Who Do You Think You Are Kidding Mr Hitler?
The National Picture Theatre: One of Hulls Last WWII Bombsites
Over seventy years after the end of World War Two, there still remains a remnant of the conflict down Beverley Road, still untouched and awaiting it's future. The National Picture Theatre, just past Fountain Road as you travel into Hull City Centre, opened in December 1914, just after the outbreak of World War One. It had room for an orchestra, instead of a piano to accompany the silent films of the era, and plush seats that were compared to "being sat in your father's comfy armchair at home".
On the evening of the 18th March 1941, Fate would decide it's final film which was Charlie Chaplin's "The Great Dictator", a satire of Adolf Hitler's rise to power. Obviously it wasn't to the Luftwaffe's taste, as they dropped a bomb in the car park behind the theatre at 9.50pm, just before the wartime cinema curfew of 10pm. With the projectionist turning off the electricity and heating just after the National Anthem had finished, which was the practice then, the majority of the public having left when the anthem was played, a few were left in the rear of the auditorium and 150 in the foyer. The Hull Daily Mail reported that the manager had said that "...the public were remarkably calm and no one panicked."
The speculation as to the injuries and fatalities by the blast have remained rife up to the present day, with some quarters saying that bodies are still buried there, but according to official records of the time and people I know who lived through the conflict, all have stated that no one was killed or even injured! It seems only casualty was the building with the back wall and screen blown in.
 |
| The National Picture Theatre circa 1960s Photo: ArthurLloyd.co.uk |
On the evening of the 18th March 1941, Fate would decide it's final film which was Charlie Chaplin's "The Great Dictator", a satire of Adolf Hitler's rise to power. Obviously it wasn't to the Luftwaffe's taste, as they dropped a bomb in the car park behind the theatre at 9.50pm, just before the wartime cinema curfew of 10pm. With the projectionist turning off the electricity and heating just after the National Anthem had finished, which was the practice then, the majority of the public having left when the anthem was played, a few were left in the rear of the auditorium and 150 in the foyer. The Hull Daily Mail reported that the manager had said that "...the public were remarkably calm and no one panicked."
 |
| Charlie Chaplin in "The Great Dictator" 1940 Photo: The Criterion Collection |
 |
| The back of the National Picture Theatre Photo: UrbexForums |
In the 1960's the upper part of the facade was removed for safety reasons, and is now boarded by advertisements hoardings, while nature has reclaimed it as it's own. As for the future of the building, it now holds Grade II listed status, thanks to the hard work of the National Civilian WWII Memorial Trust, though what it future use will be is uncertain, though it has been suggested that a memorial garden, using the facade as the entrance, would be fitting to all those that lost their lives in Hull during the war.
 |
| The Swan Public House (left) and the National Picture Theatre in recent years Photo: ArthurLloyd.co.uk |
Next door to the National Picture Theatre, is "The Swan" public house, which survived both World Wars, but is in such a state of disrepair, that it looks as if it too had been a victim of the Luftwaffe and not closed down in 2003. There are tales of it being haunted by a little girl shouting for her Mum and telling people to get out - could this be the basis of the tales of people still in it's neighbour?
Words: (c) Tracy Taylor (June 2017)
Comments
Post a Comment