..........

.........

Philip,
regarding the Cabbage Hall

Cinema, you may appreciate this story I posted to another forum last year....
=======================
This story is strange but true.

I

had to do a bit of business in Old Swan on Tuesday and parked up in one of the side streets. As I was going back to my car, I noticed a building that looked

like an old cinema on Prescot Rd. Decided to take a pic. Just before I took one, I asked the first person I saw if they could confirm whether it was a cinema

or not.

[This is when it gets weird! ]

The gentleman confirmed that it was. It used to be the Curzon Cinema, Old Swan. It turned out that this

chap was the manager of the Abbey Cinerama for 30 years before it closed down in 1979! Previous to that, he was also the manager of the Cabbage Hall Cinema

which is now the LFC Supporters Club. Previous to that, he was the manager of the Stella cinema in Seaforth!

The gentlemen's name is Ambler Ramsden.

The "Ambler" was his mother's maiden name. He's 85 years old and appears as fit as a fiddle. However, he told me I caught him on one of his good days,

healthwise. He'd just returned from the Royal after having a fitting for a hearing aid and had recently recovered from a mild stroke. He informed me that on

his "bad" days, he can barely string a couple of words together.

Forgot to include the pic I took of the Curzon in my previous

post.

http://www.liverpoolpictorial.co.uk/curzonoldswan.jpg

Forgot to include the pic I took of the Curzon in my previous

post.

http://www.liverpoolpictorial.co.uk/curzonoldswan.jpg

Many of these old cinemas are pretty well intact inside. Many

are just not uses as no one can find a use fior the large spaces. A whole theatre was found intact in Glasgow. Most of it was sealed off.

Philip,
regarding the Cabbage Hall Cinema, you may appreciate this story I posted to another forum last

year....
=======================
This story is strange but true.

I had to do a bit of business in Old Swan on Tuesday and parked up in

one of the side streets. As I was going back to my car, I noticed a building that looked like an old cinema on Prescot Rd. Decided to take a pic. Just before

I took one, I asked the first person I saw if they could confirm whether it was a cinema or not.

[This is when it gets weird! ]

The gentleman

confirmed that it was. It used to be the Curzon Cinema, Old Swan. It turned out that this chap was the manager of the Abbey Cinerama for 30 years before it

closed down in 1979! Previous to that, he was also the manager of the Cabbage Hall Cinema which is now the LFC Supporters Club. Previous to that, he was the

manager of the Stella cinema in Seaforth!

The gentlemen's name is Ambler Ramsden. The "Ambler" was his mother's maiden name. He's 85 years old and

appears as fit as a fiddle. However, he told me I caught him on one of his good days, healthwise. He'd just returned from the Royal after having a fitting

for a hearing aid and had recently recovered from a mild stroke. He informed me that on his "bad" days, he can barely string a couple of words

together.

The Abbey at Wavertree Clock was a class place inside. The public areas were really ritzy with a large Busby Berkley staircase. I

wonder if it is all still there.

Anyone got a picture of old Plaza in Allerton Rd? Demolished in the 1970s.

The Curzon

Theatre

Built in 1936, and designed by Earnest Shennan, the Curzon was one the few cinema's where 3D films could be seen. The short lived novelty

of 3D would soon be replaced by Cinema Scope and Magnetic Stereophonic sounds pioneered by Twentieth Century Fox.

The grand opening of the Curzon was

at 2.30 pm on the 10th October 1936. The ceremony was performed by Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor R.J.Hall. The auditorium has 1750 seats, upholstered

in amber and a fully carpeted floor that sloped to a crossover gangway from the main stage. The orchestra pit featured the handsome console of the computer

organ that incorporated all the modern advances including the electronics unit. The organ chamber was behind the screen and the large projection room housed

two Kalee projectors, Western Electronic wide range sound system, spotlight lanterns and electrical equipment.

The prices were 6d, 9d, 1s with reduced

rates in the afternoon. The Curzon closed on the 20th August 1960.

Following it's closure, the building was reconstructed into a row of shops. A

similar use of the building continues with the upper parts of the building relatively unchanged from it's days as a

cinema

http://www.mersey-gateway.org/server.php?show=ConWebDoc.1416

First pic I saw in the Abbey that took advantage of "cinerama" was with my

Mum, watching Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines.

First pic I

saw in the Abbey that took advantage of "cinerama" was with my Mum, watching Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines.

I saw that in the

Gaumont in Dingle - without cinerama. A big fat man right in the middle kept laughing very loudly all the time. It caught on.

Philip, do you have

any pics of the Paladium, Hippodrome and Majestic? They were my local cinemas as a kid living in Hughes St, L6.

Lovely photo of the Curzon.
With my old Zenith

camera I could never seem to get the full width in.

Here's the Plaza on an old postcard.

Plaza, 180 Allerton Road, Liverpool 18.
Architect

A. E. Shennan.
Opened 30 Mar 1928.
Renamed Gaumont in 1950, then Odeon in 1962.
Renamed Classic in 1967.
Closed 18 April 1971.
Demolished. A

Tesco supermarket (now Yates's Wine Lodge) was built on the site.

Shops were built on the site of the Plaza's car park, with a new Classic cinema

being built over them. It opened 11 August 1973.

For some reason I always thought the cinema was further back off the road. I remember it

being the Odeon, then renamed the Classic. Everyone still called it the Odeon. There was a milk dairy behind the cinema. I knew a girl whoes dad owned the

dairy and lived there. The road to the left is a service road and is still there.

The whole area of Penny Lane/Allerton Road had no pubs. A very

large area - odd for Liverpool. The nearest pubs were the Brook House in Smithdown Rd and the Rose of Mossley right up Rose Lane. This has now changed with

the wine bars and the likes along Allerton Road making this road quite an animated place.

.......

To the original person who asked about the

Cabbage Hall Cinema.
Just because no photos exist of the original cinema, it would still be considered good manners to thank somebody who has gone to

the trouble of trying to answer your enquiries.
Luckily, the person who asked about Reynolds' Waxworks has been interested and appreciative, which has

encouraged me to help as much as I can.

is that me ??

I only just read this post tonight (Tues 9pm )- I havn't been on-line for

approx 24 hrs or more. So I've only just seen this.

I am very interested in the Cabbage Hall as my family lived near by. I can very vaguely recall a

relative taking me to the childrens matinee.
I think I might have been age 4 or 5 perhaps .. so it must have been approx 1957 or 58.

Very

interesting to see that old cinema program ... I see that it is listed as being on Townsend lane/Rochester rd. Rochester road, for some reason was changed

to become part of Lower Breck rd which it is still called to this day.
Shame they dropped the name Rochester rd - it sounds nicer. :)

Very interesting posts from all.

The Majestic.

I went on my first date there ! :) :)

Palladium, 136 West Derby Road, Liverpool 6.
Opened 10 May 1913.
Architects: Nagington & Shennan.
Closed 1 July

1967.
Demolished 1967 for road widening.

The exterior photo was taken just before it closed, and the interior is dated 1950 (I don't know what's

up with the ceiling!).
Both photos are from the LRO Collection at Liverpool's Central Library.
Philip, you are a star, mate! Many thanks.

.........

This replaced an earlier Majestic Cinema which

had opened on the same site in 1914.

Majestic, Daulby Street, off London Road, Liverpool 3.
Opened 2 October 1937.
Architects: Gray, Evans &

Crossley.
Closed 27 June 1970.
Demolished 1970.
The site is part of the car park of the Royal Liverpool Hospital.

Both these photos are dated

1937, and are from the LRO Collection at Liverpool's Central Library.

I saw Bonnie & Clyde there.

I don't remember that one. (The Paladium)

Was it up by the Grafton

end of West Derby rd ?

Before I do the Royal Hippodrome, will somebody tell me how I post pics so they are a large size like the beautiful one of the

Curzon?
Thanks in advance.

Hit the quote button. The editor has buttons above. Point to a yellow one that says "insert image". Click it.

A window appears insert the picture adress, click OK. You can preview the picture before committing.

........

Before I do the Royal Hippodrome, will somebody tell me how I post pics so they are a

large size like the beautiful one of the Curzon?
Thanks in advance.
Bigging up pictures usually degrades them unless you have certain software.

