Some Liverpool Cinemas

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by quincyg

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.

---

Do you mind if I come in here,please? I'm still trying to find my way round all
these fascinating blogs. I've been searching info on the Princess and this photo
shows it in all glory,just as I remember it when I waited outside in the
evening trying to persuade some kind adult(s) to "take me in" because it was
an 'A' picture!! Many thanks Philip and for the info given elsewhere - you're
really doing a fantastic job and thoroughly merit all the appreciative remarks
you receive. If I can also put in a penn'orth of my own on the Astoria (also a
brilliant photo), it is certainly on the left hand side of the road coming from
town. I also remember it as one end of the Sunday evening "getting to know
you" parades which happened every week (the other end, if I remember
rightly) was Fusco's icecream parlour on the corner of County Road and
Harlech Street, I think it was. All memories now but still vivid and worth
recording. Stan H.

You're welcome, Stan.
Thanks for your kind words.

As mentioned the Queens became a supermarket, but after that it became a "Social Club" (usually the term for bingo).
I've not been able to confirm it had bingo, but it had "Turns" and was one of the first places to employ Tom O'Connor, in the early 1970s.

Attachment 8436
Here`s the Grosvenor on Stanley Rd now a funeral parlour

Great enquiries, folks.
Here is the Astoria in 1995 and the Princess in 2008.

And the Commodore, Bank Hall, plus the Carlton, Tuebrook, both 2008

Fine pics once again Sirob. The Carlton was easy to bunk in. We used to go of a saturday afternoon and walk in the side door. The screen was always filthy and it even had an egg thrown at it which later dried up and stayed there for a good while.

Anyway good pics:handclap:

I was pleased to see a photo of the Carlton Cinema, Tuebrook here as it confirms that it was the one I saw when I was last in Liverpool. I went past that building on the bus and wondered whether it was the Carlton. I am interested in that cinema as its organ is now in the Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. I am a big fan of cinema organs and have been to hear this one several times.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sirob

More obscure pics now;
What was left of the Lyric Theatre, Everton Valley, in August 1971. Located behind the pub, the partially demolished walls were used for years by Reardons Demolition contractors as a yard. Opened in 1897 as a theatre, converted to a cinema in 1922 , re-converted to a theatre again in 1925 and closed for good in 1932.
Frontage of the Queens cinema, Walton Road, in March 1973. Opened in 1913 and closed in 1959. Never part of a circuit, could only show second district runs and with the Astoria, Victory and Princess nearby, became an early casualty. Demolished 1980, after retail use.

---

Not a pretty sight but I don' think the Queens was ever an architectural gem,
and I don't think the Saturday afternoon 'specials' for the kids helped it. But it
has magical memories for me growing up in the 30's - with the cowboy serials
(Tom Mix and Hoot Gibson to cite only a couple of those who mesmerised us)
and the cartoons and the various Hal Roach comedies that preceded the 'big'
picture. The interval enabled the proprietors to make a liltle extra revenue
(and fumigate the premises) whilst the oocupantsof the front seats did their
best to shield themselves from a variety of missiles aimed from behind and
perhaps from above though I'm not sure whether the Queens had a balcony.
Your photo nevertheless graphically reflects the general atmosphere of dereliction still suffered by the Kirkdale of the fifties. Stan. H

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 18stanley

Not a pretty sight but I don' think the Queens was ever an architectural gem,
and I don't think the Saturday afternoon 'specials' for the kids helped it. But it
has magical memories for me growing up in the 30's - with the cowboy serials
(Tom Mix and Hoot Gibson to cite only a couple of those who mesmerised us)
and the cartoons and the various Hal Roach comedies that preceded the 'big'
picture. The interval enabled the proprietors to make a liltle extra revenue
(and fumigate the premises) whilst the oocupantsof the front seats did their
best to shield themselves from a variety of missiles aimed from behind and
perhaps from above though I'm not sure whether the Queens had a balcony.Your photo nevertheless graphically reflects the general atmosphere of dereliction still suffered by the Kirkdale of the fifties. Stan. H

---

No, it didn't have a balcony but plans to install one in 1927 were granted permission.
But nothing happened.

