Interviews and Project Findings:
Leisure and Entertainment in Darlington

"There used to be a lot of dance halls and an exceptional number of cinemas (at least 10 in Darlington) used for entertainment. There were so many cinemas because not many families could afford to buy their own television so they used to go to the cinemas to watch films and to watch the news forecast. There were also two swimming baths. However, today entertainment hasn't grown to the same high standards as transportation for example. There aren't really any different things to do apart from the gyms and sport complexes."



"Feethams and St James Park

The actual word Feethams means "near the water", that is because it is built right next to the river Skerne, and is built on a area called "Feethams houses. The first purpose for the ground was in the late 1830s: it was only used for cricket. It was over 20 years till the ground was used for football in the 1860s.

My dad was born and grew up in Newcastle and he had memories of going to St James' Park (Newcastle United's football ground). There were no season tickets like there are now; you would just turn up and pay like you do at Darlington. The stadium was no bigger than it is now but back then there were no seats so Newcastle's ground could fit about 80-90 thousand people, whereas now the entire stadium is seated so it only fits 30-40 thousand people. He can remember people climbing up high trees in the corners of the ground and he would go and it was only a few pence; it was nowhere near as expensive as it is now, mainly because players didn't used to get payed as much as they do now. If you go to a football game. Now most people have the team's shirt or an official jacket, but they used to have black and white scarves and wooly hats.

The Swimming Baths

20 years ago the Darlington swimming baths were not where they are now in the town center. They were on Gladstone Street. There was one big pool with wooden changing rooms around the pool. There were no slides and there was only one small diving board. There was no canteen or gym, and no sports facilities as in the modern swimming baths like squash, tennis, or 5-a-side football or basketball pitches. It was very basic, to get in it would cost about a shilling which is about the equivalent of 12p. When you got changed you would leave your clothes in baskets because back then there was no fear of theft. It was always busy and a friendly place."



"In Barnard Castle there is a main Leisure Centre Complex, Teesdale Sports Centre which was actually made possible due to a £ 250,000 donation by Glaxo, next door to the complex. The Sports Centre was opened in September 1990 as a swimming pool and Sports Hall but now has added attraction with its new sauna and also a gym and tennis and badminton and squash courts as well as reasonable space for playing football. In years past, the town's people entertained themselves at a cinema once on Birch Road (which is no longer there) and parks, for example the Demesnes and Scar Top and also the Golf Course at the top of the town and at the Bowes Museum (a large mansion-museum with equally large grounds and tennis courts) and at Barnard Castle itself. In summer the bandstand, by the river and in the woods, is an attraction to tourists and local families.

A lot of families could not afford a television fifty years ago so they entertained themselves by listening to the 'wireless' (radio) or playing board games and cards. Going to the cinema was also a popular activity back then and a lot cheaper too. There were more cinemas as well, but now in Barnard Castle we don't have one at all. The radio is still popular but not as popular as the television, and cinema is still also popular but costs a lot more than it used to - a few pounds."



"Q: What did you do for entertainment 50 years ago?

A: There were no televisions or hi-fis then, all we had were wireless radios. We often played cards or board games.We also played lots of outdoor games like cricket, rounders, chasey and kick the tin. There were a lot more cinemas (picture houses) then and it cost less to go. My parents made toys like stilts and tops and whips for the family.

Q: Where did you go on holiday when you were young?

A: I often went on church trips to the seaside for the day. The seaside was very popular and most people went there. Only extremely rich people went abroad."



"Q: How has the entertainment changed?

A: We have newer entertainment and events going on now than years ago, but we did have the cinema as you do now and there were twice as many as there are now. But now you've got those twenty-screen multiplexes and there used to be lots of bingo halls, so I think it's just as good nowadays."



"In Darlington many changes have taken place in the last ten or twenty years. New sports complexes have been built such as the Dolphin Centre and Eastbourne complex.The lottery funded Eastbourne schools complex and they did this to give the public and the pupils of the school the opportunity to keep fit and have fun at the same time.In the Dolphin Centre there as such things as a gym, a swimming-pool, cantine, pulse suite, football courts and many more; this is an impressive amount of facilities and Darlington Borough Council helped fund this centre."



"Entertainment has changed over the years, due to the wide variety of new buildings being built for new entertainment. New restaurants and cafes have been built, with modern interiors to suit today's tastes. The Dolphin Center has brought a wide variety of sporting activities to do, for all ages and is perfect for parties and social gatherings. Also the Civic Theatre, the A.B.C. cinema and many public parks are among few of the activities to do. Nowadays for fast food, there are Burger Kings and Macdonald's to eat at. For nightlife there are many nightclubs of interest across town."



"There haven't been too many changes in entertainment recently in Darlington but 1 thought that if I asked somebody closely involved in the business then I might find out what has changed.

Q: What has been going on in Darlington to do with entertainment recently?

A: Well, the Civic Theatre has been producing a lot more shows which were acted by local people and have also been attracting new, better performances. The Odeon Cinema is finding it hard cope with the local Teesside Showcase Cinema and is therefore intending to make changes to help it to survive. On the sports field the football team under George Reynolds have been doing much better and only just missed out on promotion. The new stadium being built will make the club's chances of promotion this year even higher. The supporters have been coming a lot more this year and they expect a further increase next year.

Q: Do you think that in the next few years we will see any drastic change in Darlington?

A: l think that there might be plans for a new cinema and bowling complex and possibly a brand new look for the Art Centre."



"Darlington is very well provided for entertainment and leisure. Our best feature is the Civic Theatre, which was opened in 1907 but since has been taken over by new management and refurbished.We also have a cinema in the town centre and we are still waiting for a new multiplex cinema to be built. Our main leisure centre in Darlington is the Dolphin Centre with its four swimming pools, excellent sports, fitness and health facilities and catering."



"In 1930, for entertainment you could go to the cinema or theatre for 1p. Most of the games were played in the street, such as skipping. When you were inside you could listen to the radio (or wireless). In 2000 it costs £2.50 to go to the cinema and most of the activities are things inside such as playing on your Playstation and watching TV."