Sefton Heritage Open Days

[julieoapw]

Sefton Heritage Open Days are available to book now. Full list is here: http://www.sefton.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=8837
Julie

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[PhilipG]

Sefton Heritage Open Days are available to book now. Full list is here: http://www.sefton.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=8837
Julie

I see there's one for "Pleasure Palaces" in Southport.
That'll be a letdown, because the guide will say, time after time:
"And here is where another cinema once stood".

[julieoapw]

Long before they were cinemas, they were places of entertainment such as theatres or the winter gardens.
There's only 15 places on this walk and me and my mate have 2 so if anyone else wants to book, don't waste any time!

[PhilipG]

Long before they were cinemas, they were places of entertainment such as theatres or the winter gardens.
There's only 15 places on this walk and me and my mate have 2 so if anyone else wants to book, don't waste any time!

5 cinemas on or near Lord Street have been demolished, and only one wasn't built as a cinema.
That was the Trocadero, which was built as a dance hall.
The other four were the Palladium/Odeon; the Palace/ABC; the Regal/ABC; and the Coliseum in Nevill Street.
Both the Palladium and the Palace were Listed Buildings, so it's supremely ironic that Southport now has a "Pleasure Palaces" walk.
As I said before: "Here is another site where a cinema once stood".

[julieoapw]

I've no reason to think that the tour will be of buildings that were only ever cinemas or a let down.
It doesn't claim to be a cinema walk:
"As the town developed from humble Regency beginnings into a modern holiday destination it acquired many buildings catering for entertainment and leisure."
It's a walk, offered free to anyone who wants to go on it.
I don't understand such negativity.

[PhilipG]

I've no reason to think that the tour will be of buildings that were only ever cinemas or a let down.

There's the Grand and the Garrick, the Little Theatre, and a building in Portland Street.
Everything else has been demolished.

[julieoapw]

Tell you what, stay at home with your negativity. The rest of us will have an open mind about what entertainment and leisure entails. We might learn about the Winter Gardens, parks, libraries and many other things -all for free. Who knows until we go?

[PhilipG]

Let me know when you've finished editing your posts and accusing me of negativity and I'll answer you.

[julieoapw]

You edited your post first! I looked for your reply only to find you'd edited your original post!!
I've nothing more to say.
I bought people a chance to be first to sign up for these events which are hard to get on and all you've done is moan and say they'll be a let-down and harp on about cinemas. We don't know what the walk will be about. There's more to entertainment and leisure than cinema. Southport couldn't support 5 cinemas these days anyway.
I'm going on it, if anyone else wants to I hope they will and not be put off by someone telling them that it will be a let down in advance. If you want to go on your own walk saying "there used to be a cinema here and here" then fine.
I don't intend to add any more on the subject.

[quincyg]

when you click on it, it doesn't actually specifically mention cinemas...

During Heritage Open days take a guided walk around central Southport.

As the town developed from humble Regency beginnings into a modern holiday destination it acquired many buildings catering for entertainment and leisure. This walk explores the historic and architectural legacy of England’s ‘classic resort’.

(Walk leader: Mark Sargant)

anyway before I get a slap for splitting hairs...or separating rabbits...or bothering bunnies...I quite fancy the Bootle Town Hall one as I'm near that.Hubby been in there a few times and says it's quite good and as I've seen the Liverpool one I may as well.

I missed out on a load of the heritage stuff last year, so I'm hoping I can a few visits in this time around.

[PhilipG]

I don't know why you're taking it so personal.
Are you one of the Guides?
All I said was it'll be a letdown.
In Southport town centre there were 13 "Palaces of Pleasure", and only 3 remain.
That's a fact, not negativity.

You will be told "Here is where the Casino on the pier stood"
"Here is where the Winter Gardens was"
ditto Scala Theatre
ditto Floral Hall
ditto Palladium, Palace, Regal and Coliseum cinemas.

All the above now have new buildings on the sites.
It's the Portland Hall in Duke Street that you might see, but that's probably outside the walking distance.
The only other three that remain are the Grand, the Little Theatre, and the Garrick.
Not much to see on a 2 hour walk.

Don't forget that Southport has the dubious record of demolishing 2 Listed cinemas.
In case you're wondering my family's history with Southport goes back to the First World War, so I know the town very well.