This once fine building has been dropped by Whetherspoons, and with a huge gaping hole now in the roof for a month or so and Thurrock Council virtually bankrupt and supposedly doing nothing, this place is advancing into something altogether near impossible to rescue. The organ console and possibly some of it's recovered pipes are thankfully in safe hands and now in storage. I used to frequent this place when it enjoyed a revival in the 80's with the great manager, Roy Roberts and superb projectionist, David Stickland who knew how to do presentation before a film with music on-cue, lighting sequencing on-stage and the multiple curtains opening, one after the other, plus of course, Alan Newman, ex- BBC World Service announcer who came in to play the organ there in superb style. Then there were the volunteers who helped restore and maintain the place in those final years. What a crime that no-one in this town on the Council ever bothered to rescue this from all the lousy operations who successively purchased this building, promising everything yet doing absolutely nothing. Only Essex businessman, Terry Holdings had the courtesy to give the place one last chance in it's final years of operation from the late 80's as a cinema and then as Charlestons for his son-in-law, Bob Beardwell. Genuine folk without any BS.
Hi Lee, I've only just discovered your video of the State Theatre and it is with great sadness that I see the disrepair it has fallen into over the years. You see I was the Interior Designer for the 'Charlestons' renovation back in 1993 and remember the hard work put in before reaching its finished launch with its plush interior and magnificent auditorium from a bygone age. Thank goodness you captured it for posterity.
Wetherspoons have recently bought this lovely old building and will be restoring it. I have many, many great memories of going here as a teen in the 60s also seeing david Essex in the 80s
I lived in South Ockendon so Grays was the place we all went for the shops and the cinemas. I am sure people still do, as if Grays is a shithole (which it is) then Ockendon is a shithole without cinemas. Saw plenty of films at The State. Also saw a few at Thameside Theatre and The Ritz.... anyone remember it? Such a shame to see Grays as it is now... while never that exciting it appears to have taken 'depressing' to a new level. The one thing it did have was a cool record shop just the 'wrong ' side of the level crossing. Always a good place to hangout while waiting for the branch line back to Ockendon. Beyond the crossing, out towards Grays beach (!) was a scary place. Even back then you had to wear chain-mail armor to deflect the knives. Happy times. A nuclear bomb would be a kindness to Grays.
Ha ha, just saw your comment, we used to go to the State and the Ritz, The Railway was a nasty Pub as well as the London Road Club. I lived in Ockendon and there was nothing there, the Plough and the two clubs were my drinking spots, the Plough beer was so crap, you had a couple there first to appreciate how good the beer was elsewhere. Grays was the nearest place to go for a Wimpy, we also used to get records in the back of Rumbelows. Romford was the other place to get clothes like Granditer or Mintz and Davies. Happy days but glad to see the back of them.
In 1974-75 The successful rock group The Pleasers (in their early days then known as Leaves) used to rehearse every weekend in the foyer of the State cinema Grays and after the last showing and everyone had left the building, we would rehearse all through the night. We would then sleep in the early hours of the morning in the dressing rooms close to the stage. They were great days with some fun memories of staying in this great theatre. Some nights the organ would play itself and scare us half to death! Especially after one particular weekend we all watched the first release of The Exorcist. Being an organist myself I would sometimes play the Compton late into the night for the amusement of the rest of the band. So please don’t let some dip stick ever knock it down. Btw the music used in this video is awful. You should use some of The Pleasers music, then at least it has a real meaning and purpose.
John James been closed for a few years now the last time I heard that something was going on there gary glitter was going to be there that was years ago
It's going to be a Wetherspoons pub. They have bought it and are removing the asbestos from inside right now. It's going to be a great place to go to again, in the near future. Good on J. D. Wetherspoon. They have around 900 pubs in their chain now, built up over 40 years and have renovated and looked after many buildings, that would otherwise most likely have been demolished and lost forever!
surely its haunted? im representing cista this year for the general elections in Thurrock. A regulated cannabis market similar to colorado would put that cinema back on the map. im not a politician. vote jamie barnes for cista and i assure you as soon as the illegal cannabis industry in uk is regulated and made legitimate, and if the residents have no objection id like to pay some attention to that building. but is it haunted?