Probably best if you send them au natural:)

You're welcome Dave.
I didn't mean to offend anybody, but I belong to another group (not

Flickr, which is great) and hardly ever get any acknowledgement that I've even posted, which is very discouraging.
Comfort yourself in knowing

that they are ignorant ****heads. Probably genetic. It's not their fault:)

Your cinema pics are brilliant! You are in good company here

Philip:PDT_Piratz_26:

......

Actually, I have to reduce them for this group.
Do I still

go to "Manage Attachments" and do I then go to "Pics from URL" instead of "Pics from Computer"?
I'm scared of anything technical until I know how to do

it! :eek:
Phil, rather than faff around with "advice" post the originals to me and I'll reduce them to 800 x

?
dave@liverpoolpictorial.co.uk :PDT_Aliboronz_24:

Lovely photo of the Curzon.
With my old Zenith camera I could never seem to get the full

width in.

Here's the Plaza on an old postcard.

Plaza, 180 Allerton Road, Liverpool 18.
Architect A. E. Shennan.
Opened 30 Mar

1928.
Renamed Gaumont in 1950, then Odeon in 1962.
Renamed Classic in 1967.
Closed 18 April 1971.
Demolished. A Tesco supermarket (now Yates's

Wine Lodge) was built on the site.

Shops were built on the site of the Plaza's car park, with a new Classic cinema being built over them. It opened

11 August 1973.

The film showing on the Plazza is "Vanessa" with Helen Hayes (1935).

.......

[..........

........

I managed to follow that up to "insert the URL of the picture".
As far as I know my pics just have a

filename.
(They've been transferred from my camera).

The extension usually has to be .jpg or .gif. It has to be in a location which it

can be accessed from, like on a server. If you have a web site allocated by your ISP, use this space. Or somthing like the free fkr site will do. Download

the file to the photo site and link to there (give the full address (URL) of the photo). The address must be like say Daves for the Curzon:

http://www.liverpoolpictorial.co.uk/curzonoldswan.jpg

Using one of these free photo sites also gives you backup in case your disk

crashes.

Jaw Dropping!
Philip, you are a star Mate!

Thanks

That colour postcard of the Hippodrome is brilliant :celb (23):



I remember that cinema well.

CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save the historic Woolton cinema have issued an 11th-hour appeal for donations.

more (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpoolecho/news/echonews/tm_headline=last%2Dditch-appeal-in-bid-to-save-city-cinema-%26method=full%26objectid=180

52129%26siteid=50061-name_page.html)

Hope it stays, I want

to go to it sometime!:PDT_Piratz_26:

REYNOLDS WAXWORKS

12 Lime Street, Liverpool

1

Reynolds Exhibition can lay claim to being the first establishment in Liverpool to regularly show films. It wasn't exclusively a cinema as

the place was a Waxworks, which had opened about 1858.
Freaks were also frequently put on show.
Reynolds Waxworks showed its first films on

the 31 December 1896, and "The Wonderful Animatoscope Living Pictures" stayed for one week.
Films ("The Cinematograph") returned to Reynolds Exhibition

on 10 May 1897. (They were given equal star billing with "THE LIVING DOLL. A human atom!" This was a 17 months old baby, twelve inches high and weighing

only 22 ounces.) The films then stayed for 19 weeks until 18 September, and it is this period which qualifies Reynolds as Liverpool's earliest (albeit

part-time) film venue.
Films were not to return to Reynolds again for a number of years, but they were a regular fixture by 1910.



"Weekly Courier" 26 March 1910. (Extract).
“The (waxworks) gallery was founded by Alfred Reynolds, the father of the present proprietor, Charles

Reynolds, and the building, with its extensive ramifications, floors and nooks, was originally designed as a temple of Masonry (a Masonic Hall). When it was

nearly ready for occupation a hitch in the negotiations resulted in a dispute, of which Alfred Reynolds took quick advantage, came to terms with the

builders, and speedily opened his "gallery".”

Liverpool Echo, 17 Dec. 1920.
"This morning there has been a deal over Reynolds's

Waxworks, which has changed hands, and will be modernised by Mr Fred Parker, who has left the City Picture House (which was then renamed the Futurist), and

has taken this show-piece."

Photo dated Aug 1921 shows Reynolds Exhibition for sale.

In 1921 - while the

Waxworks was still functioning - there were two separate proposals to convert the building into a cinema. Nothing came of either scheme, and Reynolds

Waxworks was closed in 1922.
In March 1923 the contents of Reynolds Waxwork Exhibition were sold by auction (by Turner and Sons). It was said

that more interest was shown in the costumes than the personalities they represented. Liverpool never did have another Waxworks.
The premises were

reopened in 1924 as Reynolds Billiard Hall, with tables on the upper two floors. The ground floor was used as a tea room, which became the Empress Chinese

Restaurant in the 1950s. The second floor billiard hall reopened as the Marionette Ballroom about 1945, with the first floor continuing as a billiard hall.

Everything closed in 1964 when the building was demolished along with the surrounding property for the Ravenscroft Scheme (St John's Centre).

All the

photos are from the Liverpool Record Office.
The last two also appear in Freddy O'Connor's book "A Pub On Every Corner", Volume

1.



Thank you so much for this! I have only just noticed it on here....it's inspirational in this day and age that somebody can go to

so much trouble for someone else, purely for selfless reasons....

"Another successful cinematographer was Mr. Monti [sic] Williams [James

Monte], who on Westminster Bridge, with his Eragraph camera made by Haydon and Urry, broke all records for the Diamond Jubilee picture of Queen

Victoria by showing it on the same night at the London Pavilion Music Hall for Mr. Felix Glenister, who had an Eragraph projector installed under the

direction of Signor Polverina and Mr. Fred Griffiths. This film was developed and printed at Islington, and the print was dried on top of a horse-cab on its

journey to the theatre. So great was their enthusiasm that the audience with one accord rose and sang 'God Save the Queen,' and insisted on the film being

shown once again. This was not so simple a task as it is now; the film, after showing, was allowed to drop loosely into a basket as there were then no

restrictions from the London County County Council. . . . A second print of this film was also made and wound upon a drying fame, and while still wet was

dispatched by train to Liverpool, where, upon its arrival, it was shown by Mrs. Reynolds at her then famous Waxworks Show in Lime Street at 4 o'clock on the

following morning before a large audience, which had waited all night, and after the first screening went delirious with amazement and delight. The film had

to be shown four times." ("Filming the Diamond Jubilee: A Popular Exhibit," [I]The Times, April 9, 1935, p 19)

From

website on Haydon and Urry Ltd., Makers of the Eragraph Projector & Suppliers to the Fairground Showmen (http://users.nwon.com/pauline/Films.html)

.........

fantastic stuff!
really grateful for your help.
where do you get your info

from?
central library?

........

wow, that is so cool
it all just

fascinates me!
building up quite a collection of Liverpool books myself.
Which is great :)

I love it too. Local history is

fascinating. I've been collecting stuff for years and have a few folders full of cuttings and pictures.
The likes of this forum is fantastic for

swapping info.

Brilliant ! :) :)

..........

yeah the clearance centre is great :)
reid of liverpool on mount pleasant is a treasure trove though! a little expensive, but well worth a treat every pay day!
I used to do research for Liverpool Architecture and Design Trust and spend my days in the archives in central library...what an ideal job!
I held the original book by Dr Solomon in my hands....sigh....he is another one that fascinates me.... old Balm of Gilead inventor....

That's OK, MissInformed.
I've written histories of all Liverpool's cinemas, but somebody else managed to get his book published first,

Is that 'Picture Palaces of Liverpool' by Harold Ackroyd? That's an excellent book.

1966 photo from "Ainscough's Liverpool".

The Mardi was 212 years old when the pict was taken. It was demolished around 1974/75, being 225 years old when demolished. Criminal. Look what they put in its oplace - a multi floor car park.

We have a multi floor car park on the 1700s Kings Dock too, and one on the quays at the early 1800s Princes Dock.

Liverpool still has not grown up, it still has not realised that cars come way down the list. Still very third world in its outlook.

........

Does anyone have any pics of the inside of the Gaumont Cinema on Park Road?

great pictures sir

thank you

Hi Philip

Good information and fine photographs. Thank you, Philip!

