MOVIE PALACES #38 - The GAUMONT PALACE LEWISHAM - 1932

The magnificent GAUMONT PALACE at LEWISHAM in South London. W.E.Trent, the architect, adopted a similar style and layout to the Gaumont Palace at Hammersmith.
Another truly "Super" cinema from the Gaumont Company.
The background music is played by Sidney Torch.
Video uploaded by ComptonLodgeStudios, Compton Lodge, Sapcote, Leicestershire, UK.

[@sarahhelendavies]

I ended up discovering this video after googling the Gaumont because my mum showed me a newspaper article from the 1940s about my grandma's cousin's wedding. She got married in St John's Church on Lewisham Way but briefly popped out of her own wedding reception with her new husband to go and pick up a prize of £3 at the Gaumont that they had won in a talent competition! She went on to have an illustrious and exciting career as a musician and travelled all over the world performing in prestigious venues, and passed away peacefully (not from covid, which was a blessing) at the age of 97 a couple of weeks ago. Thank you so much for making this video, it was like an enlightening and fascinating window into the world she grew up and lived in as a young woman and I think she would have been both thrilled and amazed to see it remembered in this way.

[@ComptonLodgeStudios]

Dear Sarah, Thank You so much for your heart warming comment regarding your late Grandma. A lovely story and it has really made my day reading it. I have spent a lifetime as a professional musician which I have enjoyed intensely and made me many friends. So pleased you enjoyed the video so much and the memories it stirred. My warmest good wishes to you, PAUL ComptonLodgeStudios in the Welsh Rhondda Valley.

[@sarahhelendavies]

@@ComptonLodgeStudios Thank you for your kind reply Paul - it was her funeral last Tuesday and we were only supposed to have two pieces of music played during the service but that didn't seem right as a representation of her lifelong passion so we managed to convince the registrar to allow five in the end, and it felt like a much more fitting send off that way! I am glad to hear that music and being a musician has enriched your life so wonderfully too. All the best, Sarah

[@ComptonLodgeStudios]

@@sarahhelendavies Thank You Sarah, music is such a wonderful thing. Take care, PAUL.

[@derekatkins1773]

I worked here once for a short time and was proud to be there doing my job there . Living the dream then young and healthy serving the public . The cinema was indeed a palace of dreams too huge and so vast inside I remember along with its amazing deco style pulling crowds in nightly then and such fun to see . Film venues like this are now gone leaving a gab of wanting back what once was and is no longer .

[@ComptonLodgeStudios]

Happy Days Derek, Thanks for sharing your thoughts and memories, PAUL.

[@myszka1uk]

What a trip down memory lane. Born in 1961 I used to go to the Odeon or the ABC in Catford. If you were feeling a bit on the flash side as a teenager with your money a trip across the road to Studio 6 and 7 cinema. I loved the Odeon though. A monster of a building. How many cinemas can fit 3300 people in it. Such a shame it was demolished.

[@ComptonLodgeStudios]

Hi myszka 1uk - Thanks for sharing your memories.

[@zeromanny6466]

as a kid i went to the odeon no money no problem we used to climb up the drain pipes and bunk in that way

[@ComptonLodgeStudios]

Naughty Boy zero manny. I did that once or twice!!! PAUL.

[@davidneale7202]

I met Jess Yates in this theatre back in the 70’s, he introduced me a young 14,year old singer called Lena Zavaroni, Jess held auditions in this theatre and wanted Zena to appear at the Gaumont State, he borrowed £25 off me for petrol, never paid me back haha.

[@ComptonLodgeStudios]

Hi David, I've come across this type of agent myself. One in particular I knew was dodgy but we had a lot of good gigs at larger than usual fees. I introduced a tenor friend of ours to his agency and Maurice picked up some great dates at a larger fee than he would have asked for a self-arranged gig. Then he got New Years booking, what we call "No Pick-up" - statement of commissions owned less any no pick-ups would arrive the following month. NYE and they pay Maurice cash £100 more than contract but he didn't check his pay envelope until he got home - So he rings the agent re the over payment despite me advising him to forget it. The result was no more bookings with World-Wide Entertainments. It doesn't always pay to be honest. Did you know anyone who did well on Op Knocks had to sign with Green's agency at a extortionate rate of commission on each date - Charming! Thanks for commenting, nice to hear from you, PAUL.

[@lerpack455]

1960/70's Saturday evenings here were a horror film late night event (for teenagers). The circle only was used. The projection room would often have problems with the old film and it would perhaps stop. The crowd would take this as a time to let off steam! Fantastic! Later the police were often called in to calm things down. What a night out - better than the horror film itself! . The Beatles played here in the 60's also. Queues apparently went right round the building.

[@ComptonLodgeStudios]

Hi Dennis - Thanks for sharing your memories - All Good Clean Fun! - Cheers! PAUL.

[@philippaine]

Status Quo played here in the 1980's and then the first floor became the Paradise Garage nightclub.

[@ComptonLodgeStudios]

Thanks for your comment philip.

[@djhonz45]

Wow!

[@ComptonLodgeStudios]

@@djhonz45 A belated "Thanks" DJ HONZA! - PAUL.

[@ivanrainbird2416]

status quo were brilliant there see them here in 77 the building is lovely inside

[@philipchurchill6508]

The who played here in 1981 , and did one of the best gigs of the tour

[@davidneale7202]

I also remember going to this theatre the day after a Sex Pistols gig, there was an awful lot of damage, broken seats, graffiti and the remains of drug paraphernalia etc, I sometimes think this advanced the closure of the theatre, it was never a beautiful theatre in my humble opinion but it was very grand.

[@ComptonLodgeStudios]

Thanks David for sharing your memories. Trust all goes well with you. Best Regards, PAUL.

[@trevh7815]

Sadly demolished now

[@ComptonLodgeStudios]

Thanks for commenting Trev - PAUL.