They are such classic, chic buildings. Never will we see the like of again.

just had one of my old large street plans spread out on the floor and it's showing a cinema in Marsh Lane. The map is early to mid 60's as it's pre flyover at Dale St and pre Kingsway tunnel.

My hubby who moved to Liverpool from London in 1963 was living in oregon st and he remembers it being called Auntie Margarets.

it would have been on what is now the health centre.

does anyone else remember it?

taken at the old Museum of Liverpool Life. there was cinema display and this picture was on the wall.
Pre digital days, so apols for the quality

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e28/quincyg/abbey.jpg

.............

great! much appreciated Philip. :PDT11

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[QUOTE=PhilipG;114716]This thread has passed 500 posts.
Thanks to everybody. :hug::PDT_Aliboronz_11::PDT_Aliboronz_24::[/QUOTE

Brilliant work everybody.
A big thank you to our resident cinema main man, Mr PhilipG :hug::handclap:

probably already on here...taken today

don't know the old names off hand, but I'm sure someone will...hello Philip! :PDT16

Brewster St , Kirkdale
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e28/quincyg/blogging2/Picture1305.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e28/quincyg/blogging2/Picture1307.jpg

Warbreck Moor , Walton Vale
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e28/quincyg/blogging2/Picture1327.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e28/quincyg/blogging2/Picture1326.jpg

Great pics!

Philip, I was wondering if you have seen the photo of the interior of the Camden Cinema by London Road, when it was all done up for the release of the Ghost Train?
My dad has that pic.

That was the Shakespeare (Fraser st) I think and it's in a book I have done up like that. The picture house in Camden street was the Gaumont.

.............

The Princess was one of the few Liverpool cinemas to make it into a national architectural journal.
(They were too posh to call themselves magazines!).
Here's a picture from the Architectural Review when the Princess was new in 1931.
It went over to bingo in 1966 and closed a few years ago.
It's a rare example of a cinema having two show facades because it faced two roads - Selwyn Street and Brewster Road (or Street?).

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2064/2169015899_f1becd45b0_o.jpg

Shoemarket was the Aintree Palace, and the cinema foyer done up like a station booking office was the Trocadero/Gaumont in Camden Street.
It's a Stewart Bale photo, and was issued as a postcard.

I usually have a book to hand with all my notes in, but I don't know where it is at the moment, so everything I've just said is from memory.

great Philip, thanks for the info. Knew you'd come up with the goods. Superb picture of the Princess. Shame it doesn't look as good as that now. Still at least it's not been demolished.

I've found a good pic of the Abbey in one of my Liverpool books. will scan it when I've found a few others to be done.

That was the Shakespeare (Fraser st) I think and it's in a book I have done up like that. The picture house in Camden street was the Gaumont.

sorry guys. i was relying on memory!

(Prescot Rd/Green Lane)
took this today.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e28/quincyg/blogging2/Picture1366.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e28/quincyg/blogging2/Picture1365.jpg

Had my first date in the Princess cinema with my missus on the 1st January
1956 and we having our golden wedding this year. I can`t remember what we saw.

Had my first date in the Princess cinema with my missus on the 1st January
1956 and we having our golden wedding this year. I can`t remember what we saw.

just how it should be.:PDT_Aliboronz_11:
congrats!

after a frustrating evening with scanner and Photobucket finally got this uploaded

The Abbey in 1979 just after it closed. from 'Images of England - Wavertree'

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e28/quincyg/blogging2/abbey79.jpg

loved the Abbey, it was my local cinema and I saw my very first film there, a re-run of Mary Poppins.

..........

One of the best cinema facades in Merseyside.
But it's been demolished.

The Astoria, Walton Road.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2102/2168987307_d5d48a5f15_o.jpg

was this listed Philip?

.........

........

what a fabulous pic. I was there just last week taking a photo of the old Dunlop gatehouse and the side of the pub. It's very different along there now, not least the traffic lol.

