Skegness Magazine

GEORGE HANNAM, whose plans for the immediate building of the New Winter Gardens and Palais de Danse on the Grand Parade, Skegness, were put forward in September, 1936,  sprang yet another surprise upon the town just two weeks later, which promised to be something more than the proverbial nine days’ wonder.
He had recently acquired the Lincoln Hotel, Lumley Road, immediately adjoining other property he had owned for some years, and at the meeting of the Building Committee of the Skegness Council on the Monday afternoon he submitted plans for the erection on the site of a super cinema to cost upwards of £30,000.

AN IMPOSING BUILDING.
The plans for the Lumley Cinema—the appropriate name of the new house —which were considered by the committee allowed for an early start to be made with the building, and provided for the erection of an up-to-date picture house, with accommodation for 1,100 people.
The theatre was to be of modern in design, and have a front elevation rising to the height of 60 feet, was to be built of buff vitrolite reconstructed stone. As will be seen from the front elevation plan, prepared by the architects reproduced above, there was to be a most imposing entrance, with the whole of the adjoining property taken in. There was to be a shop on either side of the main doorway, and this was to give on to a spacious vestibule with box-office and managers’ room. The complete building was to occupy an area of 10,000 square feet, and from the vestibule, rise two wide staircases leading to the balcony floor and cafe.
The auditorium, which was to seat an audience of 1,100 was to be provided with a suspended ceiling entirely without Pillars, thus giving a perfect and unobstructed view of the stage and screen from every part or the house.
TO COST £30,000.
On the ground floor tip-up arm chairs were to accommodate 600 people, and in the balcony there was planned a further provision for 500, and popular prices of admission to be charged throughout the house.
The interior scheme, which was prepared by one of the best known firms in the entertainment business, who specialised in this class of work, was of the most striking character, and whilst this expressed the very latest ideas in artistic decoration and effect, it also combined a most careful regard for the comfort of the patrons, and this was apparent throughout the building. The main feature of the auditorium was to be the procenium and the stage. The opening of the former gave opportunity for the introduction of a design of imposing character, 25ft. wide with an over-all stage measurement of 33ft. and a depth of 23ft., with dressing room accommodation beneath.

In the centre was planned the screen, on which a picture of exceptional size and brilliance was to be shown, and in
the front of the stage provision being made for an orchestra well 7ft. deep and 33ft. wide.
The projection room from which the films are thrown was to be situated imediately behind the balcony, and the house wired throughout for sound. (On the same level patrons were able to walk in to the charmingly fitted cafe, where coffee and light refreshments were to be served during the entertainment. This roomy hall covered an area of 1,000 square feet, and opening from it was to be a balcony looking on to Lumley Road. The kitchens were planned immediately above the cafe.
Mr. Hannam expected the cost of the scheme to be slightly in excess of £30,000 and the plans were prepared by Messrs. Drury & Reekie, who were also responsible for the construction design of the New Winter Gardens and Palais de Danse on the Grand Parade.
With two big schemes such as these in hand at the same time and with extensive building operations to supervise in Leicester, and elsewhere, Mr. Hannam was certainly expected to have had his hands full that winter, and it was understood that the erection of the Lumley Cinema was his own personal venture and that it was to have been carried out entirely by him.
As far as possible local labour was to have been employed in the erection of both places of entertainment.

1936