Chris

PhilipG,
Nice piece, thank you.

SEFTON PICTUREDROME

461* Smithdown Road, Liverpool 15
*(The registered address was 459/461. The cinema itself was No 461).

Opened November 1909

The premises are first listed in the 1894 Street Directory, and were then occupied by Joseph Dunn, a car proprietor. (Car Proprietors were people who had horse-drawn carriages, and/or wagons, for hire). Louise Dunn (Joseph's widow?), a car proprietress, is then listed as the occupant until the 1899 Directory.
By 1899 the site was stables for the Corporation Tramways, and was called "Croxteth Mews". It was described thus in "Liverpool Transport", Vol. 1, by J.B. Horne & T.B. Maund:
"There were certainly stables here and probably a bus shed also. For some years after the horse buses finished the Corporation had a cash office on the site, part of which became a fire station in 1906. The site was freehold and occupied 1210 square yards."

By 1907, John Ansonia & Co. Ltd, Motor Bus proprietors, used the building as a garage. They ran a bus service between the nearby Brook House pub and Woolton, but this stopped in January 1909.
The building was converted into a cinema for the Weisker Brothers. They had leased the premises, and were pioneers in the business of showing films. The former stables reopened in November 1909 (not 1911 as stated elsewhere) as the Sefton Park Picturedrome, with a horses head on the frontage to remind patrons of its former use. (The head is still there.) Apart from being one of Liverpool's first cinemas, it was also probably the smallest with only 275 seats. The first manager (and Licensee) from 23 November 1909 until 1911 was Charles Morrison Riby. In May 1911 he became the manager of the brand-new Birkenhead Picturedrome.

Following Government legislation in December 1909 which had resulted in the introduction of "The Cinematograph Act", 11 January 1910 was the first date that cinema licenses were issued in Liverpool. Premises wanting to show films could not then do so without a cinema licence. Before that date only a music licence was needed (for the piano, or orchestra. The licence issued in November 1909 was for Music only). The Sefton Picturedrome (as it was officially called) was one of 18 Liverpool premises to be granted a cinematograph licence on 11 January 1910.
In 1911 the Weisker Brothers were still the Lessees with Harry Hunter being the Manager (until about 1915). Performances were twice nightly, at 7 and 9, and Matinees were held every day at 3. Afternoon tea was served at all Matinees free of charge to adults in the Tip-up seats (the more expensive ones). There was also "a cosy waiting room provided in Lidderdale Road for Patrons, hence no standing in the cold or wet".
By 1915 the name had been simplified to the Sefton Picturedrome, and it was about this time that the proprietor became A. Sydney, with the lessee and manager being somebody called Nahpthali J. Price, who held the position for about two years.

During 1918 the cinema was enlarged to incorporate 2 garages at the rear. The seating capacity was increased from 275 to 452, and the projection room (behind the horse's head) was enlarged. The work was officially recorded as starting in February 1918 and finishing in August 1918, and was described as an "extensive alteration". The Lessee and Manager of the cinema was then William John Hughes, who ran the cinema until 1928.
In advertisements in one of Liverpool's newspapers, the "Evening Express" in 1922, it was the "Sefton Picture House. The Little House with the Big Reputation".

The Cameo opened in 1926, and the Plaza opened in 1928. Both cinemas were about one mile away, one to the east, and the other to the west of the Sefton. All three were to become Gaumont British (GB) houses.

In March 1928 the Sefton was one of nine Liverpool cinemas to be taken over by Denman Picture Houses, soon to be part of Gaumont-British. Seven of the cinemas were the T.H. Hughes circuit, and the eighth was from the New Century circuit. It isn't clear where the Sefton came from. Presumably W.J. Hughes was related to T.H. Hughes, and it was allied to that circuit. It must have been part of a job-lot because it was the first of the nine properties GB decided to close. This they did in 1929, before they closed the Century in Mount Pleasant and the Dingle Picturedrome, both in 1930. Miss Nellie Hewitt was the last manager of the Sefton, and when it closed she became the manager of the Rivoli in Aigburth Road for a year or so.

It has been said that the building became a penny-bazaar after it closed as a cinema. Perhaps it did, but I haven't been able to find any hard proof. The ledgers of the Building Surveyor's Department record the "Conversion of Cinema into Garage" and this work was carried out during November/December 1935. During the last war it was occupied by "Llama Ltd" who were manufacturers of knitted goods. They were there until the 1950s (ie from c1942 to at least 1952).
"Handyman's Supermarkets Ltd" had the building by 1961 (perhaps earlier) and they are still there (2006).
At some stage what had been the screen end of the building was demolished (after it had ceased to be a cinema), presumably when the school in Lidderdale Road was extended to occupy the demolished part of the former cinema. The building is once again about the same size it was when it opened as a cinema in 1909, and from the street (apart from the plate-glass window) it probably looks very much like it ever did.

In February 1922 plans were submitted of a 2,000 seat cine-variety theatre which it was proposed to build directly opposite the Sefton Picturedrome, on the corner of Gorsebank Road and next door to St Columba's Church. The applicant was a John Morris Griffith who lived in Sydenham Avenue. The architects, Rees & Holt, had drawn up the plans, and there was a garage on the site. Mr Griffith withdrew his application in March, and submitted amended plans in June 1922 of a smaller cinema, with 1,500 seats, again designed by Rees & Holt. This was never built, and there is still a garage on the site. Mr Griffith had just been responsible for the building of the Trocadero cinema in the City Centre. It was Liverpool's largest cinema when it opened in April 1922. It too was designed by Rees & Holt.

There was another unrealised project for a cinema close to the former Sefton - in June 1936. It was to be on the corner of Smithdown Road and Greenbank Road and was designed by A. Ernest Shennan for Bedford Cinemas (1928) Ltd. There would have been a total of 1,960 seats. The building would also contain an organ, a Tea Room & Lounge on the first floor, and a car park. It was to cost £50,000. In May 1937 it was recorded that there were no objections to the cinema, and that the plans had been passed, but in November 1937 it was recorded: "(that) as six months has now elapsed, I write to say that the erection of this cinema has not yet been commenced." The Mabel Fletcher Technical College, Greenbank Annexe was built on the site. In 1999 that building was empty and for sale. More recently a Tesco Express store and a couple of other shops have been built on the site.

The B&W photo is the earliest I have ever seen of this building.
It's early 1970s, and is from the Liverpool Record Office.
The others were taken today (26 Nov).

Not far from my house.:PDT_Aliboronz_24:

I go to Tesco too much.

I took a pic of this building before it was re-painted (to send to Toxteth.net). It looks near identical to the B+W pic from the 1970's. I'll post it here when I reduce its' size a bit...probably tomorrow. Apart from the modern lampost, this could be from anytime in the previous 30+ years.

.........

@PhilipG I'm only tinkering with Flickr at the moment but some pics are at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25632502@N00/

Re: cinemas...didn'nt the Rivoli (Aigburth rd) show movies in its' post-theatre days?

Here's one of the Jamesy which I think is from the Library records archive site

........

Re: cinemas...didn'nt the Rivoli (Aigburth rd) show movies in its' post-theatre days?


Where was that?

........

I took a pic of this building before it was re-painted (to send to Toxteth.net). It looks near identical to the B+W pic from the 1970's. I'll post it here when I reduce its' size a bit...probably tomorrow. Apart from the modern lampost, this could be from anytime in the previous 30+ years.


I may have missed this but what is the horse's head building going to be used for now that it has been rehabbed?

Chris

[.........

The Rivoli has been the 'Grace Family Church' for a few years. This was the church of Anthony Walker before he was killed.
The date stone states 1889 AD

I'll take a close-up of the Smithdown road Horse head next time I'm around ...there's only a few 'beast heads' still around (the horse at Sefton Park Mews and the Garston sheep head are others)

........

The wood panels have lasted a long time, eh. I passed there the other day but it was pouring down so I didn't take a pic. The top half had been painted, but the bottom half of the building looked untouched. All the scaffolding had been removed. The horse head looked nice. I'll get a pic soon of it looking brand new.

