Comments from DavidSimpson

Showing 76 - 100 of 433 comments

DavidSimpson
DavidSimpson commented about Pavilion Theatre on Apr 3, 2019 at 12:20 am

As ritzman says, the Pavilion was 90 years old on Tuesday 19th March 2019. A special anniversary film and stage show was presented. The programme was introduced by Technical Co-Ordinator Christian Knighton, who presented a slide show history of the Pavilion. He was followed by a recreation of the Pavilion Municipal Orchestra, conducted by David Sims, then archive footage of Bournemouth was accompanied by Donald Mackenzie on the Compton organ. He then gave a recital followed, after the interval, by a screening of the 1933 Hollywood musical “42nd Street”, starring Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler. In an really nice touch, patrons received a complimentary souvenir brochure. To add to the occasion, David Eve and Gary Trinder, of the Cinema Theatre Association, set up a comprehensive display of cinema memorabilia in one of the side corridors.

DavidSimpson
DavidSimpson commented about Everyman Salisbury on Apr 2, 2019 at 3:34 pm

From June 2018 Gala Leisure started re-branding their Gala Bingo clubs as Buzz Bingo.

DavidSimpson
DavidSimpson commented about Picturedrome Cinema on Jan 27, 2019 at 1:45 pm

On 21st December 2018 the long-awaited fourth screen, built in a £1m extension, opened with “The Grinch” (2018). This was designated Screen 2, leading to the existing Screens 2 and 3 being renumbered as Screens 3 and 4. Seating capacities are: Screen 1:324, Screen 2:102, Screen 3:85 and Screen 4:33. A total of 544.

DavidSimpson
DavidSimpson commented about CellB Cinema on Dec 15, 2018 at 2:40 am

Sadly, a water pipe, which burst during a storm in 2017, went undetected for some time and caused significant damage. Then, once it had been spotted, the subsequent insurance claim was turned down. Film shows were suspended, and film stars Rhys Ifans and Michael Sheen headed up a crowd-funding campaign to raise £10,000 to get the cinema re-opened. (The hostel and cafe/bar were able to stay open.)

DavidSimpson
DavidSimpson commented about Odeon Luxe Telford on Dec 2, 2018 at 1:52 am

Further to the re-branding as Luxe, total seating capacities reduced from 1,876 to 718. Individual capacities are [were]: Screen 1:66 [was 175], 2:66 [was 166], 3:54 [was 166], 4:66 [was 175], 5:107 [was 256], 6 (ISENSE):107 [was 256], 7:66 [was 175], 8:54 [was 166], 9:66 [was 166] and 10:66 [was 175].

DavidSimpson
DavidSimpson commented about Odeon Luxe Derby on Dec 2, 2018 at 1:36 am

Further to PhilipWW’s comment, the re-branding saw the seat count reduced from 1,866 to 703. Individual capacities are [were]: Screen 1:65 [was 172], 2:65 [was 167], 3:53 [was 167], 4:66 [was 172], 5:103 [was 255], 6 (ISENSE):103 [was 255], 7:65 [was 172], 8:53 [was 167], 9:65 [was 167] and 10:65 [was 172].

DavidSimpson
DavidSimpson commented about Odeon Luxe Liverpool (Switch Island) on Dec 2, 2018 at 12:59 am

Further to PhilipWW’s comment, the re-branding has seen the total seating capacity reduced from 2,463 to 853. Individual capacities are [were]: Screen 1 (ISENSE):141 [was 362], 2:87 [was 225], 3:38 [was 128], 4:47 [was 148], 5:69 [was 228], 6:48 [was 154], 7:132 [was 337], 8:87 [was 223], 9:38 [was 129], 10:47 [was 148], 11:71 [was 228] and 12:48 [was 153].

DavidSimpson
DavidSimpson commented about Festival Hall on Nov 9, 2018 at 8:43 am

Just to clarify: The Alderley Edge Medical Centre occupies the front of the building, while the Festival Hall is housed in the former cinema auditorium, with access from the right hand side.

DavidSimpson
DavidSimpson commented about Sefton Picturedrome on Nov 9, 2018 at 8:34 am

By the time I visited, in October 2018, the building had been converted into the Handyman micro brewery and bar.

DavidSimpson
DavidSimpson commented about Central Hall Cinema on Nov 6, 2018 at 12:57 pm

In August 2018, the hall’s principal use was as The Malthouse dance school.

DavidSimpson
DavidSimpson commented about Flix Student-Run Cinema on Oct 14, 2018 at 2:48 am

Sadly, in the spring of 2018 Flix was facing closure. However, thanks to an influx of new volunteers, it returned on Thursday 4th October (with “The Shape of Water”, starring Sally Hawkins and Michael Shannon) with a new regular day and a new direction, with emphasis on limited release and foreign language films; films that reflect Flix’s location near the School of Arts. Screenings will be followed by a discussion group, TalkFlix.

