Frank Gordon BBC Broadcast Ritz Birkenhead

Frank Gordon BBC Broadcast Ritz Birkenhead. Another recording from the paperback reel-to-reel tape from the 1950s.
One of the largest and most extravagant cinemas/theatres in the North West was the Ritz, Birkenhead. The Ritz Cinema was positioned just off Conway Street, on the corner of Claughton Road and Oliver Street, and opened on Monday the 4th of October 1937.
Just over three years after the Gala Opening disaster struck. During an air raid, and after the film performance of 'Stardust' had finished, the audience stayed behind to listen to organist Harold Hunt entertain them until, as they thought, danger had passed. Two bombs hit the building, the first exploded directly in front of the circle killing ten people, including Sally Eglington the cinema's head usherette, a further one hundred people were injured. Although the front of the building and foyers remained intact, the second bomb had all but demolished the rear wall of the cinema.
The building lay in a semi-derelict state for several years until after the end of World War II when, in July 1946, local Birkenhead architects M.W. & W.M. Shennan were employed to draw plans for the renovation of the cinema. A second-hand Christie 2Manual 8 ranks organ originally installed in the La Scala Cinema, Glasgow, and later moved to the Regent Cinema, Stotfold, Bedfordshire, was purchased to replace the badly damaged Compton organ. It had been reconditioned by the Wurlitzer Company. The building work progressed with some speed and Billy Cotton and His Band took the stage for the Grand Re-Opening Show Ritz on the 13th of January 1947.
The Ritz Theatre had been taken over by the Essoldo Cinemas chain on the 26th of August 1954, and was re-named Essoldo. It was later converted into an Essoldo Bingo Club, then a Ladbrokes Bingo Club and later operated as a Top Rank Bingo Club, before closing as a Mecca Bingo Club in early November 1997. It was demolished in September/October 2000, and the land is now used as a car park with proposals for a housing development.

[@JohnSBatts-wy6cc]

Hearing this broadcast from the Ritz/Essoldo, Birkenhead for the first time. Thanks for posting it.

[@BramleyProductions]

Thanks for your most kind comment Kev.

[@TheTrincomalee]

Best wishes to you Kevin ,have an enjoyable and peaceful Christmas. Godfrey