Some Liverpool Cinemas

[lindylou]

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

[DaisyChains]

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.

[Jericho]

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

[PhilipG]

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[Kev Keegan]

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

[robbo176]

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

Ditto what Kev says

[Gerard]

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

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

[Jericho]

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.

[DaisyChains]

Keep up the good work Philip, and everyone else!

[PhilipG]

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[Steven]

These photos are absolutely brilliant and I thank you for sharing them.

[Steven]

I love to see photos of the Park Palace in Mill Street and the St. James (The Jamie) in St James Street, near to the Davy Lewis.

[Jericho]

And by thumbnail sketches, you're referring to me!
Obviously, a lot of what I've found out reflects what Harold Ackroyd has written, because history is history and the facts (not mistakes) remain the same, but I stand by my statement that his was rushed out, and the reprint didn't correct the mistakes.
That is why the three venues I mentioned that I did in more detail (Reynolds, Mount Pleasant and Central Hall), are either not mentioned or barely mentioned by Mr Ackroyd.

If you read my post dispassionatley you will see that I am making an argument for a more in depth book than the one provided by Harold Ackroyd. Whilst I like the production values of his book, his thumbnail sketches in terms of the information they convey become a bit repetitive towards the end. His book is at its best when it offers more depth and brings a cinema alive. Personally I was hoping for much more about the Mayfair on Aigburth Road. His account starts well with an excellent photograph of the exterior but the two, just slightly larger than a postage stamp, shots of the interior were a big disappointment. There was no sense of first hand knowledge of such a beauty conveyed by his text which read for the most part as though it had been gleaned from a publicity leaflet.

[PhilipG]

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[PhilipG]

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