Report - Ritz Cinema, Grays - December 2015

[KronJewels]

Went down to Grays to see if either of the two disused cinemas (Ritz and State) were accessible.

State (the bigger one; recently bought by Wetherspoons I believe) was tightly sealed, but access to the Ritz was just far too easy. Especially with the huge police station across the road!

And the lights were on! Didn't stay too long as I suspected someone else was inside but was still worth it.

History from Cinema Treasures:

The Ritz Cinema opened on 25th November 1940, unusual, as Britain was already over one year into World War II and non-essential buildings were not being built.

It was built for the small Lou Morris chain of cinemas and in July 1941 was taken over by Frederick’s Electric Theatres (Abraham’s Consolidated Co’s. Ltd.) who already operated the nearby State Cinema. Designed by architect E.H. Parke, the exterior has a brick faced tower feature over the corner entrance. Seating in the auditorium was provided in stalls and circle levels and the decorative scheme was a streamline Art Deco style with picturesque details. The proscenium was 41 feet wide and the cinema was equipped with a 2Manual LaFleur (Hammond) organ which was opened by noted theatre organist Florence De Jong, who was the wife of Lou Morris.

Abraham’s operated the Ritz Cinema for the remainder of its cinematic life and it closed on 1st February 1976 and was converted into a bingo club. Initially operated as an independent bingo club, it became part of the Mecca Bingo Club’s chain in 1979. The Mecca Bingo Club was closed on 15th July, 2015.

The Ritz Cinema is a Grade II Listed building.

Foyer

Nice circle foyer area

Looking at the rear stalls

Down to the stage from the circle

Pretty happy to find these in situ!

Roof

 

[Speed]

Nice, projectors are not common find nowadays. Will have to swing by and have a look sometime

 

[slayaaaa]

Saw more than we did! Guy scared the crap out of us :S
Those seats are new!

 

[KronJewels]

Saw more than we did! Guy scared the crap out of us :S
Those seats are new!

Yep, I thought they looked new, all plastic wrapped too. Maybe a church has the place now...

 

[The Amateur Wanderer]

Nice work

 

[Exploring with Andy]

Cool find, those projectors are nice!

 

[GRONK]

Saw more than we did! Guy scared the crap out of us :S
Those seats are new!

New chairs? Could this be a old Cinema that is actually going to be saved.

 

[slayaaaa]

New chairs? Could this be a old Cinema that is actually going to be saved.

You'd like to hope! This one is a beaut. If i remember correctly it is listed and it's in seriously good shape.

 

[PrincessBubblegum]

Beautiful building, lets hope it is saved!

 

[slayaaaa]

Beautiful building, lets hope it is saved!

Apparently it's going to be a wetherspoons? Not sure how true that is but heard it the other day.

 

[Lost Explorer]

Nice to see the projectors still there! Seems Grays has 2 cracking cinemas!

 

[KronJewels]

I believe it's the other one (State?) that will be a Wetherspoons

 

[Urbexbandoned]

Nice work! Looks very nice

 

[morph40]

I have attached a picture of what the state cinema will look like when finished. And the organ is going to be restored.