Comments from Mike_Blakemore

Showing 76 - 100 of 659 comments

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Cannon Bristol Road on Jun 21, 2019 at 6:34 pm

dallasmovietheatres Correct C. Jack Foster was the Head of the ABC in House Architects Department Prior he was PCT’s Architect Jack Foster was assisted by Alan Morgan Modernisation Ltd., was the contractor

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Oxford Cinema on Jun 17, 2019 at 4:06 pm

I have loaded the original exterior of the Oxford Cinema

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Avion Super Cinema on Jun 7, 2019 at 7:34 pm

Correction He did over 90 cinema and 2 Theatres

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Empire Theatre on Feb 28, 2019 at 7:55 am

Mayfair Circuit Control was part of ABC .. Salberg and Clift Still held an interest in the building

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Vue Leamington Spa on Jan 15, 2019 at 4:29 am

Yes I remember that time.. I was very annoyed I was supposed to have had first dibs on buying the Regal. It went for peanuts.. He ended up with aggravated manslaughter and serviced five years. The Accountant tried stopping him committing suicide. but the accountant in the strudel got the blast from the shot gun. The MD lived with continual pain until his death.. If my family had taken over. I would still be doing some work and not retired as I am now. Its funny Apollo suffered Flooding and Fire.. They removed our flood precautions. We warned them ..

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Rosum Cinema on Jan 3, 2019 at 6:18 am

The Rosum name came from Ro was from Round Edgar Summers maiden name and Sum Came from his name. She was a share holder in her own right.

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Winson Green Picture House on Dec 4, 2018 at 6:45 am

I suggest looking at the Regal Evesham as they are rather similar

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Empire Cinema on Nov 9, 2018 at 4:54 am

CaptainC Clifton owned some 130 cinema most of ABC Cinemas in Birmingham including ABC New Street were leased off Clifton. They also owned 7 Odeons around the country and were principle shareholders in all Built Odeons. from 1954 after the major refurbishment was the most modern equipped cinema in Walsall until it was demolished For a number of years The Empire Played the Fox Cinemascope release in Walsall as They were the only cinema to have Real Cinemascope. Only the Rosum and the Avion outside of the town centre had it.

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Imperial Cinema on Nov 9, 2018 at 4:46 am

CaptainC The Imperial was up until the 1950’s would have got the secondary ABC release. plus the added weeks passed from the ABC Savoy as there was very little Retained for further weeks due to far more films being around then there are today From the 1960’s With fewer films it slipped into Classics. pass on from the ABC and the more shady class of films. Remember ABC did not play Rank Releases in those days.

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Rex Cinema on Sep 12, 2018 at 4:38 am

Picture Curtesy of Liz Lloyd

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Odeon Cinema Rhyl on Sep 2, 2018 at 5:30 am

My Favourite Real Odeon.

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about ABC Aston on Aug 23, 2018 at 5:40 am

ABC did not take over Cinema proprietors as such. There was a strange merging arrangement ABC bought out two of the principles Dent and Cohen who went on to found their own circuits. It must be remembered ASSOCIATED BRITISH CINEMAS LTD meant what it said on the label.. ABC managed the hall along with the others in the CP company even the ABC New Street.

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Savoy Theatre on Aug 19, 2018 at 4:47 am

To British members The Talking Pictures Chanel are using the stage view in their presentation titles

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Regal Cinema on Jul 26, 2018 at 6:26 am

Plant has been now moved onto the site in readiness for the demolition

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Vue Leamington Spa on Jul 5, 2018 at 11:56 am

popcorn pete Do not remember Anne Diamond I was Invited along with Joyce Rabbits as part of the old Circuit Management The second Screen was built on the old office area where we used to work.. We watched “Miracle on 34th Street” I would like to see the modal of our former Regal Minehead

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about ABC Eccles on Jul 3, 2018 at 5:29 am

The 4th Operator or should I say Projectionist was a projectionist in training . In those days Projector film capacity’s was just around 2000 feet. In the old days with Main feature the B Film Adverts trailers Newsreel Cartoon These would involve at least 14 reels of films with manual change overs from one projector to the other. For normal shows The Chief projectionist Co-Chief 2nd projectionist and possibly the 3rd would do the running of the show. Whilst the 3rd and fourth would do the rewinding and any repairs to the print. They would also keep the projection box and room clean. The projection box used to be polished daily so if any film dropped on the floor it could be re-spooled without to much dust or dirt going on the print. In the UK when Selective Employment Tax was introduced. Work started in altering the systems to run single manning and long players attached to a projector leading to automation Hope this helps..

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Cannon Rotherham on Jun 13, 2018 at 6:05 am

ABC Leased the cinema in 1929 for 10 years

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Stafford Cinema on May 26, 2018 at 5:24 am

The Cinema was not built for Odeon…This was one of 7 cinemas built for the Clifton Syndicate. Sidney Clift’s business partner Leon Salberg thoughtlessly went and died. Oscar Deutch who was a close friend was appointed as Chair by Clift. J Arthur Rank launched a Rights Share issue November 1947 to purchase the oddities of the Circuit Hmm over 300 companies each Odeon was a separate company. A cleaver system devised by Sidney Clift to finance them.

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Stafford Cinema on May 26, 2018 at 5:17 am

The Cinema has now reopened

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Delicia Cinema on May 25, 2018 at 1:48 pm

The Triangle Cinema was not in that building

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Lyttleton Cinema on May 24, 2018 at 12:16 pm

A large number of Recycled bricks were used from the demolition of Her Majesty’s Theatre Walsall Before Sidney Bray Died He had the cinema completely Redecorated Re-seated. New Tabs and Carpets etc. So his children would not have to worry for a long time.

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Savoy Cinema on May 24, 2018 at 12:10 pm

From My experience of a re-building after a fire More often then no the Walls survive quite well I have known one cinema survive 2 fires re Odeon Walsall were the foyer, walls and concrete circle survived So would be economic to keep the Walls and frontage In that area all the properties are owned by one family and set in plots, so they could not expand on the footprint of the building and have the plans approved by the Mostyn Family At one time I had hoped to have taken over the Savoy from Alan Hutchinson alas not to be.

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Grand Cinema on May 8, 2018 at 7:10 am

Mr Wright Had put the Theatre up for Auction.. We Theatre Administration Ltd., who had the Clifton in the Town was going to attend and bid for the Grand.. Granada circumvented the Auction and made an offer to Mr Wright.. the rest is history I must add that the Grand was kept immaculately by Mr Wright..

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Gaumont Nottingham on May 8, 2018 at 6:54 am

I have tided up the picture

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Grand Central Cinema on May 2, 2018 at 11:14 am

The Kine year Book was always notorious for being incorrect