Has anyone any info about this cinema which was sited in Heald St

Future of cinema in the balance

Mar 5 2008 by Nick Coligan, Liverpool Echo

THE future of Liverpool’s oldest cinema building is still uncertain after councillors failed to reach a final decision.

The current owner of Bedford Hall, in Walton, wants to demolish it and build 26 houses and flats in its place.

Councillors were expected to reject the scheme yesterday on the grounds it would cause the loss of “a local amenity of great historic interest”.

But they instead deferred making a final decision to give the owner one last chance to incorporate the Bedford Road building’s classic frontage into the new development.

A previous request was rejected earlier this year.

The building was opened in 1910 and is one of the five oldest survivors of its type in the country.

...........

...........

Thanks for the info Phillip. Much appreciated. :handclap::handclap:

Brilliant info and pics Philip.

A great photo... And there's another piece of Liverpool history - that's the Flemings Jeans shop innit?

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i36/taxipix/123456789.jpg

Now, The Astoria in Walton Road. For years I've had it in my head that this cinema was on the right just before the flyover if you're heading out of town - just by the swimming pool. Now, though, this doesn't seem to make sense. When I saw Flemings in the photo, it made me think. Was the Astoria on the other side of the road and nearer the other end of the road?

A great photo... And there's another piece of Liverpool history - that's the Flemings Jeans shop innit?

Now, The Astoria in Walton Road. For years I've had it in my head that this cinema was on the right just before the flyover if you're heading out of town - just by the swimming pool. Now, though, this doesn't seem to make sense. When I saw Flemings in the photo, it made me think. Was the Astoria on the other side of the road and nearer the other end of the road?

it's the town end. Way before the fly over. coming down Scotty and into Walton Rd it was on the left.
There's the post office, shops, few houses I think, then a small park. Medical centre (my hubby lived in the flat over that surgery for a few years) then the Halfway Hse pub. next block was the cinema.

Sorted... Thanks for that.

I'm glad you've cleared that up for me. I was up by the pool and the flyover the other day and I couldn't for the life of me work out where the cinema had been.

Cheers...

Sorted... Thanks for that.

I'm glad you've cleared that up for me. I was up by the pool and the flyover the other day and I couldn't for the life of me work out where the cinema had been.

Cheers...

no problem. it's often hard to picture where buildings were once they've been demolished.

...........

I was really sorry to see the Astoria go,it was a lovely work of art. I wrote off to try and get it listed but to no avail. :( Can anyone from the area tell me if they've started building anything on the site,or is it still vacant?

Dave.

I was really sorry to see the Astoria go,it was a lovely work of art. I wrote off to try and get it listed but to no avail. :( Can anyone from the area tell me if they've started building anything on the site,or is it still vacant?

Dave.

Hi Dave
they haven't done anything with the land at all
Flemings Jeans was also demolished but was rebuilt as a Chemist last year

Mandy

Thanks Mandy. Somehow I'm not surprised it's still idle. Plans get dreamed up for something,the old building is pulled down...then something puts a spanner in and nothing new gets built for years.

Dave.

We were only talking about Flemings the other day after me seeing the photo on the forum.

Good quality jeans indeed, and they last forever. We're from the Wirral, but I remember probably about 15+ years ago sitting in me dads car while he went in to get a pair of Flemings. He still wears them now.

They were putting scaffolding around this building this morning.


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2339/2133884122_9f7a6279ca_o.jpg

[.............

The Astoria was on the corner of Furness Street, close to Fountains Road.
It's hard to believe that it was one of seven cinemas, all close together.
The Grosvenor, Doric (Westminster Hall), Garrick, Lyric, Astoria, Victory and Queens were all close by.
The Astoria was called the ABC Walton before it closed, although it wasn't really in Walton.

