In 1904 the North Eastern Railway opened its Paragon station and land nearby was no longer needed. Its close proximity to a newly emerging central area must have had certain desirability to one J.F.Tidswell, who could see its investment potential. Along with three other business associates, W.H. Heslop, T. Dewhirst, and one Robert Freeman Snr, a directorate was formed and the land, adjoining the School of Art, was subsequently purchased.

Architect H. Percival Binks was commissioned to design a suitable building, to be modeled on "purely classical lines ". The design of the Tower Cinema has attracted both praise and criticism from a great many quarters over the years, and yet despite it's many features being once described as: " undeniably debased in the extreme ", the Hull City Council saw fit to declare the Tower a Grade II listed building shortly before it's eventual closure. Nevertheless, to this day, it remains a colourful addition to Hull's skyline. It's distinctive Art-Nouveau appearance: Ornate scrolls over recessed curved corner entrances. Round arched windows aloft, with stained glass features. A first floor balcony, featuring twin green tiled columns supporting a balustraded parapet, where sits twixt imposing domes of green and yellow mosaic, inter spaced with bands of gold-enamelled glass mosaics, a figure said to represent the actress Mary Pickford.

There had always been some debate as to just who the statue did actually represent. Even the owners of the Tower had remained silent on the matter. Local veteran photographer Harry Cartlidge, who took the photograph on the left, seemed to favour Mary Pickford. A local newspaper report quoted Harry as saying: “Mary Pickford, The Worlds Sweetheart at the height of her fame. Her left hand rests on a camera, and her right holds a scroll, presumably representing a length of film, or a script. The only thing that spoils it are the fat legs - Mary had much prettier legs that that! "

Whether or not Harry was right about the statue, we may probably never know, it has seems to become a part of local folklore, and the debate over the statue's true identity rumbles on.

Inside the building, things were no less grand than its striking exterior might have suggested. Decorative marbled floors. Gleaming brass light fittings and chandeliers. A wide marbled staircase complete with polished brass rails led patrons to the Cafe situated on the first floor lunette.

The Tower Cafe would serve Morning Coffee, Luncheons, and High-Class Teas, all at very reasonable prices. The cafe was once described as being “Impossible to improve, exceptionally pleasant and comfortable ".

A typical menu card which dates back to the mid-fifties is featured on the right. On offer were such culinary delights as Fish-Cake & Chips priced 2/6d, Welsh Rarebit for 2/-, inclusive of Tea, Bread and Butter and Cake. Other items included a Meat Salad for 3/-, Haddock and Chips at 2/- and Grilled Sausage and Potatoes for 1/6d. The visitor could finish off their meal with a bowl of Fruit and Custard priced at 1/6d, a Mixed Fruit Sundae for 1/9d or chooses from a range of Ices priced at 6d, or 8d with Cream. A pot of Tea would cost 6d, while Coffee was 4d per cup. (For readers not familiar with pre-decimal prices, 3 shillings = 15pence, 2 shillings = 10pence, and 4d = just over 2 pence).

The world must have been a very different place back in 1914, when Robert Freeman's grandfather built the Tower Cinema. Over the years, three generations of the Freeman family ran the cinema, along with near neighbour The Regent. Robert Freeman Snr., then son Robert Cecil Freeman, finally grandson Robert Freeman who saw things through to the bitter end. The Tower opened for business for the first time on Whit Monday, 1st June 1914. Its opening day was a resounding success. Local newspaper, The Hull Daily Mail reported that over 2000 people had visited the cinema and café that day, and went on to describe The Tower as an ideal picture hall, in which everything had been carried out on an ultra-extravagant scale. The first film to be shown was "A Lady of Quality", starring Miss Cecilia Loftus. Tickets cost 1 shilling (5p), six-pence, and three-pence. Admission charges which were regarded as being fairly typical of the day. The cinema had its own orchestra, which was conducted by a Mr. Charles Goddard. The orchestra played in a special private box, at the side of the screen.

The original auditorium had all wooden seating, with a capacity of 1200. 850 patrons could be seated in the stall, while a further 350 could be accommodated in the balcony. Some years later the old wooden seats were replaced by more modern upholstered seating, and although infinitely more comfortable, the total seating capacity was reduced to 773. A number of twin seats were installed, and quickly became popular with courting couples. The circle curve was constructed of reinforced concrete, and was believed to be only the second of its kind, in use at the time. The elaborate exterior decor theme continued into the auditorium, where a striking feature was the domed ceiling, bedecked with hand painted sculptured murals and ornate scrolls, edged with gold. High above, a chandelier hung from the dome, providing a soft ambience as the tiny gas lights glowed warmly around the walls. A "low pressure" heating system complemented natural and artificial ventilation systems, and elaborately fitted cloakrooms were provided each for ladies and gentlemen.

In the late 1920s the Western Electric Company installed "talking apparatus", which initially took the form of electrically operated gramophones, mounted on the rear of the projector bases. The auditorium was equipped with loudspeakers to broadcast the soundtrack contained on the 24inch records, which were often difficult to synchronise with the images portrayed on the screen. Probably the first “talking " film to be shown at the Tower, would have been The Jazz Singer, released by Warner Brothers in 1927, it starred Al Jolson, Mary McAvoy and Warner Oland. The soundtrack itself contained only scant dialogue, and a number of Jolson songs. However, it was in 1928, when Warner Brothers released “The Singing Fool ", again starring Al Jolson, and featuring Betty Bronson and Josephine Dunn that sound became an integral part of the motion picture phenomenon.

