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The Story of the Gaumont State
Above - A sketch of the site of the Gaumont State, kilburn shortly before it was erected
The property included shops, houses and factories, covering a total space of 75,000 square feet, and the actual work was begun over two years ago, and it is a matter of interest to note that 1,000 men have been continuously employed during this period. The interior of this mammoth building is luxuriously decorated and fitted, containing many features not previously introduced to cinemas in this country. A detailed description of this remarkable theatre would appear unnecessary, as the building is here for all to see. It is therefore the object of the following few remarks to call your attention to the matters of interest. The entrance front in the High Road is dominated by an enormous and stately tower, which is over 100 feet high, and its neon lighting is visible for miles around. From this tower Van Dam and his State Broadcasting Orchestra will regularly broadcast. It is the first time in the history of the cinema that a special broadcasting studio, approved by the B.B.C., has been incorporated. Passing into the auditorium, one is awed by its vastness, but comforted by the feeling of intimacy conveyed by its subtle decoration. It is to be noted that sufficient waiting room has been provided to accommodate the exact amount of people the theatre seats, and therefore it is possible to have inside the building all the patrons waiting for the next performance. We have a delightfully decorated and tastefully furnished circle lounge where patrons may rest or wait to meet their friends, and for the ladies there is at hand a Cosmetic Parlour which we know will meet with feminine approval. It would be impossible to adequately describe the many technical wonders in the theatre, but it is sufficient to say that nothing has been forgotten, and all units are of the very latest design, and in some cases being used for the first time in any theatre. Progress marches onward, inspired and urged by the changing need of new times. And so to-day we are proud to welcome you to this, the latest and most sumptuous palace of entertainment.
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Above - The Foyer of the Gaumont State, Kilburn |
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The Directors
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The Construction THE patron viewing the theatre
for the first time sees before him a finished and furnished building,
complete with every con- Before a brick could be laid, some hundreds of drawings had to be prepared, reams of calculations had to be made and months of negotiations with public authorities, contractors and sub-contractors were necessary. Once these were complete and the Contractor engaged, the great venture of building started. Then came the task of controlling and co-ordinating the thousands of men engaged both on the site and on work in connection with the building and equipping of the theatre. I would like to place on record my appreciation of the whole-hearted co-operation I have received from everybody concerned, the County and Local Authorities, my Consultants, Contractor and sub-Contractors, and especially Mr. Charles Saunders, the Clerk of Works, for his untiring efforts and tact. Last week the public inspection of the theatre took place, which was in a simile like the launching of a great liner. To-night it sets out on its maiden trip. I wish it bon voyage and feel certain that a theatre built in such harmonious conditions cannot fail to give pleasure and entertainment to all who enter its doors.
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The Theatre Controller of Gaumont Super Cinemas Ltd. introduces our General Manager
Mick Hyams, Theatre Controller of Gaumont Super Cinemas Ltd., has for the past twelve years trained what is considered to be the most efficient and capable staff in the cinema world. They are now all gathered under this roof in a suite of offices built to control the rapidly growing super cinema circuit. Mr. Mick, as he is known to some 1,200 of his employees, is proud of his achievement and takes pleasure in introducing to you the man chosen as General Manager of this palatial house. Leslie M. Posner, whose wide and varied experience both in America with the world-renowned Fox Theatre Corporation and in this country, will stand him in good stead in managing Europe's largest and most luxurious theatre. Few people realize the significance of the vast responsibility vested in him, the numerous departments under his direct control, and the large staff necessary to man this colossal venture. He comes to the State after several years as General Manager of the Trocadero and Troxy. |
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Our Guests of Honour
Above - Guests of Honour at the opening of the Gaumont State, Kilburn - Henry Hall, Larry Adler, Gracie Fields, George Formby, Carroll Levis, Vic Oliver, and Stone & Lee |
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His Worship the Mayor of Willesden
As Mayor of the Borough of Willesden, I am proud to be associated with this splendid new home of entertainment, and trust your enterprise will be attended with the success it so richly deserves. Yours very truly. Mayor |
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Gaumont State Restaurant
Above - The Gaumont State Restaurant OUR RESTAURANT will become one of the most popular rendezvous where you can arrange to meet your friends and partake of excellent food in luxurious and comfortable surroundings. Extensive kitchens equipped with the latest culinary devices for quick and efficient service and capable of catering for 300 people are provided. The management of the Restaurant will be under our personal control, thereby assuring patrons of personal care and attention to all details for their comfort. All refreshments served in the Restaurant will be prepared on the premises by a qualified and competent staff, no mass production methods will be used in the preparation of meals — every order will be specially prepared. You may be absolutely certain that whatever you choose from the menu will be positively fresh and pure; all perishable foods will be kept free from contamination in a spacious refrigerator. Make the Restaurant your rendezvous, entertain your friends here, you will find the menu attractive and the charges extremely moderate. |
