Plaza Cinema, Stockport

The Plaza's original organ is still in situ. It was built by the John Compton Organ Company and was ready in time for the opening of the cinema on 6 October 1932. It was the first Compton theatre organ to be built with sunburst decorative glass panels, which can be illuminated in a range of colours, and is now one of the very few that remains in its original location.[3]

The Compton organ is a three-manual instrument with a unique 150 stop tab layout which was designed for the Plaza by Norman Cocker, the resident organist from Manchester Cathedral, and Arthur Ward, one of the original Directors of the Plaza. It has in addition 42 toe and thumb pistons.[4] There are 11 ranks of pipes contained in two chambers, one over the other to the right of the stage. These are concealed behind the decorative grille in the wall. There is no electric amplification, as the sound is produced acoustically straight from the organ pipes. The console is on a lift so that it can rise out of the floor, adding to the theatrical effect. As there is no amplification the organist controls the volume using swell pedals that operate shutters in the grille. It was played before shows, and during silent movies, variety shows and musical interludes between films. The organ can supply a large range of effects from sleigh bells to aircraft and sea sounds.[4]

The first plans for a cinema on this site were made speculatively by William Thornley in 1929. It was a conservative scheme that incorporated a motor garage, a billiard hall, and a restaurant all above a 1,600-seat cinema.[5] Thornley, an architect originating from Bolton who had trained with Bradshaw Gass & Hope, was experienced in designing small-scale silent film cinemas.[6]

Read, Snape and Ward, a cinema circuit which had just opened the 1,850 seat Regal Cinema 7.9 miles (12.7 km) away in Manchester Road, Altrincham, were looking for a site in central Stockport in 1931. They evaluated Thornley's speculative scheme but rejected his original design. As a condition of buying the site on Mersey Square to develop, they commissioned him to adapt the plans for the Regal Altrincham - which was designed by Drury & Gomersall and described as the ‘Cathedral of the Movies’ - for the smaller and more restricted Stockport site without reducing the seating capacity for 1,850 patrons.[5][lower-alpha 1]

Although he was uncredited due to part of the sale contract, Joseph Gomersall from the Regent's team is responsible for the interior design rather than Thornley. He had travelled around Europe to sample the latest architectural trends and had a professional background in theatre design.[7]

A row of cottages previously occupying the site were purchased and demolished. A set of limestone steps was then built to connect Mersey Square with the higher-level Lawrence Street, which are now known as The Plaza Steps. 10,000 tonnes of sandstone was excavated to a depth of 42 feet to create The Plaza and the adjacent steps, leaving the building partially underground and secured by 111 rock bolts.[8] The Plaza was welcomed by the local cinemagoers but opposed by the local business community, unhappy about the use of labourers from elsewhere while the town was still suffering from the Great Depression. Technically the cinema had all the latest equipment the projectors that could project silent and sound stock, and a Compton organ to be played during the silent news reels. It opened as a cine-variety venue.[5]

The Plaza first opened its doors to the public on 7 October 1932, with a charity show for Stockport Infirmary. As soon as the mid-1930s, cine-variety had ended and the Plaza shows assumed the familiar pattern of one feature film and a supporting “B” movie. The Plaza attracted competition and by 1939 there were two further super cinemas in the town centre- and two in the suburbs.[lower-alpha 2]

During World War II (1939-1945), being cut into the rock face led to the Plaza being considered one of the safest to shelter during an air raid. After the war, despite audiences declining nationally, the Plaza was in the 1950s refurbished with the entertainment tax relief incentive, and diversified into CinemaScope and 3D screenings.[5] As well as screening films, it staged variety acts, hosted acrobatic troupes, offered stand-up comedy, concerts and during Christmas 1960, staged its first pantomime.[7]

However, audiences declined as the 1960s went on, during a period where TV ownership was ever increasing. In July 1965, the Plaza was sold to Mecca Bingo for conversion into a bingo hall. The conversion to a bingo hall was refused by Stockport Borough Council planning committee; this ruling was then overturned by appeal to the government and Mecca proceeded with its plan. The Plaza’s final show was on 31 December 1966 and featured Jerry Lewis in Three on a Couch and Audie Murphy in The Texican.[5] The bingo hall opened in February 1967. In the 1970s the first-floor café was converted into "Samantha's" nightclub but this later converted into extra bingo seating.

