Regal Cinema, Grimsby; 1945 programme.

The Regal Cinema was built in 1936/37 by Associated British Cinemas (ABC) and opened in December 1937. The cinema occupied the site of the imposing Prince of Wales Theatre, Freeman Street which closed in the summer of 1936 and was demolished soon afterwards. Following several changes of name, the cinema closed its doors for the final time in 2009 and the building is now used for other purposes.

We are indebted to Richard Willes of Nottingham who donated this really interesting wartime programme to the museum. Richard tells us that his father, Hector Willes, was in the Royal Navy but he’s not really sure what he was doing in Grimsby in February 1945. He was certainly always keen on going to the cinema.

It’s probable that Hector Willes’ ship was in Grimsby Docks at the time. He could’ve easily walked to the Regal Cinema.

The local advertisements are interesting as is the list of films that were showing in February 1945. A great snapshot in time!

DRAGON SEED (1944 – with Katharine Hepburn) MARRIAGE IS A PRIVATE AFFAIR (1944) ESCAPE FROM CRIME (1942) DIVE BOMBER (1941 – with Errol Flynn) NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH (1941 – with Bob Hope) HE’S MY GUY (1943) SOMEWHERE I’LL FIND YOU (1942 – with Clark Gable and Lana Turner) UNTAMED (1940) THERE’S ONE BORN EVERY MINUTE (1942 – debut film of Elizabeth Taylor) BETWEEN TWO WORLDS (1944) SHE COULDN’T SAY NO (1940) THE THIEF OF BAGDAD (1940) GOODNIGHT SWEETHEART (1944)