Some Liverpool Cinemas

[PhilipG]

The William Hill Organ Company merged with Norman and Beard at some stage to form Hill Norman and Beard. I've played some Norman and Beard organs here in London. I'd like to know more about Liverpool organs. Perhaps I can start a new thread.

We can keep the cinema organs here.

The dates refer to when the cinemas opened.
Some of the organs were later installations.

Liverpool.
Carlton, Tuebrook. 1932. Christie.
Curzon, Old Swan. 1936. Compton.
Forum, Lime Street. 1931. Compton.
Mayfair, Aigburth Road. 1937. Compton.
Paramount, London Road. 1934. Compton.
Philharmonic Hall. 1939. Rushworth & Dreaper. (Included in "Cinemas" because it has the last remaining Walturdaw rising cinema screen in the world).
Plaza, Allerton Road. 1928. WurliTzer.
Plaza, Waterloo (aka "Crosby"). 1939. Compton.
Rialto, Upper Parliament Street. 1927. Compton (Installed 1930).
Trocadero, Camden Street. 1922. WurliTzer (Organ moved to Gaumont, Park Road, Dingle).

Wirral.
Gaumont, Birkenhead. 1938. Compton.
Plaza, Birkenhead. 1930. Compton.
Regal, Bebington Road. 1938. Compton.
(Organ moved to Winter Gardens, New Brighton c1941).
Rialto, Bebington Road. 1933. Compton.
Ritz, Birkenhead. 1937. Compton (Destroyed 1940, replaced by a Christie).


.

[Ged]

Great info Phil. Nice to see our local the Gaumont's (Trocadero) organ found a place next door to you.

[marky]

Here's a site which features the Gaumont, Dingle organ:
index

[gregs dad]

I seem to remember the Astoria had an organ which we sang along to on
childrens saturday matinees

[LondonBeatlesFan]

Thank you PhilipG. This is really useful information.

[LondonBeatlesFan]

Thank you, Marky. I'd seen that site before but didn't remember that the organ came from Liverpool. I hope to go to that museum some time.

[PhilipG]

I seem to remember the Astoria had an organ which we sang along to on
childrens saturday matinees

The Astoria was built with space for an organ, but one was never installed.
You probably sang along to a record.

How did it go?
"We come along on Saturday morning, greeting everybody with a smile.
We come along on Saturday morning, knowing that it's all worth while."

Or was that the GB Club?


.

[Ged]

Was this before or after Tiswas with Sally James ?

[PhilipG]

Was this before or after Tiswas with Sally James ?

Must have been before, Ged, as I worked on Saturdays, even when I was at school.

TISWAS.
Did the initials stand for "This Is Saturday With A Smile"?

[Ged]

I thought it was This is Saturday, Watch and smile but you may be right as i'm not positive.

[quincyg]

Today Is Saturday Watch And Smile

was mentioned on a docu about kids telly ages ago.

although I preferred Swap Shop

[Ross08]

I went the other day to a sports shop in Utting Avenue (Taskers?) and was rather intrigued by the building.

I'm sure it used to be a cinema, it certainly looks as though it was. I've looked through my books and I don't recall it being mentioned on the forum before.

Any info?

[Sirob]

You are indeed right . It was the Ritz Super Cinema. Opened in 1929 and closed in June 1957. Being independent, it suffered from competition from the circuits, ABC/ Gaumont, which showed first run films. An early casualty of television.
Pic taken last summer.

[Ross08]

Thanks a lot, I knew we'd soon have somebody along with the answer!
Indeed, that is an early closure isn't it. Inside the building some of the doorways are still there leading off of where the foyer would have been.

Would be great to see some older photos if anybody has any

[Sirob]

Any other traces of it's cinema past? Perhaps it's worth a visit.
Photo's of the suburban cinemas is patchy, to say the least. There is a view of the entrance, in Harold Ackroyd's book "Dream Palaces of Liverpool".