Ritz Cinema

Duke Street,
Stockport, SK1 3AA

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terry
terry on December 22, 2018 at 12:40 am

It was refurbished as a ‘circle only’ operation initially (as opposed to ABC Birkenhead which was done at around the same time but with stalls only) and the downstairs seats were removed. There were then considerable problems with the sound as a result and the stalls seats were replaced and the two seating areas were both again open to the public.

christopherbuxton
christopherbuxton on January 22, 2017 at 8:21 am

Sorry Ken, but your not quite right on a few things. Once the site of the Ritz was cleared after demolition, it became a car park, which it is to this day (I should know, I parked my car in what was the stalls!) Regal House stands opposite where this cinema was. Also, due to the ABC take-over, the Ritz never had a fly-tower, in spite of having a large stage and dressing rooms as you say. The Wurlitzer Organ also had no piano attachment, however a ‘visiting’ piano was brought in on occasion when the organ was featured. There was also no restaurant ever installed, again, cut-backs due to to the ABC take-over. It would appear that the Ritz/ABC was scaled back quite considerably due to the take-over by the ABC chain. It wasn’t demolished until several years after it had closed, I think, 1986/7.

Derick Moss
Derick Moss on April 24, 2013 at 12:12 am

Spent a couple of very happy years at this cinema, initially as third projectionist and later as assistant manager to the manager Mike Ronan.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on October 28, 2010 at 7:12 pm

Vintage photographs of the Ritz Cinema/ABC, and its Wurlitzer organ console:
http://www.ukwurlitzer.co.cc/2213.html