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The Story of the Site
The great difficulty was to find a suitable site, this area being so well built up and the shops very established. After negotiations, which lasted over a year, I created a site comprising numerous shops and factories which I considered ideal for the purpose in mind. However, at this stage I was confronted by the natural desires of many vendors concerned — obsessed with the vision of a speedy retirement to Bournemouth. The next problem was, who could most satisfactorily carry out such a project. Gaumont Super Cinemas Ltd., appeared to have Directors whose names were famous for " big things," and I accordingly approached them. Then, with the co-operation of their Architect, Mr. George Coles and the advice of Mr. R. Schapiro their Solicitor, the scheme was considered in its entirety. Upon further investigation we agreed that North-West London was deserving of a mammoth Cinema which would have a gigantic seating capacity and should be, as it is, the greatest Cinema in Europe, therefore the site was not big enough. |
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I was thereupon instructed to obtain additional properties, and after
a further year of complicated and delicate negotiation, the site was
purchased. Nevertheless numerous other difficulties had to be overcome
before this great palace of entertainment could be built. VICTOR J. KEMPNER, BARTON & CO., |
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Organist and Musical Director
"TORCH !" VAN DAM Our famous broadcasting and recording
organist . . . . commenced his career with the Hyams Brothers' first
super . . . . Broadway, Stratford,
in 1927 . . . . considered greatest exponent of syncopation on the cinema
organ . . . . organist at the Regal, Marble Arch . . . . Metropole,
Victoria . . . . and the Regal, Edmonton . . . . recording artist of
long standing for Columbia , always on Van Dam and his Gaumont State broadcasting orchestra . . . . Van has reigned at the famous Trocadero, Elephant and Castle, as musical director for the past seven years . . . . broadcast weekly for the past four years . . . also on the air from Luxembourg .. .. and of course the Gaumont State. Has conducted Opera, Dance Bands, Variety, etc without a doubt the most versatile musician in the country. |
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Grand Opening Ceremony
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Gaumont State Efficiency A Glimpse Behind the Scenes
Immediately in front of him is a small control panel, actually only
about half the size of this page, to which is connected a hand microtelephone
very similar to that found on the latest type of Post Office telephone.
By using this handset and operating appropriate switches on his control
panel, he can talk at will to his stage manager on the prompt
side of the stage, to the stage hands on the opposite side of the stage,
to the engineer at the lighting switchboard, to the operators in the
projection room, and to the operators in the spot
room, either individually or collectively. He must not disturb the
members of the audience who sit near him, so he speaks in the merest
whisper, but for all that his voice comes out clearly from A Standard Rehearsal System is fitted in this theatre which is also equipped with a private Automatic Telephone Exchange, enabling telephone communication to be established between the forty-five telephone sets fitted throughout the building. Here also, in order that the time of the Management may be saved, six of the executives have loud-speaking telephones connected to this automatic system but with an additional facility. By merely operating a switch and without even having to dial, these executives can be in instant touch with the twelve most important members of their staff. Standard Telephones and Cables Limited, the designers and manufacturers of these systems, are proud to have taken part in the task of equipping this beautiful theatre. |
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For your Immediate Entertainment
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Wurlitzer A Stately Organ For A Stately Theatre
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The Gaumont State Contractor Credits
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General Information
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More Gaumont State Contractor Credits
Above - The Revolving Stage at the opening of the Gaumont State, Kilburn in 1937 |
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More Gaumont State Contractor Credits
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The above text and images come from the Opening Souvenir Programme for the Gaumont State Theatre, Kilburn on the 20th of December 1937 - (C) The Arthur Lloyd Archive 2009. Click here
to see the opening 'T'our of the Theatre' Programme plus many more
images. |
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THE
site on which the " 
On
entering the theatre through the large vestibule, one is immediately
impressed by the beautiful marble hall, with its gold leaf decoration,
pink mirrors, glittering candelabra and magnificent marble staircase.
In
September of 1933, I had an idea that 
One
of the main reasons why you will always find that the Stage Shows at
Gaumont Super Cinemas run with such polished efficiency is because the
whole of the performance is controlled by one man who, whether it is
rehearsal or actual production, is seated in the circle of the theatre
where he can see and direct the show from the point of view of the audience.
To do this he must be able to give instantaneous instructions to all
the strategic points in the theatre, and this he does with the greatest
simplicity by the use of a Standard Rehearsal System.
