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For more than fifty years until its closure in 1993, the Regal Cinema gave the townspeople of Wymondham an escape from the trials and tribulations of daily life with tales of romance, drama and adventure. Our display, made possible by a generous bequest from the estate of Michael Armstrong, traces the history of this cinema, its role in maintaining morale during the war years, its decline in the post-war years and tells the stories of the people who worked there.
Michael Armstrong was a life-long supporter of the museum and the display also tells his involvement with the Regal and how, with Philip Yaxley, he kept the memory of the cinema alive after its closure with the Regal Experience.
There had been a cinema in Wymondham on Town Green since 1917 but in 1936 Douglas Bostock purchased a field off Friarscroft Lane for a new cinema which opened in 1937 showing ‘Swing Time’ starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers.
At the opening he pledged that 'the high standard of the programmes presented would be maintained at a level comparable with that secured by the biggest of the cinema circuits'.
With Norwich thought too far to travel, the years up until the 1960s were the heyday for the cinema. During the Second World War the cinema played an important role in maintaining the townspeople’s morale.
The 1960s and 70s were challenging times for the Regal with increased competition from both larger Norwich cinemas and television. It was forced to close in 1962 and then again in 1976.
Both times it was saved, first by Roy Dashwood who bought it in 1965 and then by the Wymondham & District Ex Service's Social Club in 1977. During this time, it was managed by Les King who had started work at the cinema as a doorman.
Les worked tirelessly to keep the Regal going but despite his efforts it closed for the final time in 1993.
Michael Armstrong first started working at the Regal fetching fish and chips for the staff and progressed from delivering advertising leaflets to projectionist a role he continued to perform until the cinema finally closed in 1993.
After the closure, he was determined to keep the memory of the Regal alive. He converted his garage into a replica of the cinema and invited film lovers to relive the experience of watching a film show in this unique setting.
In 2000 he helped form the Regal Experience Group with the aim of showing classic films at the Regal. These Sunday events were made even more special by visits from stars of the films such as Jean Simmons, Virginia McKenna and Jean Kent.