The organ in the Carlton was a Christie.
They were quite rare, because most cinema organs were Compton.
It's good to know the Carlton's organ survives, because the Carlton itself is slated for demolition, as is the Princess.

Yes, the Carlton organ was a Christie and a very good one at that. They were built by Hill, Norman and Beard and I am told that they used the name 'Christie' for their cinema organs as they didn't want to use HNB on cinema organs. There was always a lot of snobbery attached to this matter. My music teacher tried to discourage me from getting involved with the cinema organ as he hated them. I am not sure how the Carlton's organ sounded when it was in the cinema but it certainly sounds great in its present location. The percussion is the loudest I've ever heard on a cinema organ!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LondonBeatlesFan

Yes, the Carlton organ was a Christie and a very good one at that. They were built by Hill, Norman and Beard and I am told that they used the name 'Christie' for their cinema organs as they didn't want to use HNB on cinema organs. There was always a lot of snobbery attached to this matter. My music teacher tried to discourage me from getting involved with the cinema organ as he hated them. I am not sure how the Carlton's organ sounded when it was in the cinema but it certainly sounds great in its present location. The percussion is the loudest I've ever heard on a cinema organ!

---

The organ in the former Methodist Central Hall (here in Liverpool) is by Hill, Norman and Beard.
It was installed in 1907, and is still there, and presumably still playable.
In 2004 (I think) during a Heritage Weekend the hall was open, and somebody was tinkering on the organ.

Thank you for the information, Philip G. There are some excellent organs in Liverpool. I'll try to find out more about the one that you mentioned.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LondonBeatlesFan

Thank you for the information, Philip G. There are some excellent organs in Liverpool. I'll try to find out more about the one that you mentioned.

---

It's definitely Norman & Beard.
I wrote Hill, Norman & Beard because you did. :)
Apart from knowing which cinemas had which organs, I'm not an expert on organs.

Here's Central Hall:
Central Hall. on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

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.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by quincyg

probably already on here but here's The Commodore and The Grosvenor taken today

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e2...ture1239-1.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e2...ture1262-1.jpg

---

The Commodore, once the pride of north Liverpool!I remember trying for a week to get in to see City Lights with Charlie Chaplin - and that was in the
afternoons!! When would that be - early 30's? What a comedown. Stan. H

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LondonBeatlesFan

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).


.

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

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

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

Thank you PhilipG. This is really useful information.

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.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gregs dad

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?


.

Was this before or after Tiswas with Sally James ?


:PDT_Xtremez_42::002:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ged

Was this before or after Tiswas with Sally James ?


:PDT_Xtremez_42::002:

---

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"?

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

Today Is Saturday Watch And Smile

was mentioned on a docu about kids telly ages ago.

although I preferred Swap Shop :PDT_Aliboronz_11:

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?

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.

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 :)

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".

Good to hear people talking about the Curzon.It brought back memories.Although it wasnt my local my eldest brother took my brother and myself there to watch Rio Bravo.The big films came later at our local cinema,which I've forgotton the name.
Can anyone help.It was on Overton Street in Wavetree.On the corner of Overton Street and Wavetree Road was Sturlas department store then the cinema and opposite was a joke shop

The Capitol cinema was on Overton Street Opened. in 1930 and closed in 1961. Demolished a long time ago.

Thanks Sirob
Your spot on.I used to go to matinees there in the late fifties.
Did Sturlas expand when the Cappy closed

A Flickr member has some internal pics of the Carlton, Tuebrook.
Carlton Cinema, Liverpool - a set on Flickr

Brilliant, considering it was closed 25 odd years ago.
Iam surprised the projectors were left, mind you it
is old tech now, many thanks for the pic,s

The approach down the revitalised College Lane to the new Odeon at Liverpool 1.



http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/3923/odeanl1rd7.jpg
http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/ode...jpg/1/w960.png




.

Thats a rather steep staircase too climb, esp in this day and age.

It's a stategy. It means they can charge even more for the drinks at the top.

Imagine coming down with a buggy :ninja:

Imagine coming down with the flu.


There are lifts too :)