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The Cecil was the
second cinema in Hull to be given this name. The first was built in
1911. Diagonally opposite the present Cecil, and was called the Theatre
De-Luxe. It was operated by National Electric Theatres. The company had
business interests in Leeds, York, Halifax, Burton-On-Trent, Chatham
and Brixton. The frontage to this imposing building was constructed of stone to a classical design. The main entrance was of a curved nature that rounded the corner on which the cinema stood. The cinema foyer featured a lift to to the first floor balcony, and the auditorium had seating for some 1,500. In front of the stage was an orchestra pit and the the first seven rows of seats followed the curve of the orchestra pit. To the rear of the balcony was the projection room. The cinema also featured a cafe, which was located on the Anlaby Road side of the building. |
THIS PICTURE IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN TAKEN IN 1933
Thanks to Nick Cox for sharing this rare photograph.
 Local Press Advert - Hull Mail, 1938
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It quickly established itself as a popular place of entertainment, and
earned a reputation for showing the best films, in a most luxurious
setting. The Theatre De-Luxe was renamed The Cecil on 28th September
1925, and continued to be regarded as one of the best cinemas in the
area. Until, on the night of 7th/8th May 1941, in the midst of heavy
enemy bombing the building was hit by incendary bombs and was
completely gutted by the ensuing fire. The shell of the building remained, but the Cecil was a total loss. Hull Cinemas Ltd, which by then owned the Cecil, along with ten other cinemas in the area, had it's offices within the building. These too were destoyed and all the company's records lost. The Central Cinema, was also destroyed during the blitz of 1941, The Carlton Cinema was also extensively damaged, along with 5 others, as the incendary bombs continued to rain down on war-time Hull. The remains of the original building continued to lay derilict until 1953, when they were finally demolished to make were for improvements to the junction of Anlaby Road and Ferensway. The demolition work was carried out by local contractors Sam Allon Ltd, in an operation that took just three weeks to complete. |
 A LAST LOOK AT THE CECIL, 1941.
From a postcard by Mr E. Crewe |
 LOCAL PRESS ADVERT - Hull Daily Mail, 1941 |
| Brinley Evans was
known to many as Hull's " Mr Cinema. " The son of
a local estate agent, Mr Evans founded Hull Cinemas Limited and went on
to built up an impressive portfolio of thriving picture houses in, and
around the Hull area. His first aquisition was a cinema on Cleveland
Street, Hull. A short time later, he aquired the Monica on Newland
Avenue, and the centrally situated Theatre de Luxe, which he re-named
The Cecil. Not satisified with just three cinemas, Mr Evans went on to
aquire The National, on Beverley Road, and the Hessle Picture House. He
built the Langham on Hessle Road, (which was the largest cinema in the
north of England, at the time, seating 2,800 patrons). Further
aquisitions followed - The Carlton on Anlaby Road, and The Savoy on
Holderness Road.
As World War 2 drew near. Hull Cinemas Ltd also controlled the Plaza in Hessle, The Priory on Spring Bank West, and The Central on Prospect Street, Hull. The magnificent Grand Theatre (which was re-named The Dorchester) on George Street was bought from the Morton family together with nearby neighbouring cinemas, The Criterion and The Princes Hall. In the post-war 1950s, Mr Evans went on to build a replacement for his flag-ship theatre, The Cecil. It opened in 1955. His final venture - The Berkley, opened in 1956 just nine days after ITV became available in the area. Located on Hull's Bilton Grange Estate, some five miles to the east of the city centre, the purpose built cinema, modelled on the new Cecil building, wasn't the success the company had hoped for. Commercial TV had arrived, and for Mr Evans, some difficult choices were to lie ahead. |
 HULL CINEMAS LIMITED |
The new theatre, which was designed by local architects Gelder & Kitchen, for their client Hull Cinemas Ltd, featured the latest techology available for both film presentation, and customer comfort. Managing Director of the company, Mr Brinley Evans must have felt very proud as he watched the Cecil rise like a phoenix, and declared it to be one of the finest buildings in Hull. The Theatre had an impressive seating capacity. 1,374 in the stalls and 678 in the balcony, meaning that a total of 2052 patrons could be accomodated in the spacious, air-conditioned auditorium. At the time, it boasted the largest Cinemascope screen in the Country. The screen was mounted on a wheeled frame and could be drawn back, away from the apron to reveal a large stage. Beneath the stage were green rooms, and storage areas.