Philip, I was driving from Huyton through Dovecot, citybound having just passed the old Page Moss terminus and where the Eagle & Child used to be (many a fight gone on in there if folklore is to be believed)

I think it is East Prescot road. I saw this massive Art Deco Cinema type building on my left which now has the sign Dovecot Academy on the front. Looking up I noticed that the two faces, the happy one and sad one associated with theatres was set in stone. A magnificent building, do you know the one i'm on about, i'm sure you will or someone on here will.

There's also a great row of shops on a curve, again very art deco with a clock tower. I suppose the locals don't even notice these buildings but I thought they were so full of character as oppossed to what came later.

That's the one Philip. It doesn't half go far back as well. Look at that washing hanging out, very tenementesque.

Just along from the old Granada is the Mecca Bingo - a new purpose-built hall.
I take it the club moved here from the old Granada.

The funniest thing about this is that right opposite the new hall is 'Gala Close' and of course Gala are a rival bingo operator.

This is just a little observation I made the other day. :)

Philip,

Do you have any pictures of the Cinema on Paddington in Edge Hill??

.......

Philip. You mentioned on the other thread that 46 would have been on the right. Wouldn't it have been on the left?

........

You've got some great pics and info there Philip. Pity you didn't get a chance to get your Cinema book out, especially as you say there are some misquotes and omissions of pics in the one that came out.

Phil, the picture of the old Adelphi, did you scan it in? If so, is there any chance you could post a higher resolution copy?

14th January 2007.

Woolton Picture House.

http://www.liverpoolviews.co.uk/citysouth/woolcine/bwc1401078.jpg

http://www.liverpoolviews.co.uk/citysouth/woolcine/bwc14010710.jpg

Somerfield (Abbey Cinema), Church Road North

[..........

PhilipG, any chance you might know what year the Cabbage Hall cinema (now the LFC supporters club) was built?
Also, any info on an old cinema that my great grandmother used to go to on Utting ave. I can't think of the name. It might be where Taskers Sports shop is now. That shop looks like it could have been a former picture house.
Do you know it?

Lindy it was called The Ritz-opened 16th March 1929

Brilliant ! Thanks Gnomie.

My granmother used to tell me how her mother would put on her hat and gloves and take a walk down to the Ritz to see a film .. I remember the name now that you've reminded me. :handclap:

Imagine how in those days (1920s) the women would wear hat & gloves to go to the cinema. :) :)

[.........

The Bedford Walton off County road.

http://h1.ripway.com/andalucia/bedford.jpg

Bedford.

http://h1.ripway.com/andalucia/bedford2.jpg

The Carlton Green Lane Tuebrook.

http://h1.ripway.com/andalucia/carlton.jpg

The Curzon Old Swan.

http://h1.ripway.com/andalucia/curzon.jpg

The Gaumont Anfield.

http://h1.ripway.com/andalucia/gaumont.jpg

The Gosvenor Stanley Road

http://h1.ripway.com/andalucia/grosvenor.gif

The Olympia West Derby Road.

http://h1.ripway.com/andalucia/olympia.jpg

...........

Demolish the Bedford - no bloomin way. how could they pull down such a great building:disgust:

.........

Well i hope it gets saved.

Keep us posted Philip.

Thanks for the info Gnomie and Philip.

That's a great picture of the Olympia - you can see what a fine building it is from that view standing back from it.

The Bedford looks like it's been a lovely place in it's day. I've passed it many times but not taken too much notice. Now I've seen it here, I realise that it's very nice and must be saved.

The Gaumont in Anfield - I was nearly born in there !! My mum was watching a film there and went into labour ! :shock: :D

Philip, approx a couple of years back the Gaumont (or Lighthouse as it's now known) held a community open-day and showed old film footage of some of the old cinemas and also some history of the Anfield and Everton/Breckfield area. Did you attend by any chance ? I can't remember the date but it was in the summertime I think. Thought that maybe all cinema buffs would be interested.

I was there with my mum, We listened to some interesting tales and memories from the older folks about the old days.
We should have spoken up and said that I was almost born in that cinema, but we were too shy ! :) :)

.......

Thanks Philip :handclap:

did you have a coffee and a snack afterwards ? We might have been at the same table. :) :)

.......

Just over the road from The Curzon in Old Swan is what looks like another old cinema. The only other cinema I can see listed for Old Swan is The Regent so it could be that. I'll have to go back in daylight to get better photo's...

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j248/itsmma/DSCF0677.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j248/itsmma/DSCF0675-1.jpg

........

Ta Phil.

Don't forget to have a look at http://rosscampbell.fotopic.net

I've added a few more this last couple of weeks, hopefully get more on soon.

It's just trying to find a day off work an shoot all over the place.

Thanks for posting the Gaumont pics Philip. You're a marvel what you come up with :handclap: :handclap: ... all I need now is for you to magic up a pic of the old Cabbage Hall. :D

........

I've said this before, but I really want to see the ABC in Lime Street brought back into use.

This would be great for '08. It's nine years this month since the cinema closed and externally the building looks fine.

I'd love to see the inside of this place. What could be done with it?

A nice sports bar? Quite possible.
Some sort of cinema museum? Seems very unlikely but I'd love it
A small casino / arcade? Nice idea - the one at Queen Sq. is good though.

With the big '08 banner, it's easy to forget about the architectural beauty of the former Forum / ABC.

........

.........

That banner is disgusting.
Capital of Culture indeed! :disgust: :disgust: :disgust:
The ABC is a Listed Building, and if we can't see the interior, we should at least be allowed to see the exterior.


That's gonna be our Capital of Culture surprise. They'll take the banner off like a red curtain revealing our 'new building for 2008', hoping we'd all forgotten it was behind the banner. LOL :)

Thanks to everyone who has posted pictures of the old Cinemas in Liverpool, they bring back so many great memories:)

I've said this before, but I really want to see the ABC in Lime Street brought back into use.

This would be great for '08. It's nine years this month since the cinema closed and externally the building looks fine.

I'd love to see the inside of this place. What could be done with it?



There are some photos inside the ABC in 2006 here: http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=4651

[........

Yes, that's very true. They're interesting photos, though I'm not sure I approve of the way they were obtained.

The Odeon On Allerton used to be the ABC too.

Last film I remember seeing In the ABC On Lime Street was Waynes World 2.:celb (6):

Might of been the Nutty Professor though.

I deffo saw WW2 there though.

This is where we came in, Lindy! :celb (23):
I've never seen any pics of the Cabbage Hall before it was altered.

Yes, I remember. :) No pictures of the old Cabby. :sad:

Yes, that's very true. They're interesting photos, though I'm not sure I approve of the way they were obtained.

I had a look at those pics too.

What a terrible waste and such a shame to leave that cinema like that.
The Futurist over the road is the same - but probably in a much worse state -as Philip said.

It will be a crime if they take away the ABC. Surely they wouldn't !! ??

(nothing would surprise me tho' ) :disgust:

I wouldn't mind taking pics like they did but I'd have to make sure the Bizzies didn't see an open door.

It's interesting that they say the building is secure. :disgust:
Obviously not secure enough! :eek:
They broke in - that's obvious by the fact that the only illumination is from the camera's flash, and they hide their faces.
Besides, if you read through the thread, they admit as much.
If they can get in, anybody can, and you only have to consider the Futurist over the road where the interior is wrecked so completely that the building will have to be demolished.
And that was caused more by intruders than by the weather.
I have to say, comments like this piss me off, as they're often attributed to my own explores.

I can assure you 100% that these people didn't break in. The reason it took them so long to get in there is because they were not prepared to break in. And when have you ever seen my face? If you look at any of the 100s of explores on that forum documented by me, you won't find my face on any of them. Purely because if people are going to start making unresearched accusations, it only makes things worse.

As it happens, I know the way in they took, and ingenious as it is, it DOES NOT involve criminal damage of any kind, and is not openly accessible to the public. In short, that building is as secure as it needs to be. It's extremely doubtful that anybody could get in who intends to cause the building harm.

Yes, intruders do a lot of damage in some cases, but the guy who took those pictures is a well-travelled 'explorer', and is not your average chav with a camera phone. He's taken some very good photos, is a nice guy and I resent reading stuff like that written about him. He's doing this kind of thing just like I am.

