Former Radion cinema, 10 Newport, Lincoln

Image: © Jo and Steve Turner Taken: 22 Mar 2014

Built on the site of Staunton House it was opened by Councillor H Wilcock JP Mayor on 27th of March 1939. The last of the inter-war cinemas to be built it was by architect W J King FRIBA. The first film was ‘We’re Going to be Rich’ starring Gracie Fields but that wasn’t going to be the case to start with as it was quickly requisitioned by the military for the duration of the war as a base for the Pioneer Corps. After the war Emery Cinema Circuit Ltd of Fylde had a lot of work to restore it, reducing capacity from 850 to 782 and making it arguably the most spacious cinema in Lincoln. A popular cinema, during the 1950s it was again fully refurbished including new projectors and sound equipment. The frontage shops may have been added in 1949. Going the way of most cinemas with the rise of TV ownership, the last film shown was ‘The Five Pennies’ starring Dany Kaye on 16th July 1960. Used in 1962 as a unit plant cleaning shop, and marking and packing depot by Clarks of Retford. It spent some time as a supermarket and then became the studios of BBC Radio Lincolnshire that launched on 11th November 1980.

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