|
)
)
)
) |
| The Radion Cinema |
| High Road, Laindon |
)
Location: High Road, Laindon Photographer: Unknown Year of photo: c.1950s Copyright: None Comments: The Radion cinema, possibly in the 1950s. |
)
Location: High Road, Laindon Photographer: Alan Balding Year of photo: August 1969 Copyright: Alan Balding Source: Alan Balding Comments: |
)
Location: High Road, Laindon Photographer: Alan Balding Year of photo: August 1969 Copyright: Alan Balding Source: Alan Balding Comments: A rare interior shot of the Radion cinema. |
)
Location: High Road, Laindon Photographer: Alan Balding Year of photo: April 1968 Copyright: Alan Balding Source: Alan Balding Comments: Mrs Hayes seated between the two usherettes in the ticket kiosk. |
)
Location: High Road, Laindon Photographer: Alan Balding Year of photo: April 1968 Copyright: Alan Balding Source: Alan Balding Comments: Alf Hayes, the cinema manager, pictured between the two 35mm Cinemascope Arc Light Projector's. |
)
Location: High Road, Laindon Photographer: Alan Balding Year of photo: August 1969 Copyright: Alan Balding Source: Alan Balding Comments: |
)
Location: High Road, Laindon Photographer: Alan Balding Year of photo: April 1968 Copyright: Alan Balding Source: Alan Balding Comments: |
)
Location: High Road, Laindon Photographer: Alan Balding Year of photo: April 1968 Copyright: Alan Balding Source: Alan Balding Comments: The High Road seen looking towards St. Nicholas Lane with a fenced off construction site adjacent to the Laindon shopping centre which was then under construction. One of two shots taken by Alan Balding using his Halina Paulette camera from the roof of the Radion cinema. |
)
Location: High Road, Laindon Photographer: Alan Balding Year of photo: April 1968 Copyright: Alan Balding Source: Alan Balding Comments: The High Road looking towards the station. Carey Bros. timber and builders merchants can be seen on the left just beyond the public conveniences that once stood on the corner of Laindon Link. Further on to the right the Laindon Hotel can be seen, partly obscured by a tree. |
)
Location: High Road, Laindon Photographer: Alan Balding Year of photo: August 1969 Copyright: Alan Balding Source: Alan Balding Comments: One of the last shots of the Radion taken during demolition work. The Laindon Shopping centre Clock House building can be seen under construction in the background. |
)
Location: High Road, Laindon Photographer: P.G.C. Year of photo: 27/01/2005 Copyright: Basildon History Online Comments: Telegraph pole and drop kerbs can still be seen over 30 years later from this view taken in New Century Road. |
)
Location: High Road, Laindon Photographer: P.G.C. Year of photo: 27/01/2005 Copyright: Basildon History Online Comments: The new purpose built Laindon library now occupies the site of the former cinema. An original light can still be seen. |
| The Radion Cinema |
|
|
The Radion cinema in Laindon stood next to a small parade
of shops in the High Road between Somerset Road and the corner of New Century Road. Opened in 1929 as the Laindon Picture Theatre, it offered seating for 680, two dressing rooms and a stage where variety shows were often performed. The first proprietor was Louis Silverman. In the 1930s it was renamed the Picture Palace and finally the Radion around 1940 when it fell under the control Mr. B. Fortesque of Radion (Rayleigh) Ltd. The cinema's owner from around 1955 until closure in 1969 was former Basildon Council Chairman Bert Phelps, who was also one-time proprietor of the (now demolished) Ritz cinema in Chapel Street, Billericay. The building would also stage talent competitions, Remembrance Day services and on occasion "All-Star Wrestling" evenings and, briefly before closure, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday bingo sessions beginning on September 11th 1968. One notable event from May 1952 saw the Laindon Carnival Queen, Brenda Buckenham, crowned at a special ceremony on the stage. On the night of closure the final evenings film show began with 'The Syndicate' starring June Richie and ended with the X rated thriller 'Wait Until Dark', starring Audrey Hepburn on Monday February 3rd, 1969. Following closure extra bingo sessions were added before the Radion Bingo Club relocated to the nearby community hall in Aston Road. The former cinema was then demolished as the area was needed as part of a road widening scheme, which saw the creation of two roundabouts and a duel carriageway section of the High Road between Laindon Link and St. Nicholas Lane. Opposite New Century Road and parallel with the High Road to Worthing Road from the 1970s until developed for housing in the 1990s stood a large car park. On the site of the old cinema now stands the new Laindon Library which relocated from the shopping centre to a new purpose built building in March 2001. The cinema's seats were saved and used for many years in the Basildon Arts Centre (later Towngate Theatre) before ending up in the Grandstand at Basildon United's football ground at Gardiner's Close. Two former managers of the Radion were Mr. H.W. Dixon in the early 1950s and Mr. T.W. Starks, who succeeded him in February 1954. Many of the photographs seen of the Radion were taken by Alan Balding, who worked as assistant projectionist at the cinema in the 1960s. Text written 2001 with revisions 2002-2007. Copyright © 2001-2007, James Howard - Basildon History Online. All rights reserved. Related external Weblink: Radion Cinema |
|
Contact: E-Mail
Copyright |
|
