Description:This photograph shows the Sandonia’s 10 minute intermission countdown clock which was used for theatre purposes. The numbers from 1 to 9 were lit by electric bulbs behind the face and at the top there is the word ‘Extra’. Cinemas had similar countdown clocks but these were usually projected onto the screen.
The Sandonia Theatre on Sandon Road, Stafford was designed and built by Sandy and Norris. The theatre was opened on 29 November 1920, with ‘Chu Chin Chow’ a musical tale of the East (based on the story of Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves) by Oscar Asche in 13 scenes. The opening performance was a gala night for Stafford, with the town’s leading personalities attending in evening dress. The show was presented for six nights and a Saturday matinee.
In the twenties the Sandonia presented Grand Opera and some of the largest musical shows in the country. But it was never a great success either as a theatre or cinema. It closed in the 1960s and became a bingo hall, before being occupied by a snooker club. In 2018 the building was derelict and in July 2021 contractors had started to demolish the building.
The Staffordshire Newsletter published an article on Saturday 16 July 1955 dealing with the history of Stafford’s entertainments; however, this picture was not included in the story. Picture reproduced by Kind Permission of the Staffordshire Newsletter who retain copyright.