D is for derelict

Driving to visit my favourite class this morning (not very professional to have favourites but I can't help myself with this lot!) I noticed for the first time this old entrance to what was once the Rialto cinema in Easington Colliery. It once housed a 1250 seat theatre which seems astonishing for what is a small northern colliery town but there are buildings like this all over, their history hidden on side streets. In fact this was one of three cinemas in the town. According to what I read online the current flooring warehouse housed in the building has a false ceiling and the original balcony and plasterwork is all still there.

I have happy memories of queuing round the block on a Saturday afternoon with my friends at out local 'pictures', after a morning shopping in town, a delight my children will never know, thanks to the rise of the multi screen out of town cinemas and electronic tickets. Yes they're far more comfortable and I like the Ben and Jerry's but it's not the same.