The Regal Theatre, 216 Kennington Road, London

Later - Granada Cinema / Granada Bingo / Gala Bingo

See also in this area - The Kennington Theatre

Above - The Exterior and Main Entrance of the Regal Theatre, Kennington - From The Builder, 7th of January 1938.

The Entrance Hall of the Regal Theatre, Kennington - From The Builder, 7th of January 1938. The Regal Theatre was situated on a corner site on the Kennington Road in London at the junction of Princes Road, which is today known as Black Prince Road. The Theatre was designed by Bertie Crewe, who was assisted by Henry G. Kay, as a large Cinema with full Stage Facilities for the showing of Films and Variety. The Theatre's Auditorium was constructed on two levels, Stalls and one Circle, and had seating for 2,500 people. The Regal was equipped with a Hammond Electric Organ, played by Stanley Miller on its opening.

Right - The Entrance Hall of the Regal Theatre, Kennington - From The Builder, 7th of January 1938.

The Regal Theatre was built for the Independent Operator Arthur O'Connor Cinemas and opened on Wednesday the 17th of November 1937 with a Gala Performance and Opening Ceremony beginning with an Opening Speech by the Mayor of Lambeth, accompanied by the owner Arthur O'Connor and his mother, and then the film stars Margaret Lockwood, Bobby Gall, Graham Moffatt, Moore Marriott, Wally Patch, and Hazel Ascot were all introduced on stage. This was followed by the showing of the films 'Ready, Willing and Able' and 'The Gang Show' and a live Variety Show on stage featuring Gracie Graham and Tom Costello.

The Foyer of the Regal Theatre, Kennington - From The Builder, 7th of January 1938. The Builder reported on the new Kennington Regal in their 7th of January 1938 edition, along with some of the images shown here, saying:- 'The new "Regal" Cinema has been designed for the A.O.C. Picture Corporation, Limited, by Messrs. Bertie Crewe and Kay, L.R.I.B.A., and is situated on an open triangular site on the Duchy of Cornwall Estate about one mile from Westminster Bridge.

Left - The Foyer of the Regal Theatre, Kennington - From The Builder, 7th of January 1938.

One side of the site abuts upon the main 100-ft. wide Kennington-road, and another upon the 40-ft. wide Princes-road. It is unusual for a cinema site to have such a wide expanse of elevation to main road, and the architects, who had the benefit of the advice of Mr. Louis de Soissons, S.A.D.G., F.R.I.B.A., on behalf of the Duchy of Cornwall Estate, have been quick to take advantage of this in designing an elevation which with its yellow stock brick and Portland stone dressings harmonises with the design of the surrounding buildings, yet strikes an independent note in cinema design. Ample space has been provided for publicity.

The Tea Room of the Regal Theatre, Kennington - From The Builder, 7th of January 1938. The building is entered through six pairs of double doors into a semi-circular ended 25 ft. high entrance hall, the main features of which are illuminated flower boxes over doors, chromium and-glass cigarette kiosk and pay-box, an abstract decorative panel of Charlie Chaplin (who was born in the house adjoining the cinema *), and a well-proportioned cylindrical chromium-plated and glass pendant candelabra.

Right - The Tea Room of the Regal Theatre, Kennington - From The Builder, 7th of January 1938.

Further double doors lead to the main foyer, with its fountain and wide staircase leading up to the tea-room and circle. To either side of this staircase are draught-lobbies leading into the stalls. The tea room, which overlooks and is separated from the entrance hall by a glass-and-metal barrier, contains a soda fountain and milk bar. From here draught-lobbies lead into the circle foyer, from whence through the vomitory the centre of a wide and shallow circle is reached.

The Auditorium Circle of the Regal Theatre, Kennington - From The Builder, 7th of January 1938.

Above - The Auditorium Circle of the Regal Theatre, Kennington - From The Builder, 7th of January 1938.

The auditorium has been designed with a view to perfect hearing, comfort and sight lines. The decoration here is simple, and more or less concentrated round the proscenium. A 20-ft. diameter lighting fitting in the main ceiling and the ornamental grilles and columns to the anti-proscenium are lit by three-colour lighting as also is the stage float. The decorative colours are green, cream and pink, and these have been used throughout.

The Auditorium and Stage of the Regal Theatre, Kennington, also showing the Console of the Theatre's Hammond Organ - From The Builder, 7th of January 1938.

Above - The Auditorium and Stage of the Regal Theatre, Kennington, also showing the Console of the Theatre's Hammond Organ - From The Builder, 7th of January 1938.

One of the main features is the Hammond electric organ, which is one of the first of its kind to be installed in a cinema. There is a well-planned projection suite, and also a full working stage with grid, property rooms, scene dock, dressing-rooms, etc.

A Ground Floor Plan of the Regal Theatre, Kennington - From The Builder, 7th of January 1938.

Above - A Ground Floor Plan of the Regal Theatre, Kennington - From The Builder, 7th of January 1938.

The air-conditioning is by the Plenum system augmented by radiators. A large car park is also provided at the rear of the cinema. The whole building, which accommodates 2,500 persons, is well planned on academic lines.'

The above text in quotes was first published in The Builder, 7th of January 1938.

Note: The article above suggest that Charlie Chaplin was born in a house adjoining the Regal Theatre but Wikipedia says that 'There is no official record of [Charlie Chaplin's] birth, although Chaplin [himself] believed he was born at East Street, Walworth, in South London.'

Above - A Google StreetView Image showing the former Regal, Theatre, Kennington in July 2024 - Click to Interact.

An Advertisement for the much loved Crazy Gang performing live on stage at the Regal Theatre, Kennington in 1938 - From the South London Observer, 25th of February 1938. A Notice for the much loved Crazy Gang performing live on stage at the Regal Theatre, Kennington in 1938 - From the South London Observer, 25th of February 1938. The Regal Theatre had first opened on the 17th of November 1937 and was in operation for many years, although it was forced to close during the early part of the War in 1940 but soon reopened in May 1941. The Theatre was operated by A.O.C. Picture Corporation, Ltd., for its opening but by 1948 it would be taken over by the Granada Theatres Chain, and then renamed the Granada Cinema in January 1949.

Right - A Notice and Advertisement for the much loved Crazy Gang performing live on stage at the Regal Theatre, Kennington in 1938 - From the South London Observer, 25th of February 1938.

The end came for the Theatre's Cinema days when it was closed on the 15th of July 1961 and then converted into a Granada Bingo Club which opened in October the same year. Wrestling matches were also sometimes held there when the Granada Bingo Club opened but these were soon phased out.

Later becoming a Gala Bingo Club it was closed completely on the 9th of March 1997 and was taken over for Church use for a while, but in 2003 they left the building, and in 2004 the Theatre was partly demolished for the construction of an apartment building on the site of its auditorium. The Facade however and most of the Theatre's exterior were cleaned up and reused as the Entrance and Exterior of a Tesco Supermarket.

There are some very nice photographs of the Kennington Regal on the New Wipers Times Website here.

Some of the later information for this Theatre was gleaned from the excellent Cinema Treasures Website.

If you have any more information or Images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact me.