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From beneath the
centre of the orchestra pit, " The Princess ", a
three manual Marshall Sykes theatre organ console, complete with
electrical lifting mechanism would rise majestically as the organist
began his recital. Away up high to the right of the procenium, a
louvred facia, accoustically transparent, concealed the organ chamber,
where within was housed an extensive array of lead and pewter organ
pipes. A 32 foot bourdon pipe dominated the array. In addition, the
organ chamber housed a range ofpercussion instruments, all of which could
be played by the organist,seated at the console far below. Beneath the
organ chamber, powerful electric pumps provided the air necessary to
created the sounds.
Mr Norman Coverdale was one of the Cecil's resident organists. |
| The new Cecil opened on Monday, 28th November 1955. An official opening ceremony was performed by Chairman of the Rank Organisation, Mr John Davies, accompanied by his wife, the well known actress Dianh Sheridan, before a specially invited audiance, after which the capacity crowd settled down to watch a special presentation of the first film to be shown, " The Seven Year Itch ", starring Marylyn Monroe. |  |
A newsreel camera crew recorded the event,
and the opening of the new Cecil was featured in cinema newsreels
around the country soon afterwards. Mr Davies, was clearly very
impressed by the new cinema, and said at the time, that the Rank
Organisation, (famed for it's Odeon cinemas), had "Nothing
to compare with the Cecil !"
* 1969-1970 Live concerts were staged at the Cecil, and included such big names as Oscar Peterson, The Count Basie, Glen Miller, and Harry James Orchestras. There was also a Gala Vienese Evening staged.
* 1970 the restaurant closed, and work began at a cost of
£23,000, converting the restaurant area into a " Mini-Cinema
" seating 137.
* 1971 Cecil 2 opened for business on April 19th, with the film, Downhill Racer, featuring Robert Redford in the starring role.
* 1972 Conversion work began to split the main auditorium into
2 smaller cinema units on the upper level.
These becoming known as
Cecil 1 & 3, each seating 307. Meanwhile the ground floor part
was refurbished as an entertainment hall, complete with licensed bar,
and a snack bar. The principle use for the hall was bingo. The
conversion left some provision for the Marshall-Sykes theatre organ to
remain accessible, and it was proposed to hold recitals or concerts
periodically. The Humberside Theatre Organ Preservation Society, in
addition to maintaining the organ, went on to arrange regular concerts
featuring well known organists such as Nigel Ogden, and many others.
* 1972 Mr Brinley Evans retired as managing Director, due to ill health,
but remained a director of Hull Cinemas Ltd.
Few people knew his actual
age, he always kept that a closely guarded secret.
* 1973 Hull's " Mr Cinema " died in a hospital in York in February of that year.
* 1987 Hull Cinemas sold the Cecil to the Cannon Group, and it became
known as the Cannon Classic.
The former ABC cinema had also been aquired by Cannon, and a great deal of speculation followed as to which
cinema might have to close. Both in turn were put up for sale, and the
speculation continued. Eventually, the ABC closed it's doors, and a
re-fit was carried out at the former Cecil. The sound systems in
screens 1 and 2 were upgraded to feature Dolby Stereo. In an effort to
stimulate the market, Cannon introduced the"Take 2"
concept, wherein the cinemas presented films on their "Second-run"
and offered cheaper admission.
* 1992 It was
announced in February of that year that the cinemas would close, and the business would be
offered for sale.
Increasing competion from the newly opened UCI and
Odeon Multiplexes was blamed, along with the lack convenient car
parking facilities in the vacinity. The UCI and Odeon were both purpose
built, although generally showing the same films, offered more choice,
and had ample free car parking right on the doorstep.
* 1992 The Cannon, (formerly known as Cannon Classic and
The Cecil), showed it's last films on the 26th March.
Screen One showed Cape Fear, Screen Two: Father Of The Bride and
Screen Three: The Last Boy Scout.
Following
closure of the cinemas, the Mecca organisation took over the building,
and bingo continues in the former stalls area of the cinema, however it
is unclear what, if any use is being made of the rest of the buildings
facilities.
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