Peter Stewart

Apart from a report in the Surrey Mirror, recording that on Sunday 13th June 1937, the Reigate Town Silver Prize Band played on the lawns of the majestic swimming pool, which may have been a belated celebration of the coronation in May, there's very little more information on the pre-war pool or its operation.

Apart from a report in the Surrey Mirror, recording that on Sunday 13th June 1937, the Reigate Town Silver Prize Band played on the lawns of the majestic swimming pool, which may have been a belated celebration of the coronation in May, there's very little more information on the pre-war pool or its operation.

It seems that the Majestic Swimming Pool closed at the beginning of the Second World War and didn't open again until peacetime, maybe as late as 1947. Next week, the story continues on the Planet Reigate podcast as the Majestic Swimming Pool is joined by the opening of the sumptuous and luxurious Majestic Cinema over the road.

It seems that the Majestic Swimming Pool closed at the beginning of the Second World War and didn't open again until peacetime, maybe as late as 1947. Next week, the story continues on the Planet Reigate podcast as the Majestic Swimming Pool is joined by the opening of the sumptuous and luxurious Majestic Cinema over the road.

This is the Planet Reigate podcast with Peter Stewart.

This is the Planet Reigate podcast with Peter Stewart.

Last week we heard about how one-time Music Hall double act Harry and Emmy Bancroft, who had been running the Hippodrome Cinema on Bell Street in Reigate, felt so threatened by a potential new cinema in Red Hill, they decided to build a new road and on it site an open-air pool and a brand new picture house.

Last week we heard about how one-time Music Hall double act Harry and Emmy Bancroft, who had been running the Hippodrome Cinema on Bell Street in Reigate, felt so threatened by a potential new cinema in Red Hill, they decided to build a new road and on it site an open-air pool and a brand new picture house.

I described the Lido, where it was, the opening day and the cost, and this week, the rise of Reigate's brand new cinema, and the subsequent decline of it, and the pool, and the lasting legacy of Harry and Emmy Bancroft. Reigate's majestic cinema opened on the 14th of October 1935 to the strains of the new three-manual Christy Wonder Organ, played by Reginald New.

I described the Lido, where it was, the opening day and the cost, and this week, the rise of Reigate's brand new cinema, and the subsequent decline of it, and the pool, and the lasting legacy of Harry and Emmy Bancroft. Reigate's majestic cinema opened on the 14th of October 1935 to the strains of the new three-manual Christy Wonder Organ, played by Reginald New.

MUSIC

MUSIC

After a few words from the mayor, they settled into their seats and watched an American crime movie and also a rollicking comedy featuring Ralph Lynn and Tom Walls, who lived just up the road in Epsom. Now, I'm not sure exactly what film it was, but Stormy Weather was released in 1935, starring Tom Walls, Ralph Lynn and Yvonne Arnault. The theatre in Guildford is named after her.

After a few words from the mayor, they settled into their seats and watched an American crime movie and also a rollicking comedy featuring Ralph Lynn and Tom Walls, who lived just up the road in Epsom. Now, I'm not sure exactly what film it was, but Stormy Weather was released in 1935, starring Tom Walls, Ralph Lynn and Yvonne Arnault. The theatre in Guildford is named after her.

After the show, the invited audience had only a short distance to walk back to their limousines, parked in the large, free, public car park, as it was always advertised in the Hippodrome, a majestic publicity, until after the war. That car park? On the site of today's multi-story.

After the show, the invited audience had only a short distance to walk back to their limousines, parked in the large, free, public car park, as it was always advertised in the Hippodrome, a majestic publicity, until after the war. That car park? On the site of today's multi-story.

The Majestic was an Art Deco cinema, though not quite so impressive outside as inside, where a generous budget had allowed for deep red pile carpets and upholstery, with plenty of swooping chrome and brass railings, snazzy lighting, and that organ that was raised and played before the show and in the intervals, and then discreetly lowered out of sight when the films were projected.

The Majestic was an Art Deco cinema, though not quite so impressive outside as inside, where a generous budget had allowed for deep red pile carpets and upholstery, with plenty of swooping chrome and brass railings, snazzy lighting, and that organ that was raised and played before the show and in the intervals, and then discreetly lowered out of sight when the films were projected.

It only had one big screen, but seating for an audience of 2,000. Now compare that with today's Everyman with two small screens and seating for barely a tenth of that number. Even the old Hippodrome could pack in up to 750 picture goers. And it had a stylish 30s upstairs cafe that ran until the 1970s.

It only had one big screen, but seating for an audience of 2,000. Now compare that with today's Everyman with two small screens and seating for barely a tenth of that number. Even the old Hippodrome could pack in up to 750 picture goers. And it had a stylish 30s upstairs cafe that ran until the 1970s.