Hmm. Point 1. It is difficult to judge from a Black and white print.. The Picture and sound quality where very good.. Seating comfortable. Temprature was always good. 2 The Theatre always had a friendly helpful long serving staff that treated the customers as humanbeings unlike the multiplexes.. The cinema lasted 17 years after it was converted into 3 Screens. point 3 The cinema closed due to being delayed by 6 – 10 weeks in showing films. Until that time the Capitol was the most profitable cinema in Birmingham. Rank had made offers to buy the Capitol and our silly MD turned them down…
On this Project the normal Contractors that did the Odeon Building work was used instead of the “Satchwell and Roberts” Team.. Funny Bullivant used one of their contractors to build Odeon Bradford (C.J. Bryant)
When I took over as General Manager, I got Pearl and Dean to put on the old Pillar Opening and Closing, instead of the Bolting Brothers “Moving letters”
@ Curfew.. Interesting picture. Satchwell used the same design on the edge of the 2 Circles. on the Alexander Theatre Birmingham. It is beleived that Roland Satchwell (Satchwell & Roberts) designed the first Art Deco cinema in the country “Capitol Cinema Birmingham” Drawing where done in 1924" The Owwner of The alex Birmingham was Chairman of The Clifton Circuit and was a Big Panto Producer. Question can you find out of Salberg did the pantos at the Palace ??? Because it is odd for Satchwell to even thinks of designing this theatre. It is out of his area
I have now loaded a picture of the Fanastic Foyer.. Before being wrecked by the **** modernisation by Moorebird Ltd., I have a picture of the Interior, which I still have not found..
I have the picture somewhere of the large queue for the Bingo.. I was seconded for 2 months to Help with the Bingo opening. Thankfully I was glad to be Back at the ABC Cinema Walsall at the end of it..
This was the last Theatre Operated by “Howard and Wyndam” The Panto Pruductions passed to HM Tennent )Binky Beumonts Company) “They then consentrated on Book Publishing.. and “Ciro Jewellers”
Directly opposite Cinema, is the Local cemetry, which when I was little was closer.. and complete with lich Gate. Apart from coming out of the Cinema Far to quick and ending up in there. This added to the post viewing of any Dracula Film… Hmm when misty.
Thanks CSWalczak.. That has confirmed a discussion this week I had with my elder cousin. (Spooky) It went through 3 Phases.. 1st Totally Corrogated same plan and look as Palace brownhills. 2nd Phase Tarted up Brick Frontage 3rd Phase “The Avion Alridge” A Real modern Frontage was put on. One side wall was also done in Brick. I looked at this in the 60’s as a possible re-opening. (When I was mad about taking over cinemas) But the roof and the remaining steel wall was rusted away..
The Cinema In the Circle was done by Hutchinson Lesiure.. “Surewin” was the Bingo brand of Hutchinhsons.
The spliting was done by Modernisation Ltd., It was a good quality Job.. You could not tick off your Bingo card at the same time as watching the Film :o) The Decor of the Cinema was the same as the Plaza Rhyl. Matt Black with silver Grey Tabs.. Westrex Projection. Orcon Xenon. Westrex Trans sound…
Hi Dennis I was there July 1968 till May 1969 The Manager was Johnny Simmons. Housemanageress Joan Cooks Ne Assistant Manager. Peter Mathews was before me he went to Televison. Jock was Head doorman. Frances was head cashier and I think Your wife was young Did you have a little beard. I have a picture somewhere of You John and Larry French. I went Back to Walsall. Perce the Course was still at Colehill Street. I later became General Manager of The Capitol Ward End and associated Cinemas :o)
Hmm. Point 1. It is difficult to judge from a Black and white print.. The Picture and sound quality where very good.. Seating comfortable. Temprature was always good. 2 The Theatre always had a friendly helpful long serving staff that treated the customers as humanbeings unlike the multiplexes.. The cinema lasted 17 years after it was converted into 3 Screens. point 3 The cinema closed due to being delayed by 6 – 10 weeks in showing films. Until that time the Capitol was the most profitable cinema in Birmingham. Rank had made offers to buy the Capitol and our silly MD turned them down…
On this Project the normal Contractors that did the Odeon Building work was used instead of the “Satchwell and Roberts” Team.. Funny Bullivant used one of their contractors to build Odeon Bradford (C.J. Bryant)
When I took over as General Manager, I got Pearl and Dean to put on the old Pillar Opening and Closing, instead of the Bolting Brothers “Moving letters”
I have now added a Picture of Roland Sacthwell the Architect Beleived to be first to design an Art Deco Cinema in the UK
I should have said with his Partner Earnest Roberts
@ Curfew.. Interesting picture. Satchwell used the same design on the edge of the 2 Circles. on the Alexander Theatre Birmingham. It is beleived that Roland Satchwell (Satchwell & Roberts) designed the first Art Deco cinema in the country “Capitol Cinema Birmingham” Drawing where done in 1924" The Owwner of The alex Birmingham was Chairman of The Clifton Circuit and was a Big Panto Producer. Question can you find out of Salberg did the pantos at the Palace ??? Because it is odd for Satchwell to even thinks of designing this theatre. It is out of his area
I have now loaded a picture of the Fanastic Foyer.. Before being wrecked by the **** modernisation by Moorebird Ltd., I have a picture of the Interior, which I still have not found..
