Lyric Theatre being Demolished.
Following the Wall Street Stockmarket Crash of 1929 and the ‘Great Depression’ that followed, the factory in Midland Road was to close in the early 1930s. The factory was subsequently demolished and The Lyric Cinema was built on the site and opened to the public on 14th December 1936. The cinema cost £70,000 pounds to build in the Art Deco design. It could seat 1,424 people and was not just designed for film showing but stage shows too. A Compton Electric Organ with illuminated surround was installed which rose from a lift from the orchestra pit.
In 1965 the cinema was renamed the A.B.C. and on Saturday 9th April 1969 the last film was shown at the cinema. This was ‘The Happiest Millionaire’ made by Walt Disney and starring Fred MacMurray, Tommy Steele, Geer Garson and Gladys Cooper. The cinema was then leased to Star Associated Holdings, who turned the building into a Bingo and Social Club. The club closed on the 26th April 1975 and was demolished in May 1975 to make way for the Arndale Centre (now Swansgate Centre). The present Gala Bingo and Social Club was built on the site of the cinema.
The electric organ was saved and is now installed in Weavers School Hall.
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