lost Cinemas

[tgunnell]

name='essaljay']My favourite cinema used to be the "Astoria" in Finsbury Park North London. I used to go there for "Saturday morning pictures" (that dates me). The interior was like a spanish palace with model village scenes up by the ceiling in both corners of the screen. It became the "Rainbow Theatre" where I saw the Beatles and the Stones and I believe it is now or was the headquarters of a religeous society.

i used to go there around about 1964 .saturday morning pictures tanner to get in and we used to make a hhel of lot of noise

[vaggmk1938]

name='smiffy']Thanks vaggmk1938...are you originally from Harrogate ?

I lived in Harrogate from 1947 to 1957; my mother was born there and until she died in 1987 I used to return at least once a year.

[julian_craster]

Many happy hours spent in here......



The film that week was KEEP IT CLEAN, so picture taken c. 1956



Gaumont (ex Haymarket) Norwich was demolished in 1959....

[essaljay]

name='tgunnell']i used to go there around about 1964 .saturday morning pictures tanner to get in and we used to make a hhel of lot of noise

That was about my time to. One of the people checking the tickets was the mother of my best friend so I would pay a tanner and she would let me sit at the back in the ninepenny seats. From there we could throw things at the cheap seats and get away with it. Who remembers the old serials such as "Captain Video" or the original 50's "Batman" (all in black and white of course)

[Moor Larkin]

Many old cinema buildings (and theatres come to that) have been preserved by Bingo Halls, since the 1960's. I've been reading that Bingo is on it's last legs in the wake of online gambling and the new No Smoking laws. Many more demolitions may happen in the next few years.

[orpheum]

There is a good site called Odeon caavalcade.My favourite was the Odeon Temple Fortune(Golders Green)My name is a tribute to it as when it was opened it was first called Orpheum.Alas it was demolished in 1974.I was at the last performance there and also that of the GAUMONT North Finchley also shown above.It was in fact closed in 1980.The intention was to build an office block with a 2 screen cinema incorporated.This did not come off.The cinema was demolished and the site lay empty for nearly 20 years till a new ugly building was erected.It does include a theatre,the Artsdepot.The Vue multiplex was opened in the 1990s long after the Gaumont closed.So it did not cause the closure of this cinema.However it did mean that there was little point in incorporating cinemas in the new building.

Just to mention again that if you are interested in old cinemas you should consider joining the Cinema Theatres Association which amongst its activities arranges visits to old cinemas here and abroad.

[batman]

name='julian_craster']Many happy hours spent in here......



The film that week was KEEP IT CLEAN, so picture taken c. 1956



Gaumont (ex Haymarket) Norwich was demolished in 1959....

On that site these days is a MacDonalds!



Bats.

[orpheum]

name='Moor Larkin']Many old cinema buildings (and theatres come to that) have been preserved by Bingo Halls, since the 1960's. I've been reading that Bingo is on it's last legs in the wake of online gambling and the new No Smoking laws. Many more demolitions may happen in the next few years.

Unfortunately this is the case.An example of this the the State Kilburn a marvellous Grade 2 listed building which had been on bingo for oover 20 years.I have been going to the organ concerts there for many years>it closed on 19th August and its fate is uncertain.

[Lord Brett]

name='smiffy']Many thanks to you lord Brett ,this is a great thread for me I used to pass this building on my way up to Seacroft ,and Crossgates then Tadcaster and ultimately York, and always pondered that it must have been a Cinema

I've just checked and found that it was formerly The Clock Cinema. I would have bet money that it used to be an Odeon!



The Odeon in Blackpool is now a transvestite nightclub. There's a very nice shop opposite selling stilletto-heeled boots in size 12.

[HIPPIEDAVE]

I worked in a supermarket that had been a cinema in the 50s and 60s in Bradford, Yorks.In the cellar I found old sandwich board advertising Ice cream etc in old money prices, old posters.It had a false ceiling, and above the projection room and all the seating was still there, brilliant.D

[silverwhistle]

The Salon Cinema (1913), Hillhead, Glasgow, is now a restaurant:

The Salon.