By 1999, The Rank Group, which had bought Mecca in 1990, decided to close the bingo venue at the Plaza. By the time of closure, it had been listed at Grade II was the last remaining building in the Borough of Stockport still capable of full-scale theatre and entertainment use. Following a local campaign, the building was sold in March 2000 to the Stockport Plaza Trust, a newly established charity which intended to bring back the former use of showing films and staging live shows.[5]

After sale to the Stockport Plaza Trust, the group of volunteers initially raised over £3 million to put towards some early stage restorations and the reopening of the Plaza for live shows and vintage film presentations. Its listing was upgraded to Grade II* in August 2000; the lobby, auditorium and cafe still feature original plaster work in striking geometric designs along with original tiling, whilst previously lost features such as murals have either been restored or recreated. The first cinema show in December 2000 featured a performance of 42nd St (1933) which had been the first film shown at the Plaza in 1932. The Compton organ was found to be in working order, it was powered up and a performance of 1930s singalong music was given by Nigel Ogden.

The Plaza was closed during 2009, and £1.9m restoration, funded by a National Lottery grant took place.[10] Volunteers restored The Plaza to its original 1932 configuration. The façade has been given a new name sign as well as red and green side panels, all constructed with neon lighting. 2017 saw the installation of new Art Deco seating for the whole auditorium, cast from the original designs.

The newly built Plaza Steps prior to the building of The Plaza

The Plaza facade during the opening week in October 1932

Foyer and pay box on opening day - 7 October 1932

The auditorium on opening day

Cinema

1929 (April): First scheme submitted to Stockport Corporation for the construction of Cinema, Mersey Square, Stockport.

1931: Construction of the Regal Cinema, Altrincham, designed by Drury and Gomersall for the Snape Cinema Circuit.

1932 (Oct): Cinema opens in Stockport

1937: Front Circle rake altered, balcony front raised, stage level raised

1949: Seven day programme introduced (same film for 7 days)

1953 (Aug): Large 48 ft.x 18 ft. projection screen installed

1953: Stockport's first 3D film presentation at – “Sangaree”

1954: First CinemaScope presentation

1960: First pantomime, Babes in the Wood featuring the Dallas Boys

1965 (July): Purchased by the Mecca Group

1966 (Dec): Closes as a cinema[10]

Bingo hall

1967: Modifications to the auditorium to accommodate bingo; removal of roof tiling, loss of external verandah, neon lighting and signage. Flat floor insertion at rear of stalls, and alterations to foyer. Alterations to café area.

1967 (Feb): Reopens as a bingo hall

1997 (Mar): Cinema listed Grade II by English Heritage

1999: Cinema closes as a Bingo Hall[10]

Restored cinema

2000 (Aug): Listing upgraded to Grade II* by English Heritage

2000: Purchased by the Stockport Plaza Trust, first restorations started, and re opened for live shows and vintage film presentations. First cinema show in December 2000 featured a performance of 42nd Street which had been the first film shown at the Plaza in 1932. There was also a variety performance, and Nigel Ogden of BBC Radio 2's The Organist Entertains played the Compton Organ for a 1930s style singalong before the screening. (The organ had been found to be in full working order, only needing the power switched on to be used.)

2005: Further restoration plans begin

2007: The Heritage Lottery Fund approves an application for funding of £1.9m towards further restoration of the Plaza

2009 (Feb): Jimmy Carr officially closes the Plaza with two sell out shows and work begins on restoration and refurbishment of the Stockport Plaza

2009 (May): 'Plaza on Tour' commences – a host of events in alternative venues throughout the region during the Plaza's closure

2009 (Dec): The Plaza reopens following a £3.2 million restoration

2012 (Apr): Plaza obtains a venue licence enabling it to host wedding ceremonies, Louise Burchell and Ben Wainwright become the first to be wed at the Plaza Cinema, Stockport.[11]

2013: Front Circle rake restored and balcony front lowered to original design, stage surface renewed

2014 (Jul/Aug): Brand new Art Deco seating cast from the original designs for the entire auditorium, removing the mixed origin seating.[12]

2015 (May): Murals reinstated in balcony of Wetherlam and Little Langdale Tarn in the Lake District.[13]

2015 (Aug): Compton organ restoration including the glass panel sides, pipes and bellows.[14]

2016 (July): Murals reinstated in stalls of musical instruments which include cymbals, tambourines, wind and various string instruments.[15]