Editing Hayes, Hillingdon (section)

===Cinemas===
[[File:Bingo Hall, Uxbridge Road, Hayes - geograph.org.uk - 23008.jpg|thumb|[[George Coles (architect)|George Coles]]' cinema design, 466-468 Uxbridge Road, Hayes]]
Hayes has had six cinemas in its history. '''(1.)''' The town's first cinema, in the [[silent film|silent]] era, opened in 1913, and was named simply ''The Hayes Cinema''. It was situated at 53–55 Station Road, Hayes – now the site of a branch of [[Poundland]] (formerly [[Woolworths (United Kingdom)|Woolworths]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wooliesbuildings.wordpress.com/2020/06/08/hayes-store-541/ |title=Hayes Town Woolworths – Store 541 |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=8 June 2020 |website=wooliesbuildings.wordpress.com |access-date=25 August 2024}}</ref>). The Hayes Cinema was renamed ''Gem Cinema'' before its closure in the middle of [[World War I]], in 1916.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/30160 |title=Gem Cinema |author=Ken Roe |publisher=Cinema Treaures |access-date=14 October 2014}}</ref> '''(2.)''' ''The Regent Cinema'' stood between 1924 and 1938 at 16 Station Road, Hayes – now the site of a branch of [[NatWest]] bank. The Regent Cinema subsequently became ''The Regent Theatre'' (1948–54). Playwright [[John Osborne]] performed at the theatre as a young actor, and stars including [[Kenneth Williams]], [[Diana Dors]] and [[John Le Mesurier]] performed there also early in their careers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/30161 |title=Regent Theatre |author=Ken Roe |publisher=Cinema Treaures |access-date=14 October 2014}}</ref> Sylvia Rayman's groundbreaking "all-women play" ''[[Women of Twilight]]'' (1951) was [[premiere]]d at Hayes's Regent Theatre.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.calmview.co.uk/bristoltheatrearchive/calmview/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=SR&pos=1 |title=Sylvia Rayman Collection |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2023 |website=[[University of Bristol]] |access-date=20 April 2023 |quote=performed at the Regent Theatre, Hayes on 30 July, 1951}}</ref> '''(3.)''' ''The Corinth Cinema'' opened in 1933 at 1040 Uxbridge Road. Renamed ''The Essoldo'' in 1949, it was the first cinema in the area to be equipped with [[CinemaScope]] and stereophonic sound. After purchasing an alternative building nearby in 1957 (''infra''), the Essoldo chain closed this cinema in 1961. The address is now the site of the town's Point West Building.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/30163 |title=Essoldo Hayes (1) |author=Ken Roe |publisher=Cinema Treaures |access-date=14 October 2014}}</ref> '''(4.)''' ''The Ambassador Theatre'' existed between 1938 and 1961 on the area of East Avenue, Hayes which is now occupied by the British Telecommunications Centre (formerly a [[General Post Office|GPO]] [[telephone exchange]]). Actress [[Valerie Hobson]] made a personal appearance on the occasion of the Ambassador Theatre's opening on 19 December 1938; she starred in the film screened for the occasion: ''[[This Man Is News]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/30164 |title=Ambassador Theatre |author=Ken Roe |publisher=Cinema Treaures |access-date=14 October 2014}}</ref> '''(5.)''' ''The Savoy Cinema'' existed from 1939 to 1957 at 466 Uxbridge Road, Hayes. The building was designed by noted cinema architect [[George Coles (architect)|George Coles]]. Some famous artists performed on stage at Hayes's Savoy Cinema over the years – [[Max Miller (comedian)|Max Miller]], [[Josephine Baker]] and [[Adam Faith]] among them. The Essoldo chain bought the Savoy in 1957, renaming it ''The Essoldo'' in 1962 (after closing its nearby namesake in 1961). This incarnation of the Essoldo closed in 1967. Coles' building was converted into an Essoldo Bingo Club; it became a Ladbrokes Lucky 7 Club, then a branch of Mecca Bingo.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/30166 |title=Essoldo Hayes (2) |author=Ken Roe |publisher=Cinema Treaures |access-date=14 October 2014}}</ref> A bingo hall since 1967, residents fought unsuccessfully against closure in 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wiggins |first=Dan |date=23 January 2023 |title=Hillingdon residents fight to save local Mecca Bingo hall threatened with closure as it's 'the only place left to socialise' |url=https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/hillingdon-residents-fight-save-local-26045457 |work=My London |access-date=13 April 2023}}</ref> '''(6.)''' ''The Classic Cinema'' (1972–1986) was located above a [[Waitrose]] supermarket, at 502 Uxbridge Road, Hayes. Subsequently, demolished, its entrance was immediately to the left of the former Savoy (see 5, above).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/30167 |title=Classic Hayes |author=Ken Roe |publisher=Cinema Treaures |access-date=14 October 2014}}</ref>