Over the years, in common with other theatres, The Tower kept pace with developments and additional equipment was subsequently installed as new innovations were introduced. The Western Electric Company installed its Mirror phonic System, utilising an optical soundtrack, photographically printed onto film stock, replacing the old gramophone records.

Further enhancements came with the installation of 3-channel " Spectasound ", this system promised a sort of enhanced stereophonic sound, however very few films were made using this system and it soon fell by the wayside. In 1953, a new innovation which was to revolutionise the film industry was launched - Cinema scope.

In order to screen Cinema scope films, cinema operators would need to invest in new equipment, both in the auditorium, and behind the scenes. The auditorium was equipped with additional and upgraded auditorium loudspeakers. The screen was replaced with a larger, wider one, complete with motorised masking curtains, to compensate for when non-wide screen films were to be shown. And in the projection room, additional amplification equipment was installed to deliver 4 channel stereophonic sound. Furthermore, the two We star projectors were modified to include the necessary 4-track magnetic sound heads, and expensive new Zeiss anamorphic lenses required to produce the widescreen effect that Cinema scope brought with it. Among the earliest Cinema scope presentations at the Tower, was MGM's "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers", starring Howard Keel and Jane Powell.

At 8:05pm on Saturday September 16th, 1978, the lights dimmed in the auditorium, bringing an end to an era that had spanned some 68 years. The small audience settled in their seats. Behind the scenes, in a room measuring little over 12 feet by 12 feet, a friend and former work colleague of mine, Mr. Harry Grayson, set the old Westar projectors in motion for the very last time. For Harry, nearing retirement, that evening was to mark the end of 36 years service at the Tower. For his assistant, Peter Rhodes, then just 18, the prospect of finding other work after only recently completing his training.

The program started with the weekly Rank Screen Advertising presentation, but there would be no trailers, no forthcoming attractions to advertise. The end of the evening marked the end of an era. Next came the short fill-in film " London Skateboards”, and after a short break, the feature film began. Peter Sellers, starring as Chief Inspector Clouseau, in Blake Edwards' " The Revenge of the Pink Panther ".

The family firm also operated cinemas in Leeds, York, Goole and Grimsby. Over recent years however, the Freeman family's cinema empire had slowly diminished, and sadly the two surviving cinemas, situated almost opposite each other in Hull's Analby Road, were the last to close. Mr. Freeman blamed the downturn in business over recent years on the " stranglehold " on big new releases enjoyed by the networks operating the A.B.C. and Cecil cinemas. Ironically, both the A.B.C and Cecil were to close a few short years later, as film giants Odeon and U.C.I. moved into the city.

The Tower had seating for 753 patrons. The circle held 230, while 523 could be seated in the stalls. Screen size was an impressive 28 feet wide by 11 feet high. The Tower was recognised in the industry as an outstanding showcase for the quality of Cinema scope When manufacturers were trying to sell equipment, they would bring them to the Tower saying "This is the best Cinema scope layout in the United Kingdom

Following the closure in September, the disposal of the cinemas was placed in the hands of local auctioneers G.H. Evison & Sons, of Beverley. Posters were displayed on the buildings, and advertisements placed in local press, announcing that a public auction would be held at The Tower, at 3.00pm on the 21st November 1978.

In a news bulletin, broadcast the following day, on BBC Radio Humberside, it was reported that Harry Evison started the bidding at £10,000 and after a slow start, he withdrew the property at £21,000. The owners of the Tower were anticipating the bidding reaching at least £26,000. The Regent could only raise £17,000 and was likewise withdrawn, with the possible consideration of a property developer purchasing by private treaty.

In recent years, the Tower has enjoyed something of a renaissance. Initially, after being bought by a local company, plans were revealed to turn the Tower into a leisure complex, featuring a restaurant, casino and cinema. Just how feasible all this was remained unclear, and the project never really got off the ground. Eventually, the plan fell through and the building was put back on the market, valued at some £300,000. It was subsequently bought by Luminar Plc, owners of Hull's Waterfront Club. The building was renovated and converted internally for use as a night club. The Tower Nightclub soon became a popular venue with Hull's late night clubbers.
Then in April, 2001, The Tower Nightclub closed without warning.

Plans were announced to reopen the venue as a " Chicago Rock Cafe " but were dropped, following objections.
According to a report in the Hull Daily Mail, dated March 18th 2003, the Tower had been acquired by new owners - Northern European Leisure, a company based in London. Mr. Arthur Wilder, a director of the company was quoted as saying that a substantial investment was being made for the repair and refurbishment of the building, and that architects were drawing up plans for conversion, within the guidelines of the Tower's listed building status.

Local expectations are that the Tower will re-open as a bar, or nightclub, although the new owners remain tight-lipped about how it will look, or what its use will be. Mr. Wilder was quoted as saying that the company thought the building had huge potential and would be investing heavily to make it a success once again.

Credited to
http://www.davesden.fsnet.co.uk/tower.html

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