Walton Baths, as well as Garston and Lodge Lane were used as cinemas a couple of years before purpose-built cinemas opened.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44435674@N00/227398859/in/set-72157594265619936/

The Grosvenor,Garrick,Astoria,Victory and Queens were the ones I frequented
most as a youngster. The first 3 were easily bunked into without paying.
The Garrick had two entrances the main one was very grand, up a flight of steps and used by the better off patrons. The other was opposite Sandhey street were we poor people entered. The difference was in the seating.
them that used the front entrance had plush upholstered seats while we had
benches to sit on. Needless to say when lights went out for the start of the film there was a mass exodus on our bellies to the posh seats.
There was also the Popular on Netherfield Rd which we visited on our school
holidays for the afternoon shows it only cost 4d to get in,if you had no money
you could give 6 empty jam jars in lieu as there was money paid on empty jars
and lemonade bottles in those days.
Who thinks recycling is new?

......

Something definitely wrong. You expect certain criteria has to be met, you'd think it's position as being one of only 5 oldest facades in the UK should be well enough.

Even though a building is privately owned, it shouldn't matter, just like if they wanted an extension or neon sign putting up, they have to approach the council for permission, likewise they should have to approach the council for something as drastic as changing this frontage or :shock: actually demolishing it.

If nobody can get the council to issue an emergency stop order on the demolition, then at least try to preserve the foundation stones - front of hall at ground level. these record who laid them and the date.

Some memories of Lyton street cinema, lifted off another forum.


Re: barricks in everton road. frank

hi it depends what way you wear walking if you was going towards BRECK ROAD it wason the left just after LYTON STREET .I remember my grandad telling me a story abuot the war hesaid ther use to be a machine gun based on top of the picture house , in lyton street during the blitz just imagin that .

03/07/08 at 03:20:06 IP: 195.93.21.68

Re: barricks in everton road. Audrey O'keefe

Thanks Guys, I remember the Lytton picture house, I use to go every Friday with my mum, I remember the wooden benches, and the chestnut man in the winter, my dad was born in 9 lytton street, and my uncle Louis Hatchard was the coal man he had stables for his horses, and thee was a shop owned by Mrs Tyson........... aaarrrhhh the good old days.

03/08/08 at 16:57:02

MARCH 2008 - The former Capitol cinema, St. Helens.

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i36/taxipix/STHELENSMAR2008.jpg

Now occupied by the YMCA and used as a fitness centre.

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i36/taxipix/STHELENSMARCH2008.jpg

I'd be pleased to hear from anybody with any more information or photographs relating to the Capitol.

Ross - ross.campbell@sky.com

as it's not Liverpool it isn't in the cinemas book I've got. what road is it on, that may help the Google search.

YMCA site says it was a squash club which was formerly the Capitol Cinema.

Former Capitol cinema.
Liscard Village, Wallasey CH45.

MARCH 2008 -

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i36/taxipix/CAPITOLWALLASEYMAR2008.jpg

The roof of the Capitol has recently been removed, making me wonder whether demolition may be imminent.
It looks as though the auditorium is in a poor state. It could well be that the former cinema is being re-roofed, or perhaps this main part of the building is to be re-built.

A firm of solicitors occupy the first floor of the 1926 building and the facade is still intact. It would seem that it is just the auditorium that is being worked on just now.
I had heard unoficially that the building - which last ran on bingo almost a decade ago - was to become a snooker hall, but I don't know whether or not this is true. It's also known locally that J.D. Wetherspoon had considered taking up the premises; but they have since opened elsewhere in Liscard.

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i36/taxipix/CAPITOLWALLASEYMARCH2008.jpg

16th APRIL 2008 -

I met a lovely couple in Liscard today, we were talking about the Capitol and the apparent demolition that's taking place. The man and his wife had been regular visitors to both the Capitol and the nearby Liscard Electric Palace in Seaview Road.

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i36/taxipix/CAPITOL-WALLASEY-APRIL2008.jpg

From the photograph - and that's about as much as I could see today - it certainly looks like the auditorium is going to be completely demolished rather than restored.

It might be stating the obvious, but hasn't anybody asked what's happening?
The Capitol had a separate ballroom as well as the cinema.
Presumably it would be possible to demolish both the cinema and the ballroom, and then leave the shops intact (I'm assuming they're still open. If they've closed that would indicate that everything is to be demolished.)