I will, however, say this: I appreciate your sentiment, and the angle you're coming from. I've stood in places and felt totally distraught surveying the debris from vandalism. Earlier this month I returned to the fantastic Tate & Lyle conveyor tower to find it ransacked. Original 1950s decore wrecked, hand painted and numbered porcelain fuses smashed, rare control panels ripped out. It's heartbreaking.

Because of this, I can understand your despair, but I have to say, that cinema is pretty bl00dy secure. I know this, as it's the reason why I (and the many others who have expressed an interest in exploring it) have been denied for so long.

In summary - that forum does not promote vandalism of any kind. It's owners and moderators are my friends, and they ruthlessly remove from it anyone who would vandalise, break, set fire or grafitti a building.

We've worked with the Police to help investigate damage to buildings (including a similar cinema burnt down in London), tried to get buildings listed and even cleaned up places we've explored. Please don't group us in with the mindless yobs who destroy our historic buildings - we're like chalk and cheese.

Excuse the rant, but I had to...

Good on yer.

Agree with Snappel about the guys from 28days (http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/index.php). None of them have bad intentions and never leave the place they visit in a worse state. Very talented people. There's very few people I'm in awe with, but most of them are over there.

However, that doesn't mean I disagree with Phil. I think Phil's moan was about the scumbags who break into places and vandalise them for their so called own enjoyment. They need clubbing like they do with seals.

Yes Dave, and I'd be happy to join in with the clubbing!

As I said, my problem is when people just assume that it's 'breaking and entering' - that's narrowmindedness, and gives us a bad name. Some people are of the opinion that without permission you should never go anywhere, but then so much would be missed.

I have a list as long as your arm of places that only got photographed prior to demolition because of 'urban explorers'. There's so much that is lost that we never realise. If the ABC is converted, who will have photos of it's interior in the final days? Likewise search on the web for photos of the inside of Stanley Dock warehouses, the Royal Infirmary, Spillers flour mill (which, as it happens, I got to a bit late), Royal Iris, Everton Library etc - you'll find most of them were taken by people like me, the cinema guy, our own scouserdave, etc!

Just because you didn't get permission, or you walked past a 'no entry' sign, it doesn't mean you vandalised, 'broke in' or otherwise damaged a property.

But I like seals.

.........

you'll find that plenty of good interior shots have already been taken, in much better lighting conditions.
Phil, you forgot to include the link to all these good interior shots that you are aware of.

Regardless of that, you still state that they 'obviously' broke in when they didn't. About 2 years ago, before I did much exploring in Liverpool, I knew loads of people who went in that cinema. For a good while, most groups of friends I had/met there was someone who'd been in there, to drink cider, mess about, whatever.

As for the photos... The guys just wanted to have a record of their exploration, they weren't out to try and win some kind of competition. Are you a pro-photographer? No? Does that mean I should criticise all of your photos, and likewise, you mine? Their photos being nothing special does not automatically justify your comments.

I wonder about this nation, I really do. All these people harking on about 'the good old days' and 'when I was a lad', but seriously the problem today is sheer stupidity, ignorant 'pigeon holeing' and a complete lack of ability to think for oneself. It doesn't just come from the kids, it comes from the older generations too - makes me wonder if half the problems are due to the kids being misunderstood... (not that I am one anymore, but I refuse to 'grow up' and stop playing in old buildings)

.......

Why didn't these "Urban Explorers" go to the closing night and take pics then?
Possibly because it wasn't closed down at the time? Just a guess.

Every weekend, thousands of people walk round the town centre, going to the same shops, the same cinemas, carrying the same crappy bags fully of crappy designer clothers and other rubbish. Tourists go to the same museums and attractions, the same hotels, the same theatres. Sports fans go to the same stadiums, the same events, the same gyms. On hand are Police to tell you if you're going somewhere you shouldn't, signs to say where you can and can't go.

Does it never get boring? Do you never get the urge to go somewhere unknown? To break away from the endless ant-trails and go somewhere interesting, where you don't know what's there?

Yes, lets go to libraries, tours, museums, 'closing nights', let's let others do the hard work.

We'll just sit here and be spoonfed.

Phil, regardless of your views, don't you even get the slightest frission of excitement when the likes of Snappel post their unique pics?

........

No, we agree on that point. It's wrong to break into a building and leave it vulnerable to whoever else wants to go in. I didn't dispute that. Rather, I resented you accusing me or my friends doing that. If you haven't understood that by now, then you never will.

As far as I know the Futurist was damaged by vandals, who probably broke in. I wanted to get in there to see it firsthand, but finding no open door or window, it wasn't possible. Hence a lack of photos/report on my website.

EDIT: Having re-read your last comment, I see that in itself is intended as an accusation. You really are an ignorant fool aren't you?

........

Clearly you don't know what the definition of 'breaking' is. Last time I went into my local Tesco I wasn't given permission, but the doors were open - I went in. Did I break in? If I'm calling you names, it's because I'm being descriptive.

You're right though - we're going round in circles and you're clutching at straws. My whole point was that you don't need permission to enter a building - British Law states as much. Who said the 'snappers' had permission - they didn't! But they didn't break in either - do you not see how that's possible? No? Then I'll say again, you're an ignorant fool. That's not name calling, that's being descriptive. Get it?

Whats happened to Dave?

Phil, regardless of your views, don't you even get the slightest frission of excitement when the likes of Snappel post their unique pics?

I find It cool that snappel gets up all those Cranes

Whats happened to Dave?



I find It cool that snappel gets up all those Cranes

He sure does, and never breaks into cranes :celb (23):
Iam new to this forum, but my opinion is with out UE,s many places would
be converted, knocked down etc without any documentation of what they
looked like. ABC Lime St, have you tried to get permission to photo inside ?,
I did and was told not a chance, like many places.A lot of the damage is caused by people stealing things, arson, flooding etc, but also by the owners
themselves just letting the building rot. Anyway nthat is my 2d,s worth.
Back on topic has anyone found a pic of the old Cabbage Hall Cinema prior
to LFC supporters club takeover. My grandmother, Gladys Knibb, was in the
ticket box there for many years and I remember going on a Saturday armed
with a few jam jars as my entrance fee..


steveb

Seems I mixed up Scouser Dave with someone called ScouseDave.

.........

I'll put it another way. The only 'offence' they committed was trespass. This is not a criminal offence, and so is not breaking criminal law. The building did not suffer, neither did it's owners. The building is still as secure as it was before they entered. Just because you can't see the way in, it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. You are not an all-seeing eye.

If you want to persist in your accusations, then do so, but I tend to look for concrete evidence before doing so, rather than using ropey 'conspiracy theory' style assumptions ("Oh, I can't see how I could be wrong, therefore I must be right"). No wonder this World is in such a state... it's not really any different to saying someone is guilty of a crime because they look like they did it. No different to invading a country because they 'must be up to no good'. Mr Bush would love you!

The building is still as secure as it was before they entered.

But if they (and you) know that the building is not fully secure (i.e. there is a way in), why don't you let the owners know so they can make it MORE secure? That would be the responsible thing to do.

What about that one on Stanley Road Phil, a massive grey roof on it now, it's a packaging firm. Just past Bankhall.

.........

But if they (and you) know that the building is not fully secure (i.e. there is a way in), why don't you let the owners know so they can make it MORE secure? That would be the responsible thing to do.Now that's a sensible comment. The reason in my case is because I like to explore places, and I'm not going to make it impossible for others. Security of the buildings remains the responsibility of the owners.

However, if a historic building is at risk from being damaged, then it's possible I'll do this. I was, in fact, contacted recently by the owner of a building I'd explored, and was accused of breaking in. When I pointed out to the owner how I'd got in (door, wide open, hinges rusted solid and unmoved for years), the embarassment was on him. Too often building owners are blase, and don't bother to check the places for themselves.

In many cases, such as the Rover car factory, the photos being posted on the web 1) highlighted the security flaws and 2) made the owners secure the buildings properly before any damage/theft could occur.

A recent tragedy was the offices at the Coalite plant in Bolsover, where the place was wide open and the entire company archives (going back to the late 1800s) was strewn about. I contacted two local record offices, and neither were much help. I then contacted the official receivers of the company to ask for the documents, but they were less help still. Last weekend I went back, to find the offices burnt out and all the documents lost.