DavidSimpson
DavidSimpson commented about Odeon Salisbury on Oct 4, 2018 at 8:07 am

In July 2018 I was asked by Claudia Materna, at ODEON, for permission to use my May 1998 image in a display the company was creating, at the cinema, to celebrate this historic movie palace. I was only too pleased to provide this, and the history wall, a permanent installation, was unveiled in October 2018. In these days of ever more futuristic, state-of-the-art all-digital multiplexes (such as ODEON’s own Luxe brand) it is heartening that the company is so mindful of its proud heritage. (Similar history walls have been installed at the ODEONs at Exeter, Weston-super-Mare and Glasgow Quay.)

DavidSimpson
DavidSimpson commented about Palace Cinema on Sep 16, 2018 at 2:31 am

According to the book ‘The Cinemas of West Wales’, written by Alan Phillips and published in 2017, the Palace was first equipped with a hand-cranked Kalee projector, later replaced by a motorised version. The seats were basic wooden benches. Films were shown nightly from Monday to Friday, with two changes of programme each week. He says the Palace closed in 1928/29 – as Editha suggests, most likely when faced with the coming of sound.

Alan says the building is in retail use, and the cinema frontage remains. However, on a visit to Aberaeron in June 2018 I was unable to locate the building. I subsequently e-mailed Alan courtesy of his publishers, but received no reply.

I then contacted Frances Owen, of the local history society. She canvassed her members and, although no one could recall this cinema as such, one member did find a reference in a brief report in the Welsh Gazette of 2nd March 1916, which said that entertainment needs in the town are now being met by “Mr Cheetham’s Cosy Cinema in Market Street, where bright and entertaining programmes help to counteract the gloom occasioned by War and Worry”. No further address details were provided, but this must surely be the same building. Although the licence was issued to “The Cinema”, this indicates it opened as the Cosy. Assuming it adopted the name Palace later on, this could have been following a refurbishment or, possibly, a change of ownership.

I will report further as and when more information comes to light!

DavidSimpson
DavidSimpson commented about Ilkley Cinema on Sep 12, 2018 at 1:53 am

A second screen, seating 41, backing on to the original auditorium, opened on 31st August 2018.

DavidSimpson
DavidSimpson commented about Biografen Rival on Aug 24, 2018 at 12:35 pm

It is a great shame that this splendid cinema is not used for regular screenings. However, when I visited, in August 2018, the Hospitality Manageress was only too pleased to open up the auditorium, so at least I got to see it. You will notice, in the photos I took from the stage, the black curtain pulled halfway across the stalls. There is a matching curtain on the other side; these are used to produce a more intimate atmosphere when the full capacity is not required.

DavidSimpson
DavidSimpson commented about Biografen Rigoletto on Aug 24, 2018 at 12:17 pm

I visited on 11th August 2018 and saw “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” in the splendid Screen 1. Seating capacities are: Screen 1:756 (569 in the stalls + 187 in the VIP lounge [circle]); Screen 2:63; Screen 3:63 and Screen 4:55.

DavidSimpson
DavidSimpson commented about Filmstaden Sergel on Aug 24, 2018 at 7:02 am

I visited Filmstaden Sergel on Saturday 11th August 2018 to see “Mission: Impossible – Fallout”, starring Tom Cruise, in Screen 1. I was intrigued to note the side slips down both sides, presumably a legacy of its theatre origins. Seating capacities are: Screen 1:512 [reduced from the 700 quoted in the Overview]; Screen 2:63; Screen 3:196; Screen 4:55; Screen 5:225; Screen 6:72; Screen 7:51; Screen 8:109; Screen 9:89; Screen 10:104; Screen 11:77; Screen 12:99; Screen 13:49 and Screen 14:140.

DavidSimpson
DavidSimpson commented about Roda Kvarn Cinema on Aug 24, 2018 at 1:04 am

By August 2018, the building had become home to a ‘gastronomic paradise’, with a number of restaurants and cafes. Thankfully, the magnificent interior remains intact.

DavidSimpson
DavidSimpson commented about Columbia Theatre on Aug 13, 2018 at 11:21 pm

Great news! It was announced on 11th August 2018 that the Columbia is going to undergo an extensive renovation, so by summer 2019 the city hopes to re-open it as a visitor center, a 50- to 75-seat theater for classic and contemporary films and it will also house the relocated Laurel & Hardy Museum that is the city’s biggest tourist draw.

Residents got a glimpse of what’s planned at a public meeting, during which they were shown the condition of the building and what needs to be done.

