Did you know 4 cinemas once graced the streets of the Isle of Wight’s largest town: Ryde?
Altogether, there have been 20 cinemas on the Isle of Wight. Sadly, only 2 are still standing.
In the 1st edition of Isle of Wight Cinemas, Island Echo examines the 4 cinemas that have operated in Ryde and the one in the nearby village of Seaview.
The Bijou Cinema (130 High Street)
The Bijou Cinema operated from 1910 and was the 1st Ryde cinema to close as early as 1928.
The Temperance Hall, High Street, Ryde, was built in 1884 on the site of the old Wesleyan Methodist Chapel. From 1910, the building was used by the Bijou Cinema, showing silent films with piano accompaniment.
The entrance was under the arch beside the building with the screen at the roadside end. The interior of the building was very small and sat no more than 200 people. The seats were wooden benches. Its had better seats at the back costing 6d (2 1/2p) with the price of the remainder being 3d.
On closure, the building became a chemist, then a 2nd-hand furniture business and finally a sewing shop.
Theatre Royal Cinema (St Thomas’ Square)
The Theatre Royal in St. Thomas’ Square began its life in the 1700s and was rebuilt in 1871 with a thousand seats located in stalls, circle, upper circle and boxes.
Like the Bijou Cinema, it also 1st started showing silent films in 1910. It simultaneously continued as a live theatre, hosting performances on Mondays, with films screened on the remainder of the week. In 1930, the Theatre Royal became a full-time cinema.
In 1937, the cinema was taken over by the Isle of Wight Theatres. In 1960, it became part of the Star Cinemas chain, but the building was destroyed by fire the following year, leaving only the façade. This was demolished and a branch of the National Westminster Bank built on the site.
Scala (Plaza) (45 High Street)
The Scala Cinema (also known as ‘the fleapit’) opened on 22nd December 1921. It was 1st operated by Arthur Hill who also ran the Royalty Cinema, Cowes and the Grand Cinema, Newport. It had seating for 580 patrons.
The cinema was then taken over by Isle of Wight Theatres. Then, in October 1965, the Scala Cinema was sold to the Star Cinemas chain, which modernised the facade before renaming it Plaza Cinema.
The Plaza Cinema closed on 20th June 1973. It then became the Star Bingo Club, which closed in the 1970s when Commodore Cinema was subdivided into a bingo club and cinema.
The Plaza Cinema was sadly demolished and a Gateway supermarket was built on the site, which, in 2016, became an Iceland supermarket.
Commodore Cinema (Star Street)
The Commodore – the largest cinema built on the island – opened in August 1936 with a seating capacity of 1,507 in stalls and circle levels.
It was originally run as an independent cinema by Ryde Cinema Ltd. When built, it was fitted with full-stage facilities, and there was a cafe and a ballroom inside the building.
In 1962, it was bought by Isle of Wight Theatres Ltd before being taken over by Star Cinemas. The building was subdivided into a bingo club and a twin-screen cinema, each seating 184. The ballroom was converted into Screen 3 with a seating capacity of 176.
The Commodore continued to put on live shows, including some big-name acts, such as Dusty Springfield, Lonnie Donegan and The Animals
The Commodore was then taken over by the Cannon Group and re-named Cannon. The 3-screen Cannon was closed in September 1987, but the bingo club remained open.
10 years later, the cinema section was taken over by Peter Walker and re-opened as the Picturedrome, operated by the independent chain Reeltime Cinemas. It continues today operated by Leo Leisure, as does the Cascade Bingo Club in the former stalls area.
In 2023, the Commodore continues to offer great value for money, showing the latest movies for just £4 per ticket with reduced price Saturday morning screenings.
Islanders and tourists alike love to visit the ‘retro’ cinema, which reminds them of bygone cinemas with its historic building and inviting smell of freshly popped corn. All that is missing is the ice cream lady during the interval.
The Pavillion (Seaview) … now the Masonic Hall
Surprisingly, Seaview once had a cinema.
Moving pictures were 1st introduced to the Pavilion during the 1st World War, but the performances were never well patronised despite the lack of an evening bus service to Ryde and the cinema was closed.
After the 1st World War, a further attempt was made to provide film shows at Seaview Pavilion by Mr. Mead, a former employee at a Ryde Cinema. However, the opening of the Scala Cinema in the nearby town and an improved bus service to the village led to another failure.
One more attempt to start a cinema in Seaview was made in 1951. Movie star Barry Jones – who starred in the first film to be screened ‘The Clouded Yellow’ – performed the opening ceremony. However, with audiences seldom reaching double figures, the venture once again failed.
After the 3rd failure to establish a cinema at Seaview, the Pavilion was used for making glass-fibre boats, and light engineering.
The Spithead Masonic Lodge took ownership of the Pavilion in 1970 and renamed it the ‘Masonic Hall’.
Do you enjoy visiting the ‘retro’ Commodore cinema? Do you have any recollections of the earlier cinemas that once graced Ryde? Please let us know in the comments.
In the next edition of Isle of Wight Cinemas, Island Echo will examine the 4 cinemas that once stood in The Bay (Sandown, Shanklin and Lake).
I remember in the mid 60’s, part of the commodore becoming a night club called ‘disque bleu’ or something similar.
Despite all the changes of the commodore in ryde, the seats, screen and layout don’t look any different to when I watched star wars in 1977, compared to when I watched top gun 2 last year
Sadly, with affordable home entertainment systems now able to offer image and sound fidelity that matches and even exceeds the cinema experience, the days of the cinema are numbered.
It is no surprise that Cineworld are in administration. Instead of trying to attract customers by providing value for money (Like Ryde) or improving the experience (Like the Showcase DeLuxe in Southampton), they charge extortionate rates for what has become a scabby fleapit.
Definitely need to support it at only £4 a ticket.
Please, also, support Ryde Heritage Centre down Union Street – at £4 entrance fee with free return over seven days. I visited it today and it is quite amazing and includes a rare Ice House..
Too much to take in and remember in one visit so will definitely be returning for another visit. .
In the article you state that the Plaza shut in June 1973. The newly tripled Commodore Cinema opened the following day showing the latest Bond film Live and Let Die. The Plaza was shut from that time and the bingo you refer to was on the ground floor of the newly opened Commodore. The cinemas and bingo hall at the Commodore were all operated by the Star Group of Cinemas. My father was their IOW manager.