In the early days The Theatre did Cine-Variety, When I did reliefs (Management) there I did a lot of exploring of the building. Behind the Pros that was built for Cinemascope. There was the original Theatre one intact complete with dressing rooms… Full of Junk…
The Manager at the time had been told for years and years that it would be given a refurbishment. When it finally came.. He had a heart attack and died… Hmmm.. We always thought it was shock…
The Grand Theatre was owned by “The Walsall Theatre Co, Ltd., Fronted by W. Westwood… Prior to selling to Associated British Cinemas… ABC had to buy all of the 4 Theatres or NONE… They only wanted Her Majesties..
January 1968.. ABC Had their District Office. Where I had my interview to become a Trainee Manager with the Company.. ended up doing 39 years in the business..
I also had to relieve on occasions, the Manager on his days off.. Still the food was good at the Bowling alley… :o)
Odeon Theatres Ltd., Came in much later, but only as a Management company During Deutsche’s Moste sites where seperate companies. with their own set of Shareholders..
Hmmm Correction Time. The Theatre was owned by Bertie Bull 90%. Sidney Clift held only 10% of Shares and booked the Hall The (original) Picture House Stratford Upon Avon was only associated for a very short time with Clifton Curcuit Management for film booking Clift on having a small percentage
The Imperial Seated 1021… May have lost 20 seats when the new act came out regarding the distance from the screen. Top of the screen cannot be more then 30% degrees higher the normal vision in the front row.. Being the first full-time built Cinema could be the Classic in Stafford street, Which Pat Collins had for a time. then passed to Clifton. I am looking at family papers to check…
1958 It was taken over by a Birmingham Cinema Operator B.T. Davis. The Theatre is still owned by his Daughter and grandsons. In the late 70’s was then run leased to the then Manager. Who then passed on the Cinema to another exhibitor. The then past it onto the operator of “The Magic Lantern. This failed. Much later around 1993 to a Devonshire operator, who could not get films and that Failed. I took over and re opened and re-named the Theatre "Savoy” July 1995. after 13 years Having seen the Theatre Re-fitted out to a very high standard. I retired and fully handed over to a Trust…
For those that do not know.. TODD AO was created by Mike Todd.. One of Elizabeth Taylors husbands. He died young.. Due to the stress they say of Making “AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS”
The Classic company did not carry on with the continental programmes . They tried 2nd run. When Cannon bought out ABC. They then got the Futurist.. ABC New Street and Bristol Road. They then sold the lease to “Theatre One Coventry… They then sold lease to Elephant Films..
The Atlas was Owned by Harry Dare the builder.. Films where booked by B.T Davis who had a number of Cinemas in the Midlands, Home Counties, and the South West.. Harry Dare had a second Cinema “The Castle @ Castle Bromwich..
Correction Seating capacity was 662 when a single screen.. Before Hutchinson owning the Grand it was Buxton High Peak Entertainments Ltd., Converted to a Triple by Modernisation Ltd.,
@ Picturedrome You info is correct… My Knowledge comes from 40 years waged in the business… Plus knowledge from my family, who had interests in their own theatres plus other chains. I am currently working on correcting Cinema and Theatre Myths..
In the early days The Theatre did Cine-Variety, When I did reliefs (Management) there I did a lot of exploring of the building. Behind the Pros that was built for Cinemascope. There was the original Theatre one intact complete with dressing rooms… Full of Junk… The Manager at the time had been told for years and years that it would be given a refurbishment. When it finally came.. He had a heart attack and died… Hmmm.. We always thought it was shock…
The Grand Theatre was owned by “The Walsall Theatre Co, Ltd., Fronted by W. Westwood… Prior to selling to Associated British Cinemas… ABC had to buy all of the 4 Theatres or NONE… They only wanted Her Majesties..
January 1968.. ABC Had their District Office. Where I had my interview to become a Trainee Manager with the Company.. ended up doing 39 years in the business.. I also had to relieve on occasions, the Manager on his days off.. Still the food was good at the Bowling alley… :o)
His Father-in-law was William Astley
????? Clifton Cinemas Circuit.. Small… With around 60 Cinemas
Odeon Theatres Ltd., Came in much later, but only as a Management company During Deutsche’s Moste sites where seperate companies. with their own set of Shareholders..
Hmmm Correction Time. The Theatre was owned by Bertie Bull 90%. Sidney Clift held only 10% of Shares and booked the Hall The (original) Picture House Stratford Upon Avon was only associated for a very short time with Clifton Curcuit Management for film booking Clift on having a small percentage
The Imperial Seated 1021… May have lost 20 seats when the new act came out regarding the distance from the screen. Top of the screen cannot be more then 30% degrees higher the normal vision in the front row.. Being the first full-time built Cinema could be the Classic in Stafford street, Which Pat Collins had for a time. then passed to Clifton. I am looking at family papers to check…
Hmmm The Frontage has as much charm as a “Matalan” Shop
Have loaded 2 pictures on here
1958 It was taken over by a Birmingham Cinema Operator B.T. Davis. The Theatre is still owned by his Daughter and grandsons. In the late 70’s was then run leased to the then Manager. Who then passed on the Cinema to another exhibitor. The then past it onto the operator of “The Magic Lantern. This failed. Much later around 1993 to a Devonshire operator, who could not get films and that Failed. I took over and re opened and re-named the Theatre "Savoy” July 1995. after 13 years Having seen the Theatre Re-fitted out to a very high standard. I retired and fully handed over to a Trust…
For those that do not know.. TODD AO was created by Mike Todd.. One of Elizabeth Taylors husbands. He died young.. Due to the stress they say of Making “AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS”
From 1958 Become “Art Display Services Ltd” Poster contractors for ABC Cinemas…. Remember being sent there for Posters while with ABC….
The Classic company did not carry on with the continental programmes . They tried 2nd run. When Cannon bought out ABC. They then got the Futurist.. ABC New Street and Bristol Road. They then sold the lease to “Theatre One Coventry… They then sold lease to Elephant Films..
The Atlas was Owned by Harry Dare the builder.. Films where booked by B.T Davis who had a number of Cinemas in the Midlands, Home Counties, and the South West..
Harry Dare had a second Cinema “The Castle @ Castle Bromwich..
Buxton High peak also owned “The Regal” which was near by.. That had 621 seats Screen 21' wide. I visited Regal when the Bingowas stripped out.
Correction Seating capacity was 662 when a single screen.. Before Hutchinson owning the Grand it was Buxton High Peak Entertainments Ltd., Converted to a Triple by Modernisation Ltd.,
Have loaded a better picture
Have loaded a picture of better days….
How I hate the name… Cannon….
I have loaded a better view… taken some years ago now…
Just Before WW2 Hurley Robinson was comissioned to design a new Theatre, But the start of the War stopped any ideas…..
I have now put on the Cinemrama interior.. Still have not found the original interior views…
@ Picturedrome You info is correct… My Knowledge comes from 40 years waged in the business… Plus knowledge from my family, who had interests in their own theatres plus other chains. I am currently working on correcting Cinema and Theatre Myths..
Have load 3 pictures of ABC..
I have loaded 3 pictures of the r-opening day 1967. which will help with discription