[smiffy]

name='Lord Brett']I've just checked and found that it was formerly The Clock Cinema. I would have bet money that it used to be an Odeon!



The Odeon in Blackpool is now a transvestite nightclub. There's a very nice shop opposite selling stilletto-heeled boots in size 12.

[orpheum]

Just to mention that i have just received the CTA 2007 Christmas DVD>It includes cinema ads a Look At Life,and in particular Odeon Cavalcade made in the 1960s for The Arts Council.It includes of many lost buildings together with interviews with Lily Deutsch(Oscars widow)and various archirects.Highly recommended to anyone interested in cinemas and their architecture.If you want the address to send your £5 you can contact me or the Cinema Theatre Association.

[vaggmk1938]

name='Chris B']Harrogate is identical to the Odeon Sutton Coldfield (West Mids) Incidently the picture you have up loaded is Sutton Coldfield you can see it written on the canopy Regards Chris b

Mea culpa, here is, I hope, the correct one:



As opposed to the incorrect one, well done, Chris for noticing that, I was a little shakey on the buildings to the left of the picture, but put it down to faulty memory!

[tgunnell]

name='Moor Larkin']Many old cinema buildings (and theatres come to that) have been preserved by Bingo Halls, since the 1960's. I've been reading that Bingo is on it's last legs in the wake of online gambling and the new No Smoking laws. Many more demolitions may happen in the next few years.

That is so very true our local bingo hall which is the old savoy burnt oak on the a 5 edgware road but the smoking ban would put pressure on its use but found out now it is a listed building ,they can't knock it down but they can let it fall into the ground by neglect all very sad

[julian_craster]

That is so very true our local bingo hall which is the old savoy burnt oak on the a 5 edgware road but the smoking ban would put pressure on its use but found out now it is a listed building ,they can't knock it down but they can let it fall into the ground by neglect all very sad





Arson perhaps....? to free the sight for a property developer.....

[orpheum]

Unfortunately the government give no finacial incentives to building owners to maintain their building if it is listed.Thus there are so many on the at risk register.The system is very flawed.

[Mr Cosmo]

The Salon Cinema (1913), Hillhead, Glasgow, is now a restaurant:

The Salon. 

I loved The Salon. One of the few independent cinemas in Glasgow. When I first met my girlfriend - the one I ended up marrying - she was aware of my cinema obsession and one summer evening we went walking (as we had no money) and walked up by Hillhead and walked round to look at the Salon. From the street you could see into the projection room and I watched the projectionist watching the film (which I think was DECINE AND FALL OF A BIRDWATCHER - they used to show some really rare stuff). That was entertainment! It got a complete revamp in 1969 / 1970 and I saw loads of things there in the early 1970s including one of the great all time double bills BUTCH CASSIDY etc and THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE.

[orpheum]

If any of you visit Islington and are interested in old cinemas then try the Coronet in Holloway Road it is about a quarter of a mile due north of the Holloway Road tube station and the Emirates Stadium.It used to be the ABC Holloway Road.Now it is a Weatherspoons pub.They have done a good job of converting it and it still does feel like sitting in a cinema.I am not much of a pub person,but this is my favourite.

[silverwhistle]

name='Mr Cosmo']I loved The Salon. One of the few independent cinemas in Glasgow. When I first met my girlfriend - the one I ended up marrying - she was aware of my cinema obsession and one summer evening we went walking (as we had no money) and walked up by Hillhead and walked round to look at the Salon. From the street you could see into the projection room and I watched the projectionist watching the film (which I think was DECLINE AND FALL OF A BIRDWATCHER - they used to show some really rare stuff). That was entertainment! It got a complete revamp in 1969 / 1970 and I saw loads of things there in the early 1970s including one of the great all time double bills BUTCH CASSIDY etc and THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE.

The nearest cinema now is the Grosvenor, which is very comfy and has its own bar/restaurant.