Undercover In: Mecca Bingo

On a dreary autumnal Sunday afternoon, with nothing to do, a group of students decided to delve into the mysterious and scary world of Mecca Bingo. (dun dun duuuuun!)

Now I don’t mean to be presumptuous, but I believe I know what you’re thinking - and yes, this was a rather bizarre and spur-of-the-moment decision. But as locals in Scarborough, it is possibly even more bizarre that we overlook this area of our community: yes; I will admit I was once one of ‘those’ who considered bingo-goers to be a collection of anoraks and old-fogeys who wholly disapprove of our presence; however the reality is quite on the contrary - we essentially need discard our heavily stereotyped and skewed perception, just as they perhaps do when looking at ‘the youths,’ gaggles of students swarming through the town of a night searching for the cheapest place to get a pint.

The building back when it opened
 in 1929;and again (left) in 1968
 (© Ian Grundy 2013)

But before we get to all that, let’s have a look at the building itself and its rich history; which as artsy folk I think you may find interesting...  

Originally the Capitol Cine-Variety Theatre, it opened its doors to the public for the first time on the 11th of March 1929 showing the 1927 silent film ‘The Garden of Allah.’ As it opened just before the introduction of sound into early film; the theatre was equipped with a Fitton & Haley Organ and a large orchestra pit. The theatre also had a large stage with a flytower (in layman’s terms; one of those huge pulley systems for moving scenery, etc.) and dressing rooms. It also had a second entrance (which is still present today) on Westborough; mainly used for access to the backstage.

Despite all this, the building was sadly not used much for live performances; and mainly used for feature films. The stalls foyer was small, leading onto a cafe lit by the three central windows, and then moved through to the auditorium; lavishly decorated in a classical style with circle seating. There was also a large balcony in a similar style; and the ceiling had a series of arches decorated with elaborate plasterwork cornicing at this level leading to the main arch over the stage, which had a greek-style frieze (and emblem or image in plasterwork) depicting the letter C (for Capitol Cinema) at its apex. The frieze was also featured at the entrances along with some Greek-masks and violins (to depict music).

Views from the Balcony today

The exterior facade of the building featured white faience tiling (a kind of tin or lead-glazed pottery); which was very fashionable at the time. A lot of this still remains today; aside from the original Capitol sign at the main entrance.

In the 1970s the theatre was taken over by a company called Classic Cinemas; and while it was still used to show films; bingo was played most days in the stalls area. In 1977 Mecca Bingo took over the building; taking away the original cinema seats in favour of benches with tables. The organ was also removed shortly before the building became Grade II listed in 1996; although some parts of it remain in storage.

… Enough of that very sad (in my opinion) tale; and on onto our beautiful bingo experience!

Feeling very official! - Amen for Freebies!

Upon entrance I was welcomed and signed up for membership quickly by a very nice gentleman. I received my main game for a ⅓ of the price (£5 instead of £15 - there are 3 main games each day; and you play 15 rounds of bingo: for each round you can win either £10, £20 or £100, and winning one cash prize each round doesn’t exclude you from winning the next two! Some rounds you can win £500 instead of £100; but I’ll confess I haven’t quite figured that out yet, I believe it is the last two rounds where the prizes increase); also the national game (which is played at Mecca Bingo halls all over the country and has an even larger prize sum); £2 to play the table games (a smaller bingo grid is on each table, where you insert a £1 to play); £5 for the fruit machines and a free soft drink and dobber for the bingo tickets. Essentially; I hadn’t even walked through the door and pretty much everything was free - they even gave me a scratch card on which I won a ½ price main game voucher (which I gave to a friend who had to pay full price) and another of my friends won a Mecca Bingo mug!