In short, you'll never stop the vandals. People like me will get in if there's a way, but if there isn't we stay out. A few weeks back I had friends up from the Midlands, who wanted to do Royal Insurance building and the Victoria clocktower. Both had the 'entrances' boarded up so we left disappointed, but thankful that the buildings were safe. Incidentally neither of those were vandalised during the time they were 'open'.

If vandals want to get in somewhere, they'll break a window or smash a door, lob in a petrol bomb or wreck the exterior.

(In the case of the cinema though, there is a locked door between the public and the building - the trick is finding the person with the key ;))

(In the case of the cinema though, there is a locked door between the public and the building - the trick is finding the person with the key ;))

I'm curious now! There isn't a door between the cinema and 'Worlds Apart' next door is there?

The Commodore.
Opened 1930.
I'll do some of the surviving former cinemas.
Most of the demolished ones (since 1982) are on my flickr page.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44435674@N00/sets/72157594265619936/

Have you got any pics of the Gem?


Hi
like the pic,s pity they don't show any inside shots. Still looking for pic of what the Cabbage Hall cinema looked like prior to LFC supporters club, see
my previous post

steveb

25 January.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/157/369756851_8253b5c6c0_o.jpg

My mum sends me In their from time to time.:( :(

DIY= Pure evil.

has anyone found a pic of the old Cabbage Hall Cinema prior
to LFC supporters club takeover. My grandmother, Gladys Knibb, was in the
ticket box there for many years and I remember going on a Saturday armed
with a few jam jars as my entrance fee..


steveb


it's a pity that there are no pictures available. I'd love to see the old Cabbage Hall cinema.

it's a pity that there are no pictures available. I'd love to see the old Cabbage Hall cinema.

Hi

yes there has to be at least one somewere. I will contact LFC sup club
as maybe the architect or someone has one, might ask LRO as well

steve

Perhaps if somebody can find the whereabouts of Ambler Ramsden? See post three in this thread. I know he lives in the Old Swan area.

[.........

The architect was Ernest C. Aldridge.

Hi
don't mean the architect of the origional cinema. When LFC supporters
opted to change the front, no doubt they would need planning consent, so
they would need plans to submit to the council, this is the guy I need whoever drew up the plans....

steve

...........

I gave the original architect's name because there is a chance that his family may have photos. (Only trying to help!).
Why should the architect for LFC have photos of the old cinema?
His plans would only show how the building was going to be altered.

If you are going to the LRO, it might help you to remember that that part of Lower Breck Road was called Rochester Road.

If you do find any photos, please share them.

Hi
no offence intended, many thanks. it is usual practice for architect,s to photo
stuff prior to converting whatever, sort of before and after.
OK on Rochester Road when did the name change ?.

steveb

Hi
no offence intended, many thanks. it is usual practice for architect,s to photo
stuff prior to converting whatever, sort of before and after.
steveb
Agree Steve. I've taken on a number of jobs for developers where I take shots of a building from various locations and elevations. They then get sent to the architect. In some cases, they'll superimpose renders over my image and send them to the Council for planning permission. It may also be worthwhile calling John Jacobson in the Council's Architects Department.

..........

Agree Steve. I've taken on a number of jobs for developers where I take shots of a building from various locations and elevations. They then get sent to the architect. In some cases, they'll superimpose renders over my image and send them to the Council for planning permission. It may also be worthwhile calling John Jacobson in the Council's Architects Department.

Hi
many thanks, yes I will contact the council. I have been in touch with LRO
I was just interested in when the name changed to Lower Breck, purely being
curious, or nosey :)

steveb

I don't know when the name changed, but that doesn't matter.
If you go to the Search Room in the LRO, and ask for photos of both streets, the cinema just might be seen.
Remember you'll need ID, as you'll get issued with a ticket.

Hi
thanks for the Info. As you probably known the city engineers collection
of photo,s, some 20,000 of them, are available on a CD, about £8 I think
steveb

I'm curious now! There isn't a door between the cinema and 'Worlds Apart' next door is there?

Should I take the lack of reply as a 'yes'? :)

The Paramount in Fraser Street, now the Bar De Mille and one that might interest PhilipG, The Gilmore in Manchester Street.

.........

The police investigating the explosion at the Gilmore described it as one of the biggest blow jobs they had ever seen!

:) now now boys

Hi
remember I was looking for info/pic,s of the Cabbage Hall cinema, well
update so far, no pic,s were submitted with the planning aapplication
to alter the front. I got an email from LRO saying she would send me by post
photo copies of some stuff relating to it, so watch this space

Here's some old pics u may find interesting courtesy LCC archives:

[........

Phil, are there any pics of Cinemas you are missing? It's just that I have books concerning other buildings and sometimes there's a cinema in the shot too but don't know if you've got it?

..........

There's quite a few, Ged.
Thanks for asking.

I'd love to see photos of the long-gone flea-pits, like the Princes in Granby Street, the Lytton in Lytton Street, the Coliseum in Paddington, the Kings Hall in Oakfield Road (the Gaumont was built on the site), the St James (before the front was rebuilt), the Savoy in West Derby Road, and the Picture Playhouse in Smithdown Road.
And the Cabbage Hall before it was altered for the LFC club.
So far I haven't seen any photos of any of the above which were all open by the time of WW1.

Later cinemas which have remained elusive on photos are the Walton Vale Picture House, the Popular in Netherfield Road North, the Burlington in Vauxhall Road, the West Derby Picture House, and the original front of the Ritz in Utting Avenue.

I've got photos of most of the others which I don't mind sharing.

There are other cinemas, like the Everton Palace, where the only known photo is very poor.

Central Library have a good collection of most of the 1930s cinemas.


Phil,Have you got any of The Gaiety..Spelling!!..that was on Scottie Rd please..
Or you Ged..please.

Bunked in the Odeon to see Oliver 41 Times..Thats gorra be some kinda record !!


That's because you wanted 'More'.

I'm sure Phil has and I think there are two I have, i'll post them up tonight if Phil doesn't beat me to it. I think they're in the Terry Cooke book Scotland road - my neighbourhood and Freddy O'Connor's book My city - my heritage. Gaiety is correct spelling too Gerard, my mam and dad called it the Gayo.

.........

That's because you wanted 'More'.

Ooohhhhhhhh...
:PDT_Xtremez_42:

Gerard, just tried to upload the pic but like many i've tried on here, it's so many KB which exceeds the MB for the file type for this forum.

I'll bring the pic along on sat. It was positioned on Scotland Road, almost opposite Gay Street which is how I suspect it got its name then.

IMG]http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/3269/gayokl3.th.jpg[/IMG

Just tried something there and it obviously didn't work - ay oh.

Thanks Phil and Ged for the Photos and Info.. Much Appreciated Lads.

I've never seen any photos of the Gem by anybody else.

It was a converted factory and opened in 1926 as a cinema.
It closed in 1958, and was then used as St Sylvester's Parochial Club.

The B & W photo was taken in 1982 and shows the remains of the decorative plaster.
The other was taken in 1986 and shows the blocked-up windows of the Victorian building.

It's been demolished.


:handclap: :handclap: ..Great pics Phil.

Somerfield (Abbey Cinema), Church Road North

Somerfield used to be a Cinema!:eek: :eek:

I've never seen any photos of the Gem by anybody else.

It was a converted factory and opened in 1926 as a cinema.
It closed in 1958, and was then used as St Sylvester's Parochial Club.

The B & W photo was taken in 1982 and shows the remains of the decorative plaster.
The other was taken in 1986 and shows the blocked-up windows of the Victorian building.

It's been demolished.

Went in there when it was 'Sillies' - Great pics, even if they're not the classic picture house type building.

.........

I've just been told that the Woolton is to reopen.
I've no further details at the moment.
Does anybody know if it's been mentioned in the local papers?

The article was in the Daily Post on Monday or Tuesday of this week.

Somerfield used to be a Cinema!:eek: :eek:

Yeah, I went there to see 'The Greatest Story Ever Told' :)

The article was in the Daily Post on Monday or Tuesday of this week.

From the Liverpool Echo online. Historic cinema is saved from the axe - February 20th 2007 (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpoolecho/news/echonews/tm_headline=historic-cinema-is-saved-from-the-axe%26method=full%26objectid=18647264%26siteid=500 61-name_page.html)

From the Liverpool Echo online. Historic cinema is saved from the axe - February 20th 2007 (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpoolecho/news/echonews/tm_headline=historic-cinema-is-saved-from-the-axe%26method=full%26objectid=18647264%26siteid=500 61-name_page.html)

This is very good news, makes a change for a building to be saved
and not Tescoised......

