Ryde Social Heritage Group research the social history of the citizens of Ryde, Isle of Wight. Documenting their lives, businesses and burial transcriptions.
RYDE SOCIAL HERITAGE GROUP
Based at Ryde Cemetery Heritage & Learning Centre. Preserving, documenting and promoting the social history of Ryde on the Isle of Wight.
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Ryde Architecture

Commodore Cinema , Star Street, Ryde

THE COMMODORE CINEMA
Star Street, Ryde

When it was built in 1936 on the site of Sweetman’s Brewery, the Commodore was the largest cinema on the Island. It was constructed to include a large auditorium with a stage and a balcony, an upstairs ballroom and a basement that was a maze of passages and dressing rooms.  Known as “the” stage and film centre for Ryde. Many over the years have said that the building frontage was un-interesting and ugly, but nevertheless it  has provided the people with a very diverse span of the arts.

In the 1950s and early 1960s, in addition to films, various stage acts could be seen, often on a Sunday. The comedians Max Miller and Arthur English performed at various times and there were pantomimes, including Aladdin in late December, early January and ‘Disco Bleu’ upstairs.  Grand operas were staged with full company and orchestra; many great artistes have performed there.

Also, on stage during this period were seen Lonnie Donegan, Dusty Springfield, Lulu, The Searchers and Dave, Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch.

The local press, 30 March 1957, reported Tommy Steele appeared at Ryde’s Commodore Theatre before more than 2500 fans.

 In 1962 the Commodore became part of the Isle of Wight Theatre group and from that time became a cinema only.  After a few years the cinema passed to Star Associate Holdings who made alterations and provided a bingo hall.

 An upturn in the Commodore’s fortunes took place in the late 1990’s with the re-opening of the then three cinemas. With the closing of the Picture-drome in Newport and the de Luxe in Lake, Ryde had the only independent cinema left on the Island.

Tommy Steele at the Commodore

7 June 1962 Commodore Cinema – This cinema re-opened this week after extensive improvements to the foyer, auditorium, heating and furnishings. Spartacus, showing, has Kirk Douglas leading a slaves’ revolt against the tyranny of Rome. Jean Simmons, Laurence Olivier, Charles Laughton and Peter Ustinov are among the cast.

30 April 1964 Commodore – Largest cinema in the Isle of Wight, the Commodore at Ryde closed since the end of last season, will never show another film. When the 30-year-old building re-opens on May 12, it will be as a “bingo palace” and casino.

21 April 1966 Bandits – Five “one-armed bandit” fruit machines at the Commodore Bingo and Social Club were forced and their contents—about £100 in sixpences—stolen during Thursday night.

24 October 1970 Fire at the Commodore – The Fire Brigade answered a call on Thursday morning to the Commodore Bingo Club, Star Street, where the stage curtains had caught light.  The outbreak was quickly extinguished.

14 August 1976 Top Attraction – Jaws (A), the box-office phenomenon which became the most successful motion action picture of the industry only 11 weeks after having its premiere in June 1975, and eclipsed such classics as “The Sound of Music and Gone with the Wind,” continues to draw holiday audiences throughout the Island. This frightening story continues at the Commodore 1, Ryde, for another week.

Note:
This is just a potted history of The Commodore, we have only given a sample of the much wider details of this building of entertainment, which over the years has provided different things to many different people.

Sources: IW County Press, IW Times, Illustrated History by Peter Norris
Images: RSHG Archive
Article: Ann Barrett