This is the Hollywood, and it isn’t it’s also the Aquarium, a familiar site to nearly everyone who has ever been to Great Yarmouth, sitting as it does to the Northen End of the Town just before you head out through North Denes to Caister. They can see it blip in and out.
It started life as The Royal Aquarium in 1883; an aquarium (there’s a clue in the name). By 1896 it had become a Theatre and in 1931 became a Cinema too. It continued to offer both cinema and variety until relatively recently. Peter Jay bought it in 1982 changed the name to The Royalty and continued that for another ten years.
These ghosted so well it almost hurts. The two shot from the pier in particular you can see where the photographer stood almost exactly. On the one below the fact that the beach lay so much further back at the turn of the twentieth century is interesting, also you can see the terraces being constructed.
In 1992, Trevor Wicks took over and converted it to the Hollywood, which along with it’s sisters across Norfolk continues to serve film to the locals and holidaymakers. Wonderful stuff.
On the photo below is possibly from 1929, (or maybe 1941 as two films were made with this title). The paths in the park haven’t moved since, an exact match.
Credit: To follow
All images © Nick Stone
My grandfather, Cecil Monck, was projectionist and theatre manager there from (I think) the 1950s through to the mid-70s. His father had some connection with The Aquarium too. My grandmother worked in the ticket office.
As a kid in the late 60s/early 70s I can remember being taken around the place.
He had a story about how they would take film of tourists and roll it round carriages to dry on the front. It was nitrate and very unstable, so before the 1950s and acetate, they had to be pretty careful.
He had another tale of how at The Regal (?) one year the proprietor had given toys to the kids at an Xmas showing. The boys had all been given small tool sets. By the time the show ended, seats were nailed up, sawed into etc.
My Grand mother knew Cecil and Audrey very well. My Nan used to work in a cafe on Regent Road and your Nan used to work in the sweet kiosk a few doors down. We used to go and visit them at St Lukes Terrace and your Nan used to visit our house very often too. Happy memories of them both. x
Cheers for this Adrian, I don’t know if you are aware of Norfolk at the Pictures http://norfolkatthepictures.org.uk/ but they were collecting any such stories.
My Grandfather Albert Stone, worked for a factory in London called Halex, they made xylonite, which was basically the British name for celluloid, some film, hairbrushes, combs and ping pong balls. I believe they were eventually bought out by Palitoy.
Hello there. I am trying to find out what year The Speckled Band, by Arthur Conan Doyle was performed at The Aquarium Theatre. I have a postcard advertising it, and a date 6th October for 6 nights, but no year. I suspect it was around 1910 or 1921, as it looks like H.A. Saintsbury as Sherlock Holmes. I am an avid collector of most thing Holmes and wonder if you help me with the year and the cast. Can’t seem to find this information anywhere!
Many thanks, and best wishes, Tich Turner.
I have recently seen a comment saying Larry Parnes owned the Aquarium in the sixties, I’m not quite sure about this, anyone know?
I saw Emile Ford and the Checkmates during the 60’s
I once remembered coming to see a show about 1965-1970 and one of the acts was known as the three Momarchs. One routine was of them on stage, one o=in a wheelchair, folling the actions of e screen picture taken under bridges, helter sle==keltres, bid dippers et. It really was funny. Sad ly real humour has now gone
Hi anyone know what year the Aquarium screened ‘Kelly’s Heroes’? I went there with a mate to see it as a boy!!