I have put on an Exterior picture.. I found it…
Hmm.. The Film. “Kentucky Fried Movie” comes to mind.. The first film in “Feelaround” :o)
I have put the picture on. It is a bus showing a lack of timing :o) My eyesite is getting ….
I have an exterior shot. But there is a Tram in the way that ruins the shot
I have the picture somewhere of the large queue for the Bingo.. I was seconded for 2 months to Help with the Bingo opening. Thankfully I was glad to be Back at the ABC Cinema Walsall at the end of it..
This was the last Theatre Operated by “Howard and Wyndam” The Panto Pruductions passed to HM Tennent )Binky Beumonts Company) “They then consentrated on Book Publishing.. and “Ciro Jewellers”
Have loaded a picture of “Oscar Deutsch"… The Father of The Odeon Cinema Chain… Reminder: When we had Great People running our Nation Cinemas
Have loaded an earlier picture of the Palace’s Facade
Yes I understand. I cannot stand the name of Cannon ABC Walsall is refered to as a Cannon (Sick bag time)
Have put a picture of a Royal Visit to the Cinema
Directly opposite Cinema, is the Local cemetry, which when I was little was closer.. and complete with lich Gate. Apart from coming out of the Cinema Far to quick and ending up in there. This added to the post viewing of any Dracula Film… Hmm when misty.
Thanks CSWalczak.. That has confirmed a discussion this week I had with my elder cousin. (Spooky) It went through 3 Phases.. 1st Totally Corrogated same plan and look as Palace brownhills. 2nd Phase Tarted up Brick Frontage 3rd Phase “The Avion Alridge” A Real modern Frontage was put on. One side wall was also done in Brick. I looked at this in the 60’s as a possible re-opening. (When I was mad about taking over cinemas) But the roof and the remaining steel wall was rusted away..
To Shaun… Thanks for putting the exterior and Foyer pics on… Plaza Flint was similar but smaller frontage..
Cannot remember if the BTH set had been converted to Xenon before the Westrex was put in ?
Hi This was a Hutchinson Hall during its Bingo Days..
Hi Edith.. If You email me at .co.uk I will email you back the pictures the right way round so you can reload then regards Mike
The Cinema In the Circle was done by Hutchinson Lesiure.. “Surewin” was the Bingo brand of Hutchinhsons. The spliting was done by Modernisation Ltd., It was a good quality Job.. You could not tick off your Bingo card at the same time as watching the Film :o) The Decor of the Cinema was the same as the Plaza Rhyl. Matt Black with silver Grey Tabs.. Westrex Projection. Orcon Xenon. Westrex Trans sound…
Hi Dennis I was there July 1968 till May 1969 The Manager was Johnny Simmons. Housemanageress Joan Cooks Ne Assistant Manager. Peter Mathews was before me he went to Televison. Jock was Head doorman. Frances was head cashier and I think Your wife was young Did you have a little beard. I have a picture somewhere of You John and Larry French. I went Back to Walsall. Perce the Course was still at Colehill Street. I later became General Manager of The Capitol Ward End and associated Cinemas :o)