Once I had registered I went through to the area where you pay for your tickets; paid for my game (for just £5) and the lady kindly gave me the option to use an iPad to play which basically does the whole thing for you (amen for technology as I didn’t have a clue!). We then walked through to the main hall (aka. The old cinema auditorium - sad face) and grabbed drinks (which may or may *not* have contained alcohol…) and ordered some macaroni cheese - yes, they sell food! Burgers, nachos, you name it.. And desserts! Before sitting down to play some bingo! The food came very quickly (possibly too quickly because we were just getting the hang of the game… although I was really just sitting for watching to see if I won); and we spent the next half hour trying to stuff our faces (quietly - it was deadly silent aside from the man reading out the numbers… and apparently it’s against the rules to say things like ‘two little ducks, 22,’ and ‘two fat ladies, 88,’ anymore - it’s offensive, what a disappointment!) when half way through a mouthful of cheesy macaroni goodness I won! I shouted out a garbled cry of ‘Bingo!,’ much to the distaste of the bingo veterans surrounding me (or so I assume by the looks on their faces - or maybe that was because I spoke with my mouth full?), and alas I won my first £10. But a minute later, I won again! This time the £20, all in the same round (and at this point everybody was displeased). Then the first half of the main game was over; and I stopped to get a celebratory drink.

Whilst freshening up in the little girls’ room, I stopped to chat to a couple older ladies (who didn’t want their picture taken as they ‘weren’t ready,’) about how they felt towards younger people coming to the Bingo Halls. They admitted sometimes they find younger people ‘a little scary and often foul-mouthed,’ but were happy to see new faces as ‘it’s great fun - we started coming years ago with a little group of ladies from our area just like our mothers before us, and have been coming along once a week ever since! We’re not fussy about winning, it’s more the sense of community, although when one of us wins they have to get us all a sherry!’ They seemed really happy once we got chatting and opened up quite a bit, having a giggle, until the announcement came for the second half and everyone rushed back to their tables, dobbers in hand and ready to (hopefully) win some cash.

The second half passed quickly and uneventfully as we didn’t win anything; and then we had another pause before the National Game, so I took the opportunity to use my free £2 for the slots - which we didn’t win either - and then moved onto the national game, which was won by a gentlemen from Huddersfield (well done to him).

The lovely Keith :-)

We packed up, and while we sat we spoke to a regular called Keith (who did not want us to tell you his age!). He’s a friendly and eccentric gentlemen, with an infectious laugh; a white ponytail that stretches all the way down his back, a Confederate hat he can’t remember buying, and is a massive Black Sabbath fan - even has ‘Ozzy’ tattooed on his knuckles! And used to front a tribute band in Leeds. His first job when he was younger was in the in a bookmakers writing the odds on the chalk boards in the shops; and he had a tendency to gamble ever since, often using scratch cards and the like. However, he doesn’t like to win as he says he’ll only spend it on booze! On his first bingo experience, he said (in his thick West Yorkshire accent) “I was in my 30s when my girlfriend kicked me out of the house so I was sleeping rough in Leeds Train station. I was cold so I decided to go in! [laughs] I’ve been going to bingo ever since. I go at lunchtime and then again at 7 o’clock for the main games and get a pint in between!” On his life outside bingo and booze, he said, “I have a daughter who lives in New Zealand at the moment and I am hoping to save up to go live there. [smiles] And maybe I’ll get some dinner in the casino!” before proceeding to roll a cigarette and go out for a pint in the pub across the road before the final main game at 11.

Before I went to collect my winnings, I decided to go use my free voucher for the slot machines, where I won another £6 (beginners luck), and then went to the counter to hand everything in and thank everyone. As I left another gentleman congratulated me for my win and said it was nice to see some fresh faces.

Whilst I’m not pro-gambling, and am a firm believer my winnings were indeed beginner’s luck, I still thoroughly enjoyed my experience, seeing the building and trying something new. It really opened my eyes that the bingo hall wasn’t a daunting place full of disapproving older people who would viciously attack if you happened to sit in their seat. For the most part everyone was friendly, it was a fun night out, and rather affordable (particularly considering I barely paid for anything). But next time I walk past I’ll be sure not to avert my eyes or turn my nose up, and just smile and say hello. And who knows? Maybe one day I will visit again; or try and nag them to see if I can have a look at that 90-year old organ they (allegedly) have in storage. :-)

- Article by Jessie Law

Sources: http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/

http://www.theatrestrust.org.uk/