Anyone got any photo's of the one in Waterloo ? I know thats become a bit of a save our cinema project for quite a few years now. Nice to see it's still open, well it was last time I was down that way

Thanks Phil, thats the place.

I spent many a day in there watching the jungle book or herbie goes bananas. I think my auntie really liked them and wanted an excuse to go see them every year. lol

..........

.....and how do you know about them? <smiley of finger tapping bod>

..........

..........

........

Any north-enders remember the Regent in Crosby? On Crosby Road opposite the end of Endbutt Lane. It became a bingo hall years ago, and still was the last time I passed that way.

We queued up for two hours to see Cliff in 'Summer Holiday' there!

Just a brief mention of the "Adult" cinemas in Liverpool.

The Jacey in Clayton Square (1963 to 1972), formerly the News Theatre and Prince of Wales. The Jacey was technically still a "proper" cinema rather than the other four listed here where you had to be a member.

The Tatler Cinema Club, later Eros Cinema Club in London Road (1969 to 1983), formerly the Essoldo and Kings, and various other names.

The Tatler Cinema Club in Church Street (1969 to 1972). This was the famous Tatler Cartoon Cinema.

Converted premises were the Gilmore Cinema Club in Manchester Street (late 1970s to 1985) and the Adult Book Centre Cinema Club in Sweeting Street (early 1980s).
Were't there 2 adult cinemas in London Roas? Sure I remember passing one next door to the hamburger bar that exploded? Where the 'container shops' are now. The other one you show in the pic was next to or close to Harris's (best toy shop ever!) toys wasn't it? Remember walking past on the way into town from Kenny.

I remember a cinema on West Derby Road (opposite Ogdens) but can not remember the name of it.
The Hippadrome comes to mind but I am not sure.
Phredd

........

That would be the Palladium.
There's pics of it on page 1 of this thread (#16).
The Hippodrome was nearer Town, next to Gregson's Well.

Missed them on page 1 = thought they were avatars lol.
Thanks for that. I had them both the otherway round.

Thanks Philip

........

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

Bernard Fallows' website (http://www.bernardfallon.com/photo/Liverpool%20Home.html) is up and running including the images used in the exhibition.

Here's one of the Jacey
http://www.bernardfallon.com/photo/The%20Images_files/LP-40-24-JaceyNativity-FINA.jpg

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.

The above cinema was indeed in Victoria Road, New Brighton...

Known as 'The Trocadero', this cinema opened on 1st June 1922 and closed suddenly on 22nd September 1956 with only a few days warning.

I have a book - THE SILVER SCREENS OF WIRRAL, published 1990 which says that 'The Troc' now serves as a supermarket. I would say that it was demolished in the early to mid nineties. It certainly does not remain to this day.

.........

Went to see the good the bad and the ugly there when it first came out.
Thought we were cool in our Ben shermans and comos shoes.

We were cool JOHNO and I saw the same film at the same cinema. spooky:cool:

........

Fantastic to see!! :handclap: I always said I was going to go there and never ever got the chance. No excuse now!! :celb (23):

Incidentally Phil, do you have any pictures of the Albany/Astra in Maghull? Loved that place as a lad. Distraught when it came down. When was it knocked down?

Thanks pal! Some great memories of that place... :tear:

According to Warren Bradley on Radio City last night, the East side of Lime st from next door to the Crown to next door to the Vines is not being demolished as previously reported on here. He said the council or English heritage to own most of that side including the 2 cinemas are looking at doing it up. He slated the shop owners on the Concourse House frontage though regarding the cpo delays, saying he thought they'd been offered adequate prices/re-locations (but if the Edge Lane residents are anything to go by what is adequate in his mind and theirs is obviously different...)

Nice touch:)
Queen crowns reopening of famous old cinema

"A RED carpet, the National Anthem and The Queen all made for a real sense of occasion as Woolton Cinema reopened its doors to the public last night.

Guest of honour was the venue’s very own honorary monarch – Beatrice McKenzie, an 84-year-old resident of the village who has been going to the cinema since its very beginning in the 1920s."
[More] (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/entertainment/previewsandreviews/tm_headline=queen-crowns-reopening-of-famous-old-cinema&method=full&objectid=18830883&siteid=50061-name_page.html)

..........

...........

The ABC Lime St. got a brief mention in the Liverpool Echo (p14 31/3/2007)
Just a bit of waffle about it getting interest from 20 developers...officials offered a "blank canvas", whatever that means. It did mention that they had toured the building.

[..........

That's a good un'.

The Regent, Old Swan.



This is also Old Swan. any idea what it was? just checking in case it has Cinema links.

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Cheers Phil. A dole omg i was way off:)

Post your pics anyway, more the better.

Tony.

Thanks for all the pic,s and Info. I still have not found any pic,s of the
Cabbage Hall Cinema prior to LFC supporters club buying it. I have very few
details of it. I have tried the records office, no photo,s, LFC museum no info
city planning dept, city architects dept and loads of cinema groups both in the UK and worldwide, not a thing. Maybe one of the new members has a pic
It is very strange that no photo,s seem to exist

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I love these pics, well done Phil :handclap:

I think i have one of the Carlton in Tuebrook somewhere.

Here you go

The Carlton.

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Yes Phil, a dog's dinner of a mess now. You can just make a bit of it out as the Derby here. It's now Coynes and my mam and dad were buried from there. The pic is by Brian Martin. You can hear an ex resident of Wilbraham House (which is next door) talking about the penny matinees in there (when it was the Derby of course - not Coynes :unibrow: )

Thanks for the info, Yes I remember the Carlton and bowling alley, used to
got there a lot, don't know if it is true or not but I heard that EMI still own
the Carlton. Iam surprised no one has been inside it as unlike the bowling alley
it seems in tact

Unfortunately, it's not that strange.
Apart from the "Super" cinemas of the 1930s they were rarely photographed when they were actually operating as cinemas.
I'll try and compile a list of photos of pre 1930 Liverpool cinemas that I've seen (when they were cinemas).
There won't be many!

OK Phil, thanks. As I have said before I used to live in Winchester Rd which
is just round the corner from Lower Breck/Rochester Rd, and my Granny used
to work the ticket box in the "Cabby".

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

Brilliant pic phil. i never saw it like that.

American werewolf . cool:)

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Great pic of The Carlton, Phil. It was our local despite living in Canny. Never called it the ABC, so I reckon The Carlton name just stuck after 1963. Can't remember the last film I saw there, I was in London by the time American Werewolf in London came out. Most memorable film I saw in The Carlton was Clockwork Orange, not only for the subject matter, but also because I had my first Kentucky Fried Chicken meal afterwards, purchased nearby on West Derby Road.:)

The Futurist as she is today.
http://www.militaryimages.net/imagehost/images/dronepilot/futurist.jpg

Nice pic Drone

I heard all that block is to be knocked down. is this true? if so what are they putting there.

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I came upon this website and thread earlier today (or was it yesterday now!) and have found myself saddened as well as delighted to hear people talking about the wonderful picturehouses that used to populate our fabulous (!?) city! It seems amazing to me that so little interest is shown by the powers that be (oh how we hate and despise them.............) in these extraordinary places of specific community and public importance. I know that the age of the tv has altered the way that we see films, along with the advent of the video and now the dvd, but even so, surley they are more than worth celebrating and preserving for historic as well as architectural reasons?

I remember the Hippodrome, and the cinemas on Aigburth Road so well, as well as the Gaumont in Dingle, and I seem to remember there was one in Garston?

Also, the mention of the Tatler was special, as when I was a child of course I was not allowed to go there........ Then there was the Palladium on Fraser Street, now the Bar de Mille. I remember my mother and father going to see a "significant" Brigitte Bardot x-rated film there, I think it was "And God Created Woman", and after mother telling me how sad she was I wasn't allowed to go with them, because the support was a film of Picasso painting on glass viewed from below so you saw the whole process! I eventually saw it about 20 something years later, after I had been to Art College - it is stunning!

