The Ritz Birkenhead

 

One of the largest and most extravagant cinema/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. With the Ritz Orchestra accompanying choreographed dancing by 14 Ritzettes, a glittering line up of celebrities, headed by one of the top British stars of the time Gracie Fields, who was there to officially declare the cinema open, performed on stage in front of the Mayors Of Birkenhead, Liverpool, Wallasey and Bebington. Covering more than an acre, this mammoth Art Deco construction was designed with a 'modern simplicity coupled with quiet dignity' by architect Robert Cromie with local firm, Lloyd & Cross, awarded the contract to build 'a theatre of such majestic proportions'. An external feature was a 70 foot glass and steel tower that dominated one corner of the building above the main entrance doors with white Portland stone used on the front facing walls. Once you had paid at the ticket kiosk you went through the doors into the entrance where in front of you was a huge staircase, with mirrored walls at the top, and above the stairs was a giant chandelier. Also upstairs there was a café/restaurant with a grand piano that was open for 12 hours each day from 10.30am, and which could also be hired for parties.. On either side leading up to the stairs were glass cabinets displaying goods from various local businesses. The staircase and foyers led customers into an auditorium with 2500 seats located in stalls, with art deco murals painted on the plain side walls.  There were troughs across the the ceiling which contained concealed lighting and footlights and battens on the stage hooked up to the Holophane system that took the lighting through a full colour changing sequence. The proscenium was 56 foot in width and little more than half as high. It had a huge stage area of 75 feet and was fully equipped to put on the most adventurous and elaborate stage presentations.

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.

In 1949 there was a 'Royal Film Performance' in aid of the Cinematograph Trade Benevolent Fund - a UK charity for cinema, television and film, helping the people who work behind the scenes. Opening the event a number of fireworks were launched from the top of the Ritz on Conway Street while crowds of people waited to catch a glimpse of the famous movie stars as they arrived. W Southan Morris, the then managing director of S.M. Associated Cinemas greeted The Mayor and Mayoress of Birkenhead, the Hollywood actor Ben Lyon and his actress wife Bebe Daniels, Gregory Peck and wife Greta Kukkonen with many other famous actors, including Margaret Lockwood, Valerie Hobson, John McCallum, Christine Norden and Richard Todd, also attending. The 2500 ticket only audience enjoyed this never-seen-before spectacle in Birkenhead.and were treated to performances from Nat Allen's orchestra alongside Wilson, Keppel and Betty who performed their famous sand dance. At the time this was the biggest charity performance in the North and never before had there been a get together of such stars. ( see video footage here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNd65aFTYck )

It had been named the 'Showplace Of The North', a title it justly deserved, as the Ritz stage was put into top gear by the manager, Bill Boht. Bill had arrangements with the Empire Theatre and the Paramount Cinema in Liverpool to loan their lighting, drapes and scenery to give maximum impact to the dazzling stage interludes. German born Bill, who was interned on the Isle of Man during the war, booked in top artists and bands of that era and much of the success of The Ritz was down to him. The former husband of the actress Jean Boht staged talent nights and skiffle contests for many years on Friday nights. It was also the venue where Britain's 'Elvis' was discovered. In 1958 Ron Wycherley had gone there hopefully to see if Larry Parnes was interested in the songs he had written and sent to him on tape. Marty Wilde, Vince Eager and The John Barry Seven were there on tour with Larry's show 'Extravaganza'. Introduced by Vince Eager who had met him outside, Larry asked Ron to perform the songs for him and, suitably impressed, suggested he should go on stage that night. That evening, performing as Billy Fury, he went on stage and stole the show.

The Ritz Theatre had been taken over by the Essoldo Cinemas chain on the 26th 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.

see also:- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2021/03/a-history-of-oxton-village.html