The Picture House at Fair Hill reopened as the Phoenix on Monday 31 August 1964 with John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara in McLintock playing one house Tuesday to Friday and two houses Mondays and Saturdays with children’s matinees on Saturday mornings. Proprietor Thomas Quinn, 400 seats, architects Cosgrove, Rooney and McConville. Opening ceremony by Mr J.P. Duff chairman of Tyrone County Council manager George Dardis. Rebuilt following the fire of 1961. There was an Electric Picture House at Fair Hill from at least 1918 but plain old Picture House by 1932.
Former owner Phil Richardson died in March this year aged 90. More here: https://www.tyronecon.co.uk/news/2023/03/23/gallery/cinema-pioneer-who-brought-big-titles-to-local-screens-laid-to-rest-41682/
Video of the abandoned cinema at the following link: https://www.thesun.ie/money/10310055/abandoned-omagh-cinema-fully-fitted-popcorn-property-tiktok/#:~:text=MOST%20READ%20IN%20THE%20IRISH%20SUN&text=It%27s%20clear%20the%20cinema%20shut,scattered%20around%20the%20snack%20stand
The cinema was due to reopen on 30 September 2021 according to the press. More here: https://www.stourbridgenews.co.uk/news/19603466.film-fans-prepare-open-new-lume-cinema-kidderminster/ suggesting it is still a 4-screen.
Not the easiest place to get to. It’s a good idea to enter from the north side of the shopping centre otherwise you go up and down again to get over the road in the middle.
Chicago’s in the former auditorium closed for the pandemic in 2020 and never reopened. You tube link featuring the abandoned building at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ3QUXxka1g. More on the flats scheme here: https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/apartment-block-plans-would-see-6451652. The Boston bar in the foyer, formerly Revolution, is also boarded up as are many properties in the town!!!
Workmen have uncovered a small slice of social history during restoration work on the cinema. Cigarette packs and film boxes from the 1930 and 40s have been found alongside old coins and ‘reserved’ signs. The cinema is being restored after securing a £2.3m lottery grant. More here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-59161953
Keswick Alhambra was one of 925 recipients of the latest round of the Culture Recovery Fund announced last November. The £86,782 will go towards the recent £300,000 upgrade to the family-run venue which delayed its reopening post-lockdown. This included a second screen under the balcony of the 108-year-old building.More here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-59345174
Didn’t really help in that one of the films screened during the restrictions was a documentary by the son of conspiracy theorist David Icke making allegations about how the NHS were dealing with COVID patients. More here: bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-59853848
One report states that the cinema was opened in January 1925 by the Hurley brothers and was called the Coliseum. It closed after a year and reopened in 1929 as the Pavilion. Reopened after the rebuild in February 1943.
This photo is not of the cinema, which was located at the top of the village near the garage. The building is now some sort of beauty parlour according to Google street view.
The frieze is displayed on Watergate outside the Cast building just a few yards from the Savoy cinema.
Old bingo area downstairs is now a hospice charity shop. Foyer upstairs used as an exhibition area for local development plans.
You forgot to mention the school tuck shop Zappo. Seating in screens as follows: 1) 128 2) 129 3) 135 4) 58 5) 341 6) 272 7) 105 8) 65 9) 208 10) 135 11) 145 12) 205 13) 87 14) 65 15) 127 16) 133 17) 307 18) 57 19) 57 20) 58.
Opening night 1.11.31 with Jailbirds starring Laurel & Hardy.
The Medway was advertising from summer 1948 until 1953 and was billed as “a small cinema with a big reputation”
Phoenix closed temporarily April 1984 but hadn’t readvertised in the press by the end of 1985. Still being checked out.
The Picture House at Fair Hill reopened as the Phoenix on Monday 31 August 1964 with John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara in McLintock playing one house Tuesday to Friday and two houses Mondays and Saturdays with children’s matinees on Saturday mornings. Proprietor Thomas Quinn, 400 seats, architects Cosgrove, Rooney and McConville. Opening ceremony by Mr J.P. Duff chairman of Tyrone County Council manager George Dardis. Rebuilt following the fire of 1961. There was an Electric Picture House at Fair Hill from at least 1918 but plain old Picture House by 1932.
The Royal closed after the last performance of Underworld USA on 20 August 1964 due to the reopening of the Picture House/Phoenix.
Former owner Phil Richardson died in March this year aged 90. More here: https://www.tyronecon.co.uk/news/2023/03/23/gallery/cinema-pioneer-who-brought-big-titles-to-local-screens-laid-to-rest-41682/
Video of the abandoned cinema at the following link: https://www.thesun.ie/money/10310055/abandoned-omagh-cinema-fully-fitted-popcorn-property-tiktok/#:~:text=MOST%20READ%20IN%20THE%20IRISH%20SUN&text=It%27s%20clear%20the%20cinema%20shut,scattered%20around%20the%20snack%20stand
The cinema was due to reopen on 30 September 2021 according to the press. More here: https://www.stourbridgenews.co.uk/news/19603466.film-fans-prepare-open-new-lume-cinema-kidderminster/ suggesting it is still a 4-screen.
Exact opening date for the public was 16 December.
Not the easiest place to get to. It’s a good idea to enter from the north side of the shopping centre otherwise you go up and down again to get over the road in the middle.
Chicago’s in the former auditorium closed for the pandemic in 2020 and never reopened. You tube link featuring the abandoned building at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ3QUXxka1g. More on the flats scheme here: https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/apartment-block-plans-would-see-6451652. The Boston bar in the foyer, formerly Revolution, is also boarded up as are many properties in the town!!!
Souvenir shop as of May 2023 with an emporium full of collectables upstairs. Lego attraction in the former projection box.
Also had a spell as a shirt factory according to the local museum.
Branch of Pure Gym in May 2023. Sorry, site not uploading photos.
Carpet shop in the foyer area now seems to be have closed down.
The cinema is now operating as The Avenue and has a separate entry on the site. Kwik Save in the picture is now Poundland as of May 2023.
Workmen have uncovered a small slice of social history during restoration work on the cinema. Cigarette packs and film boxes from the 1930 and 40s have been found alongside old coins and ‘reserved’ signs. The cinema is being restored after securing a £2.3m lottery grant. More here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-59161953
Keswick Alhambra was one of 925 recipients of the latest round of the Culture Recovery Fund announced last November. The £86,782 will go towards the recent £300,000 upgrade to the family-run venue which delayed its reopening post-lockdown. This included a second screen under the balcony of the 108-year-old building.More here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-59345174
Didn’t really help in that one of the films screened during the restrictions was a documentary by the son of conspiracy theorist David Icke making allegations about how the NHS were dealing with COVID patients. More here: bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-59853848
Opened on 7 November 1996 by the O'Connor family. Not associated with Reel Cinemas in the UK.
The former restaurant area, latterly occupied by The Victoria pub, has been demolished as part of an upgrade.
One report states that the cinema was opened in January 1925 by the Hurley brothers and was called the Coliseum. It closed after a year and reopened in 1929 as the Pavilion. Reopened after the rebuild in February 1943.
This photo is not of the cinema, which was located at the top of the village near the garage. The building is now some sort of beauty parlour according to Google street view.