In the 1944 KYB, there is a cinema listed as Quinns, Reform Street, Proprietor Henry Quinn, 520 seats, proscenium width 25 ft., this will be the Picture House, a British Acoustic sound system is noted as well. The postcode is PH10 6BF. The façade to the flats has been styled to look like the old Picture House, but it is much wider than the original.
The Empire, Forum and Park cinemas all had the same address, Lloyd’s House, 18, Lloyd Street, Manchester 2, but differently named proprietors in 1944.. were they all a part of Hoylake Entertainments Ltd.’s circuit? Or just using the same booking agent?
Listed in the 1944 KYB as the Palace Picture House, booked by George Stoddart at the King’s Theatre, Chopwell. Proprietors were the Chopwell Cinema Co. Ltd.
According to The Ideal Kinema & Studio, Vol. III No. 32 (18th July, 1935), proprietors of the News House were Nottingham News House Ltd., of which H. C. Carlton is managing director.
Alfred J. Thraves FRIBA of Nottingham was the architect. 300 seats with an ultra-modern interior. Nothing of the Regal’s interior remains, the front has been entirely reconstructed.
Article uploaded, the interior must have been quite a surprise to patrons, as the façade was still very much as originally built. The front referred to in the article was front of house (foyers etc) rather than the façade itself.
Mike Blakemore’s comments are interesting, as the 1944 KYB give the owners as being the Broadway Cinema Circuit (N.C. Smith) General and Booking Manager B.H. Paul, booked at hall.
This was the Queen’s Hall rather than the Queen’s Rooms, which were demolished for the Berwick Theatre to be built thereon. This building could not, physically, fit 1000 persons inside!
The Kinema/Electric was on the High Street, a wooden structure that closed when this cinema opened in 1938. The Electric was retained as offices for a while, but was eventually demolished for further shops to be built. This cinema was never known as the Electric or Kinema. Locals sometimes referred to it as the ‘New Cinema’ if they were old enough to remember the Electric in the High Street (such as my Great Grandma did!)
This cinema would have passed into Rank Theatres (Northern Ireland) Ltd.’s ownership in 1955, when Curran Theatres Ltd. sold many of their Belfast cinemas to them.
Shown as operated by Irish Theatres Ltd. in the 1944 KYB, seating reduced to 900, proscenium width 27ft., stage 30ft. deep, five dressing rooms. Bizarrely, films delivered by Steamship Service!
The Savoy was still operating into the early 1970’s.
In the 1944 KYB, there is a cinema listed as Quinns, Reform Street, Proprietor Henry Quinn, 520 seats, proscenium width 25 ft., this will be the Picture House, a British Acoustic sound system is noted as well. The postcode is PH10 6BF. The façade to the flats has been styled to look like the old Picture House, but it is much wider than the original.
The Empire, Forum and Park cinemas all had the same address, Lloyd’s House, 18, Lloyd Street, Manchester 2, but differently named proprietors in 1944.. were they all a part of Hoylake Entertainments Ltd.’s circuit? Or just using the same booking agent?
Somewhat at odds to the above text, the 1944 KYB lists the proprietors as being Union Cinemas Ltd., Union House, 15, Regent Street, London, SW1.
Listed in the 1944 KYB as the Palace Picture House, booked by George Stoddart at the King’s Theatre, Chopwell. Proprietors were the Chopwell Cinema Co. Ltd.
According to The Ideal Kinema & Studio, Vol. III No. 32 (18th July, 1935), proprietors of the News House were Nottingham News House Ltd., of which H. C. Carlton is managing director.
Alfred J. Thraves FRIBA of Nottingham was the architect. 300 seats with an ultra-modern interior. Nothing of the Regal’s interior remains, the front has been entirely reconstructed.
Article uploaded, the interior must have been quite a surprise to patrons, as the façade was still very much as originally built. The front referred to in the article was front of house (foyers etc) rather than the façade itself.
Built as an Oddfellows Hall, the tablet is inscribed with year 1895, it is currently (2023) the King’s Church. Postcode is SO32 1AA.
Checking StreetView, there is no sign of this former cinema along the length of Low Lane, so it has been demolished.
The cinema was a conversion of a chapel, I’ve uploaded a photo of it.
Mike Blakemore’s comments are interesting, as the 1944 KYB give the owners as being the Broadway Cinema Circuit (N.C. Smith) General and Booking Manager B.H. Paul, booked at hall.
The final bingo operators were Walkers Bingo.
The 1944 KYB has the owners as the Lyons Estate.
This building is being used for storage, so being kept watertight, but sadly not secure as Urban Explorers have gained entry on several occasions.
The actual name of this cinema was the Lyric Picture Playhouse, operated in 1944 by the Birmingham Lyric Picture Playhouse Ltd. Source: 1944 KYB.
Bingo operations will have commenced after 1960, when the gambling laws were eased in the UK. Last operated as Roxy Bingo.
The Strand was built for, and operated by, Bideford Entertainments Ltd.
This was the Queen’s Hall rather than the Queen’s Rooms, which were demolished for the Berwick Theatre to be built thereon. This building could not, physically, fit 1000 persons inside!
The Kinema/Electric was on the High Street, a wooden structure that closed when this cinema opened in 1938. The Electric was retained as offices for a while, but was eventually demolished for further shops to be built. This cinema was never known as the Electric or Kinema. Locals sometimes referred to it as the ‘New Cinema’ if they were old enough to remember the Electric in the High Street (such as my Great Grandma did!)
W.J. Hogan operated this cinema under the Savoy Picture House Ltd. name, along with the Clonard and Popular cinemas.
Architect Robert Sharpe Hill designed a shelter for the cinema in 1928.
This cinema would have passed into Rank Theatres (Northern Ireland) Ltd.’s ownership in 1955, when Curran Theatres Ltd. sold many of their Belfast cinemas to them.
Shown as operated by Irish Theatres Ltd. in the 1944 KYB, seating reduced to 900, proscenium width 27ft., stage 30ft. deep, five dressing rooms. Bizarrely, films delivered by Steamship Service!
Curran Theatres sold many of their cinemas to Rank in 1955, so this was likely when this cinema changed ownership.
To be correct, the High Street cinema replacing this one was called the Palladium Super Cinema.
As you can see from the first picture, the Public Hall was originally taller.