Mark Lorah, the Augusta structural engineer assigned to the project, said only the bottom floor of the three-level building will be restored as part of this project. The other two levels will be preserved, for renovation later. This decision was made largely “in deference to the budget” he said, which for now is $1 million. He added that some parts of the theater are in better condition than others. The original trusses are in good shape, and parts of the roof were replaced several years ago, soon after the city bought the building in 2005.

DavidSimpson
DavidSimpson commented about Capitol Theatre on Jul 31, 2018 at 6:15 am

Seating capacities are: Screen 1:450, Screen 2: 131 and Screen 3:131. The very plain Screens 2 and 3 are virtual mirror images, in the former circle area.

DavidSimpson
DavidSimpson commented about Regal Georgesville Square Stadium 16 on Jul 31, 2018 at 3:17 am

Rather confusingly, the manager told me this cinema opened in 1996! Hopefully another correspondent will be able to confirm the year of opening! Seating capacities range from 140 to 390.

DavidSimpson
DavidSimpson commented about AMC Newport on the Levee 20 on Jul 31, 2018 at 1:35 am

During a visit to Cincinnati I crossed the Ohio River into Kentucky on Thursday 12th July 2018 to see “The First Purge”, starring Marisa Tomei, at the AMC. Newport on the Levee is a large multi-purpose entertainment destination, with restaurants and shops and also office accommodation. The AMC occupies Level 3 of the main building, which is adjacent to the Newport Aquarium.

Seating capacities are: Screen 1:146, 2:58, 3:49, 4:59, 5:62, 6:76, 7:88, 8:59, 9:190, 10 (DOLBY):213, 11 (IMAX):349, 12:190, 13:59, 14:89, 15:76, 16:62, 17:59, 18:57, 19:59 and 20:146.

DavidSimpson
DavidSimpson commented about Electric Palace Cinema on Jul 2, 2018 at 2:15 pm

In April 2018 the Electric Palace was awarded £653,000 from the Heritage Lottery for extensive refurbishment work, especially with regard to the ceiling plaster work (which followed incidents in London and Ipswich where plaster had fallen from the ceiling). The cinema has also not been fully redecorated since it was first restored in the 1970s; the seats and toilets will be refurbished, some electrical equipment will be replaced and the stage will be enlarged. The work will be carried out by Ipswich-based firm Nicholas Jacobs Architects.

The cinema will be closed for several months. The closure date has been put back a few times (as of writing, it is set for August). Anticipating a slightly earlier closure, the Trust had the inspired idea of recreating a ‘cinema-in-a-tent’ Bioscope on Harwich Green for the Harwich Festival, which ran from Thursday 21st June to Sunday 1st July.

This was based on the type of Bioscope presented by Charles Thurston, the travelling showman who built the Electric Palace.

His first travelling cinema, the Original Royal Show, first appeared at Norwich Easter Fair in 1901. It had a Gavioli fairground organ and was soon renamed Thurston’s Royal Show. It visited Harwich and many towns in East Anglia. In 1908 he launched an even bigger attraction, “The Great Show”, which featured the Bioscope showing ‘Living Pictures’ and vaudeville acts. It, too, had an organ and a very elaborately decorated ‘front’. Very soon afterwards, of course, safety regulations led to the rise of the purpose-built cinemas, and the fairground bioscopes closed down. [Thanks to Ken Roe for this information.]

The programme of events at the ‘Bioscope on Harwich Green’ included a demonstration of the Edwardian Bioscope by David Cleveland and Nigel Lister, local films and a variety of classic and recent feature films. I attended on the final day, when Eisenstein’s “Battleship Potemkin” was shown, with live piano accompaniment by Chris Jarrett. The show was introduced by Trustee Chris Strachan and the mayor, Charlie Powell, made this a Gala screening. He spoke passionately about the Electric Palace.

The ornate frontage to the Bioscope was the work of carpenter Adam Threadgall and his team, with design and painting by sign writer and artist Bryan Rowland. See ‘Photos’ for the results!

DavidSimpson
DavidSimpson commented about Castle Cinema on Jun 30, 2018 at 1:28 pm

Following a visit to Newcastle Emlyn in June 2018 I was fortunate to be in contact with Ken Jones, chairman of the local history society. He kindly sent me the scans of the programme booklets for March 1960 and April 1967.

DavidSimpson
DavidSimpson commented about Star and Shadow Cinema on Jun 30, 2018 at 12:18 pm

Although the Star and Shadow moved out of its former home in 2015, the official opening of its new premises did not take place until the weekend of 22nd-24th June 2018. A crowd-funding campaign had eventually raised the £50,000 needed to enable the team of dedicated volunteers (there are no paid employees) to transform the former furniture showroom into the ‘new’ Star and Shadow community cinema and arts space.