This once fine building has been dropped by Whetherspoons, and with a huge gaping hole now in the roof for a month or so and Thurrock Council virtually bankrupt and supposedly doing nothing, this place is advancing into something altogether near impossible to rescue. The organ console and possibly some of it's recovered pipes are thankfully in safe hands and now in storage. I used to frequent this place when it enjoyed a revival in the 80's with the great manager, Roy Roberts and superb projectionist, David Stickland who knew how to do presentation before a film with music on-cue, lighting sequencing on-stage and the multiple curtains opening, one after the other, plus of course, Alan Newman, ex- BBC World Service announcer who came in to play the organ there in superb style. Then there were the volunteers who helped restore and maintain the place in those final years. What a crime that no-one in this town on the Council ever bothered to rescue this from all the lousy operations who successively purchased this building, promising everything yet doing absolutely nothing. Only Essex businessman, Terry Holdings had the courtesy to give the place one last chance in it's final years of operation from the late 80's as a cinema and then as Charlestons for his son-in-law, Bob Beardwell. Genuine folk without any BS.
Hi Lee, I've only just discovered your video of the State Theatre and it is with great sadness that I see the disrepair it has fallen into over the years. You see I was the Interior Designer for the 'Charlestons' renovation back in 1993 and remember the hard work put in before reaching its finished launch with its plush interior and magnificent auditorium from a bygone age. Thank goodness you captured it for posterity.
Hi thank you for commenting glad you enjoyed the video I hope they bring this amazing building back to its former glory 🙂
Wetherspoons have recently bought this lovely old building and will be restoring it. I have many, many great memories of going here as a teen in the 60s also seeing david Essex in the 80s
I lived in South Ockendon so Grays was the place we all went for the shops and the cinemas. I am sure people still do, as if Grays is a shithole (which it is) then Ockendon is a shithole without cinemas. Saw plenty of films at The State. Also saw a few at Thameside Theatre and The Ritz.... anyone remember it? Such a shame to see Grays as it is now... while never that exciting it appears to have taken 'depressing' to a new level. The one thing it did have was a cool record shop just the 'wrong ' side of the level crossing. Always a good place to hangout while waiting for the branch line back to Ockendon. Beyond the crossing, out towards Grays beach (!) was a scary place. Even back then you had to wear chain-mail armor to deflect the knives. Happy times. A nuclear bomb would be a kindness to Grays.
Ha ha, just saw your comment, we used to go to the State and the Ritz, The Railway was a nasty Pub as well as the London Road Club. I lived in Ockendon and there was nothing there, the Plough and the two clubs were my drinking spots, the Plough beer was so crap, you had a couple there first to appreciate how good the beer was elsewhere. Grays was the nearest place to go for a Wimpy, we also used to get records in the back of Rumbelows. Romford was the other place to get clothes like Granditer or Mintz and Davies. Happy days but glad to see the back of them.
In 1974-75 The successful rock group The Pleasers (in their early days then known as Leaves) used to rehearse every weekend in the foyer of the State cinema Grays and after the last showing and everyone had left the building, we would rehearse all through the night. We would then sleep in the early hours of the morning in the dressing rooms close to the stage. They were great days with some fun memories of staying in this great theatre. Some nights the organ would play itself and scare us half to death! Especially after one particular weekend we all watched the first release of The Exorcist. Being an organist myself I would sometimes play the Compton late into the night for the amusement of the rest of the band. So please don’t let some dip stick ever knock it down. Btw the music used in this video is awful. You should use some of The Pleasers music, then at least it has a real meaning and purpose.
thanks for your Comment
This is the same movie theater where Roger and Eddie hid in Who framed Roger rabbit
Yes sue was 🙂
u no wht i live next to that state cinema am going in to check it out
Shame ,the State has degenerated like this.We used to go there in the 50s when Grays was a nice place to go.
John James been closed for a few years now the last time I heard that something was going on there gary glitter was going to be there that was years ago
It's going to be a Wetherspoons pub. They have bought it and are removing the asbestos from inside right now. It's going to be a great place to go to again, in the near future.
Good on J. D. Wetherspoon. They have around 900 pubs in their chain now, built up over 40 years and have renovated and looked after many buildings, that would otherwise most likely have been demolished and lost forever!
@@BritishBoy1971 then cant demolish it become grade 2 listed building whatever happens thanks for watching my video
@@castle6742 That's one very good thing then. Thank you.
surely its haunted? im representing cista this year for the general elections in Thurrock. A regulated cannabis market similar to colorado would put that cinema back on the map. im not a politician. vote jamie barnes for cista and i assure you as soon as the illegal cannabis industry in uk is regulated and made legitimate, and if the residents have no objection id like to pay some attention to that building. but is it haunted?
are you mental?
@@projectstorm2846 he must be!!