyone approved, and it was said that as Trinder was in the manager's office afterwards, a rock was hurled through the window - his comment at the time was "It must be one of my fans."

The Gaumont survived the wartime bombing, the decline of the cinema and the move into Bingo. Now called the Mecca Bingo, it still provides entertainment to the people of Exeter, and has been Grade II* listed.

Sources - Express and Echo Nostalgia article, albanyward (west country cinema site) and britishpictures.com
© 2005 David Cornforth - not to be used without permission.