The Coliseum

Photographs of the Coliseum Cinema, Gorleston

By Joe Carr

The Coliseum Cinema in Gorleston was built in 1914 and was purchased as a family business in 1931 by Douglas Attree. It was soon modernised and decorated in a contemporary 'art deco' style. This coincided with the arrival of 'talkies' which were at first very difficult to hear. Technology quickly improved and cinema going became more popular than ever.

During the Second World War the Coliseum played a significant role. On the outbreak of war public entertainments immediately closed, but they quickly re-opened as their value was appreciated. After 1940 many foreign servicemen were to be seen in the cinema, mostly Poles and Czechs.

During the 1950s there were matinees on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays starting at 2.30pm. On other days performances began at 6pm. there were usually two films, the main and the B feature as well as adverts and newsreels. Sometimes there was also a cartoon.

Children's matinees had always existed on Saturday mornings. The Christmas children's matinee was particularly popular. The manager dressed up as Father Christmas and all the children were given a gift of nuts and sweets. This was discontinued in the late 1950s.

At Easter there were 'Egg Matinees'. This meant that the entrance fee was an egg!- and all the takings were given to the hospital, who would have had scrambled eggs for days!

The show was continuous until the 1970 when the cinema was sadly demolished to make way for a shopping precinct, which still bears its name.