A cinema had been planned for Chepstow Road in Maindee since 1932. By 1939 Jones Cottages had been demolished and replaced with the 1187 seat Maindee Cinema. Opening on November 23rd, weeks after Britain’s declaration of war. Seating was over two levels in stalls and a circle. The Western Electric sound system and ventilation were state-of-the-art for the time.

A connection between the cinema, the local area and the stars on screen followed it through its life as a cinema.

The opening performance was “If I Were King” starring Ronald Colman and Basil Rathbone. Rathbone had earlier lived in the area during the period of his marriage to Ethel Marion in the 1910s.

Lasting just under 22 years as a cinema, in September 1961 the cinema doors closed. Mr William McNish managed the Cinema throughout its entire life. The final performance was “The Paleface” starring Jane Russel and Bob Hope, whose mother was a light opera singer from Barry, just 20 miles away.

The building was converted into a Coral Bingo Club and lasted longer than the cinema, enjoying 30 years of dabbers and blue rinses before closing in 1994.

It lay empty for a few years, before being redeveloped in 1998 by JD Wetherspoon and reopened as a pub – The Godfrey Morgan – in 1999. The staff were lovely during my recent visit.

Little more than the upper story façade remains. Through my research and in my illustration, I have attempted to return it to its original glory. Restoring the original marquee, grand entrance and the unusual columnated roof.

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