Stuart's Saturday Page
The Cinema
By Stuart Baker
how it looked when first opened
Also known as Gaumont Theatre Carshalton
Gaumont, Rose Hill, Carshalton, Surrey, England
Bishopsford Road, Rose Hill, Carshalton, Surrey, England, United Kingdom SM4 6BP(map)
| Status: | Closed | | Screens: | Single Screen | | Style: | Art Deco |
| | Function: | Bingo Hall | | Seats: | 1500 | | Chain: | Mecca |
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Architect: |
Harry Weston | | Firm: | Unknown |
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Situated in Morden (Surrey/London border) and just to the north of Carshalton. The cinema was built for Carshalton Regional Theatres Ltd. an independent company, but it was taken over at opening by Gaumont British Theatres Ltd. The Gaumont Carshalton opened on 13th May 1937 with Fred MacMurray in "Champagne Waltz". Organist Terrence Casey opened the Compton 3Manual/10Rank organ.
The Gaumont was later re-named Gaumont Rose Hill after the actual area that it stood in. The Rank Organisation closed the Gaumont on 22nd July 1961 with Dawn Addams in "Follow That Man" and Virgilio Teixeira in "The Boy Who Stole a Million". It was converted into a Top Rank Bingo Club, which today is operated by Mecca Bingo.
The Gaumont Rose Hill is a Grade II Listed building.
The Gaumont opened on 17th May 1937, it closed as a cinema on 22nd July 1961, the final films played were "Follow That Man" and "The Boy Who Stole A Million". It went over to Bingo club use straight away, which continues today. The architect was Harry Weston (a Gaumont circuit architect) and the seating capacity was 1,500. |
This figure appeared several times to members of staff
Man in Grey
Location: Sutton (Surrey) - Former cinema at Rosehill
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1972
Further Comments: This figure appeared several times to members of staff, slowly disappearing if approached or spoken to. During the 1950s local residents complained of loud organ music coming from the building in the early hours of the morning, even though the organ had been removed several years previously.
Man in Grey
http://www.reocities.com/raycrawley/gaumont.html