The Ritz Cinema, Cleethorpes in 1937.

The Ritz Cinema was built and operated by the Union Cinemas chain. It was opened in the summer of 1937. The United Cinemas chain was taken over by Associated British Cinemas (ABC) in the autumn of 1937.

A poster in the photo advertises the showing of the 1937 film “Our Fighting Navy”, the first film shown at the cinema. This dates the photograph accurately. Another poster announces a personal appearance, on this particular day, of H. Robinson Cleaver at the Compton Organ. His visit was to celebrate the opening. Another poster heralds the visit of Douglas Wakefield, a British music hall performer and film actor.

The cinema closed in 1982 and was demolished in 1993. A MacDonald’s Restaurant now stands on the site.

This is an original, large professional photograph.