Coliseum Cinema
High Street,
Porthmadog,
LL49 9HD
High Street,
Porthmadog,
LL49 9HD
1 person
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Hi everyone, I am the administrator of the Facebook Old photos of Porthmadog group – I have now started a separate one for the Coliseum
There are no photos of the demolition as it actually is rather upsetting for those of us who fought to keep it open or at least the building from being demolished.
Enjoy and please join x
https://www.facebook.com/groups/henluniauhanescoliseum/
Diolch / Thanks
Tegwen Haf
The town of Porthmadog has a site on Facebook (Old photos of Porthmadog,so I’ve informed the members and told them to visit the Cinema Treasures site in order to view the photos.
Nice photos Mr Rowe.
I’ve uploaded 6 photographs of the Coliseum Cinema taken on 22nd April 2003 during a visit by the Cinema Theatre Association.
I’ve uploaded 6 photos of the Coliseum being demolished. Pictures taken March 1st 2016.
Hmm. There is no choice, by the end of this year no more 35mm… They must have digital.. The are current problems in getting prints of films.. Mind you have always been told that there is a shortage of prints.. Thankfully I have retired.. and I have not got the worry of finding the money to do it….
I’ve uploaded new photo of the Coliseum, now in arather sorry state but they are still hoping to reopen. The new commitee are hopefull of securing a grant to refurbish the building. But I have not heard mention of going digital,not being what you would call (cinema people) I hope they realise there is no option, or at least there won’t be in the near future.
I’ve added a couple of photos of the present equipment.
Just uploaded another photo of the former equipment, please just click on photos.
Good read,thanks for the insight.
I think the arc lamps are Vulcan.
Hmm Kalee 12 Projectors with drum shutters Universal sound heads (When first put in would have had sound on disc as well) and I think Kaylee Commadore arcs..
Please click on photos for picture and info on the projection room.
The Classic Television Series Film Rushes of the “The Prisoner where shown nightly after the normal programme finished.. and I think White Night Film did the same. Hope it manages to re-open
Although the cinema is currently closed, much is going on behind the scenes to try to preserve its future.They have already held a ghost hunters night featuring the stars of the TV programme to raise cash and are currently running a signature list for supporters to try to get grant aid to carry out the necessary repair work and are also seeking suggestions on how further cash can be raised. A meeting to be held in the next couple of weeks will tell if re-opening is viable. The cinemas most profitable period is fast approaching – the main holiday period!
Afraid the Coliseum is in Crisis, it may have to close it’s doors within the next two weeks unless they get a cash injection, the building needs much work on it. Its not run voluntary as intimated on Mr Roe’s Contribution, they empoy 10 part time staff,although I beleive they have a different manager every week from the chamber of trade,which is voluntary.
Maybe the answer is to try and run it with vounteers as quite a few manage to do so succesfully these days.
The projectors during Mr Bob Piercey’s time were 2 Kalee 12 projectors, which he worshipped. The ones donated by Barclays Bank which Mr Roe referred to are Cinemeccanica Victoria 8 machines.
Although the new projectors had arrived Bob did not have a chance to work on them as he passed away at the age of 80 before they had been installed.
He was quite a witty character, he once remarked during the seventies that if he had to show any more Italian movies he’d soon be eating nothing but spagetti !There were in those days quite a lot of dubbed Italian pictures being released in this country such as “Hercules Unchained” “Revolt Of The Slaves” etc. Many had an American star and he or she were the only ones with their lips in sync.
Have to say though although these films were not very good they were certainly spectacular and colourfull.
The original owner was Captain W.E. Pritchard, who also owned cinemas in Pwllheli,Blaenau Festiniog, Pen y Groes and Caernarvon. Fopllowing his death the cinemas were sold to Paramount Picture Theatres in 1945 and it was the death of Guy Baker, that groups owner that caused closure of the Coliseum in 1983. All Bakers cinemas closed following his death. The cinemas projectionist who stayed on when it re-opened on a volunteer basis was Bob Piercy, who was the longest serving projectionist in the world when he eventually passed away.
The Coliseum Cinema, photographed in December 2007:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andy_mcr/2192531149/
Another photograph:
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