I haven't seen any mention of the cinemas on Walton Road. Have I missed it by skimming through the thread or does noone remember the Astoria near Everton Valley, (which was only knocked down about two years ago, I think???), and the Victoria, I think it was, on the other side further along towards Spellow Lane, and there was another one, the name of which is escaping me at the moment.

Although I was brought up in Speke, my grandparents lived off Walton Lane and the three cinemas on Walton Road were regular haunts of my childhood.

Anyone know anything about them?

Fxx

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Hi Philip,

Thank you for that. It's funny but as woke up this morning, I thought "the other one was the Queens"!! And there is your reply with it in!

No, I wasn't thinking of the Tatler. What was the one on one of the other streets off London Road, linked to the Continental on the Wirral - think it had been a theatre too, started by a famous British actor?? If I don't think about it it will come back to me!

Felicity

Felicity. You're either thinking of the Shakespeare theatre, Fraser Street or the Gaumont, Camden street.

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this is a brilliant thread.

I have a photo somewhere of the opening night of the film 'The Ghost Train' starring Arthur Askey, and I am sure it is the Odeon Cinema on London Road, I can't remember now.

I will get it up in the next few days.

Hello Felicity and welcome to the forum.

If you follow the link to my flickr page, below, you'll see a set of "Demolished Cinemas" and a set of "Former Cinemas: Still with us" where some of the ones you mention are featured.
However, I haven't got photos of either the Queens or the Victory (both in Walton Road).
I think you've got the building in Fraser Street mixed up with the Tatler in London Road.
The Fraser Street building was only offices for the Paramount Film Company.


The Paramount building on Fraser St..Now a Kurdish restaraunt.
This photo was taken on the site of the Gaumont picture house on Camden St.


http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/gedfleming/ANY%20PHOTOS/DSC01422.jpg

The Odeon London Rd.
This was taken outside what was the Gaumont main entrance on Camden St.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/gedfleming/ANY%20PHOTOS/DSC01428.jpg

[..........

Thanks, Gerard.
I don't like the way they've mucked up the windows.

Your welcome Phil mate..I dont like the way they closed the Bar De Mille !!..Lol.

(EDITED) ..Sorry Phil..its been a Kurdish restaurant about a 6/8weeks..
Im not sure if its open yet.

The Carlton opened in 1932.
Architect: A E Shennan.
Lords), the rest of the complex is now derelict.

April 1982.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/234/449439872_909de9df70_o.jpg

You may laugh at this question Phil as you may have churned out hundreds already (and in which case, it'll be a massive DOH to me) but have you ever thought of writing a book on Liverpool Cinema's? You have some amazing pics!!

You may laugh at this question Phil as you may have churned out hundreds already (and in which case, it'll be a massive DOH to me) but have you ever thought of writing a book on Liverpool Cinema's? You have some amazing pics!!


Fantastic photo Phil...Well said Jona Lad..Get that book out Phil.

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That's a sore point, Jona! :PDT_Piratz_26:

Harold Ackroyd & I were both in the library at the same time researching cinemas, and the staff told him about me, and told me about him, so I always thought he rushed his book out.
I still want to do something about the earlier cinemas because he made a lot of mistakes.
(Let him sue me!) :eek:


Yeahh thats the attitude Phil Lad...Mother F@)&^% !!

That's a sore point, Jona! :PDT_Piratz_26:

Harold Ackroyd & I were both in the library at the same time researching cinemas, and the staff told him about me, and told me about him, so I always thought he rushed his book out.
I still want to do something about the earlier cinemas because he made a lot of mistakes.
And he could have included much more pictures.
(Let him sue me!) :eek:

Just because there is one book Phil (well 2 I think, but just an update) don't let that stop you! You have fantastic info and pics. There are tons of books on most subjects.... what counts is that they are informative and correct!

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That's a sore point, Jona! :PDT_Piratz_26:

Harold Ackroyd & I were both in the library at the same time researching cinemas, and the staff told him about me, and told me about him, so I always thought he rushed his book out.
I still want to do something about the earlier cinemas because he made a lot of mistakes.
And he could have included much more pictures.
(Let him sue me!) :eek:

Go for it mate! As long as you don't have to prove endless copyright issues and you know for certain that your photo's are your own and all the copyright legal stuff is OK'd by whoever's info you are using then if you can't join em, beat em!

There has been one book about the Williamson Tunnels which was truly bad and written on little more than hearsay, another one is due out by a founder member of one society, and Jona is in the middle of writing THE book which has all the real information from verified sources, pictures of all the area and about 4 portraits of Williamson himself :PDT11

I haven't seen any mention of the cinemas on Walton Road. Have I missed it by skimming through the thread or does noone remember the Astoria near Everton Valley, (which was only knocked down about two years ago, I think???), and the Victoria, I think it was, on the other side further along towards Spellow Lane, and there was another one, the name of which is escaping me at the moment.

The Astoria was a wonderful-looking building,I was very sad to see it go. I wrote off to try and get it listed but to no avail. Oh well...

Dave.

Can anyone help me out, I seem to remember a cinema in the early 70's in Liverpool I think it was in the James street area (I may be wrong) all it showed was cartoons, Thanks.

Can anyone help me out, I seem to remember a cinema in the early 70's in Liverpool I think it was in the James street area (I may be wrong) all it showed was cartoons, Thanks.

Not thinking of the Tatler are you ?

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

Thanks for the info.

That's a sore point, Jona! :PDT_Piratz_26:

Harold Ackroyd & I were both in the library at the same time researching cinemas, and the staff told him about me, and told me about him, so I always thought he rushed his book out.
I still want to do something about the earlier cinemas because he made a lot of mistakes.
And he could have included much more pictures.
(Let him sue me!) :eek:

Go for it Phil

I love taking pics of old cinemas, i know nowt about them but i love the buildings. your input here has been an education to me and i thank you for it mate.

Smashing pic of the Astoria. It certainly was a fine building.
We'll never see the likes of cinemas like that again.

Sorry if this has been said, but does anyone know when the Cameo Cinema was demolished?
Also, does anyone have any pics? Other than the black and white one that is often shown.

Unfortunately, some of his mistakes have become "Facts".
He says the Woolton Cinema opened on Boxing Day, 1927, because an old lady told him she thought it opened then.
There is now a plaque on the building with that date, and they're going to have an 80th birthday this Boxing Day.
I've told them it can't have opened before 28 January 1928 because that was the day it got its "Ingress and Egress" certificate.
That's to do with the number of entrances and exits, and it wouldn't have been allowed to open before then.

But will they listen to me?
Will they hecky thump!
You see, they've got a date to latch on to, and I can't give them another.

I would certainly buy a book about cinemas in Liverpool - especially if it had lots of pictures of the interior/exterior of the buildings and provided information about what films were popular at what time and something about the cultural relevance of cinema in Liverpool plus information about movies shot in or featuring Liverpool and Liverpudlian film actors etc. In other words a wider canvas, not just pictures and a thumbnail account of each cinema.

I wonder how much Ackroyd made on his book. My guess is that it's more a labour of love than anything else

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If you are in the majority on this site in not liking to see photos and a thumbnail sketch, then I won't waste my time doing them.
I wonder what other people think?

Of course not Phil, u keep up the good work mate :PDT11

Of course not Phil, u keep up the good work mate :PDT11

Ditto what Kev says:PDT_Piratz_26:

Of course not Phil, u keep up the good work mate :PDT11


Here Here...Keep em coming Phil Lad..
And well done mate for all enlightening us all with your fantastic postings. :handclap:

Jericho, who said a history of Liverpool cinemas is going to be a thumbnail account and pictures?
If you're referring to a history which I might write, which seems to be the case, don't jump to conclusions about how it might be done, just because that is all I've done on this site.
I think you'll find that on a general interest forum like this pictures and a potted history is all that is required.
You'll find that on a couple of occasions (Central Hall, Mount Pleasant and Reynolds) I have gone into detail.
If you are in the majority on this site in not liking to see photos and a thumbnail sketch, then I won't waste my time doing them.
I wonder what other people think?

I was actually talking about Ackroyd's book. I like the way it's produced and the pictures he includes but some of the thumbnail sketches leave me wanting more.

:) Keep up the good work Philip, and everyone else!

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