In 1897 the Olympia first opened its doors. By 1899 the Richardson Brothers of Kelloe took over the pemises in Holmeside and filled it with a skating rink, and fairground rides.  One of the main features was a circus where famous circus families such as the Fosset Family. The hall remained until 1910 when, despite starting to put moving pictures on the Olympia it secumbed to the pressure of the larger cinemas.

In 1932 the Blacks Regal opened on the site to become in 1959 the Odeon which closed in 1982. As a child I would often go to the Saturday morning childrens performances with my brothers and sister.