The Capitol in St Helens opened in 1929.

Yes, the shops are still open - almost all of them in fact.

It would seem that it's just the auditorium and the ballroom (that I'd forgotten about) that are being demolished.

Sad to see what's happening to the Capitol, but as the facade is remaining, I would imagine that a lot of people will remain unaware of what's actually being done.

- Whenever I've visited recently, there have been no workers on site and so I've not been able to find out what's happening.

Photographs from today. This cinema opened in 1922.

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i36/taxipix/GRAPHIC-BOALERSTREETKENSINGTON-APR2.jpg

The Cosy closed earlier than a lot of other local cinemas, fifty years ago in fact, in 1958.

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i36/taxipix/GRAPHIC-BOALERSTKENSINGTON-APR2008.jpg

^Boaler Street: There's a date on this building, scratched into the mortar, high above the left-hand door. From memory, I think it relates to MIL.

^Boaler Street: There's a date on this building, scratched into the mortar, high above the left-hand door. From memory, I think it relates to MIL.

Interesting.
MIL have only been there for a couple of years, I think.
It was a warehouse for E R Hughes, the butchers, for years.

BTW, regarding cinema closures.
It was the introduction of ITV in 1955 (plus an Entertainments Tax) that caused mass closures of cinemas, starting in 1956.
After that, more and more cinemas closed every year.
Prior to 1956 it was a rare event if a cinema closed.

Interesting post Philip. Some good info.

There is in fact a bit of a plaque on the front of the cinema building. It looks like it's been written by hand - as Marky said, scratched into the mortar. It reads 'MIL 2005'. I think somebody's done it as a joke.

The Grosvenor,Garrick,Astoria,Victory and Queens were the ones I frequented
most as a youngster. The first 3 were easily bunked into without paying.
The Garrick had two entrances the main one was very grand, up a flight of steps and used by the better off patrons. The other was opposite Sandhey street were we poor people entered. The difference was in the seating.
them that used the front entrance had plush upholstered seats while we had
benches to sit on. Needless to say when lights went out for the start of the film there was a mass exodus on our bellies to the posh seats.
There was also the Popular on Netherfield Rd which we visited on our school
holidays for the afternoon shows it only cost 4d to get in,if you had no money
you could give 6 empty jam jars in lieu as there was money paid on empty jars
and lemonade bottles in those days.
Who thinks recycling is new?

--------------------------------------------

Your Giving your age away there Gerard's dad. I thought the Lytton was the only one that accepted jam jars!

Sorry I have just had a senior moment, I ment Greg's dad.

Park Palace, Mill Street
I've been told this was on BBC TV a few days ago. I can't find a link on 'Google'
It does get a mention on this site, about re-opening later this year.
http://www.georgegroves.org.uk/blog.html

Park Palace, Mill Street
I've been told this was on BBC TV a few days ago. I can't find a link on 'Google'
It does get a mention on this site, about re-opening later this year.
http://www.georgegroves.org.uk/blog.html

it's was on the BBC's regional prog Inside Out. I only caught the end of the piece.
it could be on the BBC Iplayer maybe?

scouserddave.
I think we have met before. I just joined this forum, and seem to remember we have talked photography before.

Good to see you contributing on here.
Wooltonian (Brian Seddon)

There used to be a cinema just before Tue Brook railway bridge on the left going toward town. I'm banging my head again'st the wall trying to remember what it was called. I think it was turned into I don't know what in the late forties/early fifties. Anyone any idea's?

There used to be a cinema just before Tue Brook railway bridge on the left going toward town. I'm banging my head again'st the wall trying to remember what it was called. I think it was turned into I don't know what in the late forties/early fifties. Anyone any idea's?

It was the Empress.
Opened 1915 and closed 1960.
In 1961 it was converted into Cooper's supermarket with a rebuilt frontage. The supermarket was closed about 1968 for demolition, and the site was used for toilets and the entrance to a subway under West Derby Road.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3015/2482761889_06190f55c7_o.jpg

phew, Philip you really know your cinemas :)

I hadn't heard of that one even though I was born just over the way from Tuebrook.

By your description - was it by Oak Leigh and New rd?

there is a building on the corner of new rd that looks like it could have been a cinema. It is a church now.

Yes, it was on the corner of Oak Leigh, near New Road.
West Derby Road was also widened about 1969, so the building went completely (as said).
That church has been there for over 100 years, perhaps - there used to be a pub next door to it, on West Derby Road.

The former Bedford Cinema in Walton has just been demolished.

From this...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2062/2248008318_3a0fb85326_o.jpg

...to this.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2378/2518875093_a74e66ed5c_o.jpg

Futurist, Lime Street. It looks like the last sections of artwork are going up today. Workmen were there earlier.

Philip, thanks for keeping us informed about the Bedford cinema.

I'm sorry that they demolished it after all. :sad: it's disgraceful that they did that :PDT_Xtremez_12: :PDT_Xtremez_12:

The former Bedford Cinema in Walton has just been demolished.

From this...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2062/2248008318_3a0fb85326_o.jpg

...to this.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2378/2518875093_a74e66ed5c_o.jpg

thanks for the update Philip,I agree with Lindylou that its a disgrace that they've knocked it down :PDT_Xtremez_12:

just found this fab piece on the Abbey http://www.wooltoncinema.co.uk/html/cinematributes.html

brought back some memories, including summat I'd forgotton...the first supermarket to go in the old building was LENNONS. now there's a blast from the past. we used to walk the roughly 2 miles up there to do our shopping then get the 79 home.

can't believe it's 25 years since it closed , I loved that cinema *sniff*

before lennons went in it stood vacant for a while with an advertising placard above the door obviously advertising the last film there, it was the towering inferno if i remember correctly

Hi Lindylou!

So...does anyone on this forum remember the name of the cinema in Granby Street? I can remember going there in the mid 60's as a kid, it was a very old fashioned cinema even then, and I think it had an old fashioned name like the Regal, or Tivoli.

Great to see pics of the Abbey - remember going there once in the 70's to see Mary Poppins.

Other cinemas I have memories of in Liverpool would be the main ones in the centre, like the Odeon, ABC, Futurist, Scala, the Studio cinemas on Mount Pleasant (think that was all of the main ones).

I lived in Kirkby from 68 - 79, and they built a cinema there in the 70's above the Woolco store (where I used to work as a salesman on the furniture and carpets dept) called the J and A cinema, which also had a bingo hall next to it.

Horrible, tatty little place, to be honest.

I left Liverpool in '79, and up until '92 actually worked as a cinema manager in London for the Classic chain, who went on to be Cannon/MGM, and for a while also for CIC cinemas who then owned the Empire Leicester Square, and the now defunct Plaza in Lower Regent Street.

Park Palace: Workmen were clearing stuff into a skip outside. They must be getting it ready for its' re-opening later in the year. Both doors were open, but the only thing I could see was a large empty hall.

Hi Lindylou!

So...does anyone on this forum remember the name of the cinema in Granby Street? I can remember going there in the mid 60's as a kid, it was a very old fashioned cinema even then, and I think it had an old fashioned name like the Regal, or Tivoli.



It was the Prince's.
Originally it was called the Granby.

The floor of the exit from the screen end.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3247/2653215206_e5319cb709_o.jpg

Sad picture Philip :(

Park Palace plans:
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2008/07/18/palace-of-dreams-100252-21362955/

Here's a New Brighton photo (Victoria Road?) from the 90s--the building to the left looks like it may have been a cinema. Or a bank. Any ideas? I would be very surprised if it were still standing.

HI NANCY, THE PHOTO YOU HAVE TAKEN WAS THE (TROCADERO CINEMA) IT WAS IN ITS DAY, A VERY FINE BUILDING,SAW MANY ROY ROGERS AND JOHN WAYNE FILMS THERE,FURTHER UP VICTORIA ROAD ,WALKING AWAY FROM THE RIVER WAS THE (COURT CINEMA) REGARDS