The Kinematograph Cinema Directory for 1958 has another cinema in it’s listings,the Savoy Picture Palace, 700 seats & G B Kalee equipment.
Theatr Clwyd of course was not built at this time.
The name Neuadd Dwyfor was not adopted in 1974 when the cinema was taken over by Dwyfor District Council,as suggested by Capelmawr they kept the name Neuadd Y Dref / Town Hall.for their entire reign.
It was Gwynedd Council which came into being in April 1995 that renamed the building to Neuadd Dwyfor, heven knows why as it was built by the old Town Council, also I’m not sure where the glass cages surrounding the projectors on display in the foyer are supposed to be situated as I erected the equipment on my own a few years before I retired.
Like I said I was only wondering, and from the picture the building looks long enough,It’s not possible to see the length from the road to the back without visiting the site, which Capelmawr has done.
There are cinemas with the main doors on the side of the buildng, such as the former Luxor Menai Bridge.
Picturedrome, Thanks for the information I cannot say that I remember the police station. I knew that the Stella was demolished, I saved a picture of it from a site which I can’t seem to find anymore, but at least I still have the photo.
I remember when I was a projectionist in Pwllheli, sending a few features after our run on to the Palladium and thinking of all the cinemas in the country in those days that I was addressing them to a place I knew. These crossovers as was the term did not happen often as films almost always were sent back to the film depot.
How nice to see that the building is still standing, for some reason I was under the impression that it had been demolished years ago.
I remember going to the palladium as a child when staying with relatives in Seaforth, I cannot remember the films we saw but I do remember seeing “The Rainbow Jacket” at Seaforth’s other picturehouse the Stella Cinema starring Bill (Compo) Owen, this was a horse racing drama with Owen as a jockey.
I was just wondering what the overhanging extension on the google picture was,my statement was that it looks like it’s still there,why the sarcastic remark ?
Theatr Gwynedd is now sadly demolished, but building has now already started on a new university complex which will incorporate a new theatre & probably with cinema facilities.
I’ve adjusted the google picture to the Empire’s location, looks like the overhanging projection room mentioned by capelmawr is still there. The former cinema in Llanidloes was the same,although the proj room was pulled down after closure, but the building still stands today.
The cinema was housed in one of the former variety theatres (The Empire) they started the conversion with the intention of providing a 2 screen cinema,but changed their minds half way through and used the other half for bingo, I think the signs for screen 2 were still up.
I helped out at the Odeon Butlin’s during the period that Neuadd Dwyfor cinema Pwllheli was being refurbished,as the resident projectionist had been taken ill.
The projectors were 2 Cinemecanicca Victoria 8 machines, Dolby Surround Sound and the xenon lamps were encased in converted Kalee lamp houses.
Although the films opened on the nationwide release date,the Odeon company did not seem all that interested in the place,I don’t think the equipment was serviced very often and the screen tabs (curtains) did not work at all.
Still it was a neat little cinema,but might have been better if it was not situated so deep inside the camp,locals had to check with the security to get in.
I must admit to geoff a second mistake, I’m pretty sure by now that the first Cinemasscope film was another John Wayne seafaring adventure titled ‘Blood Alley’
Just noticed that in my introductory posting on the Palladium, I stated that it was demolished in the late 1980’s, typing error should have been 1990’s.
I used to be a projectionist in Pwllheli before my retirement, I remember in 1960 going on a coach trip to Cardiff, setting off after 10.00pm Saturday evening. I did not even have time to pop home after finishing work, It’s not the easiest of journeys down to South Wales even now, but much worse back then.
After travelling all night we were all very tired after walking around all day Sunday,there was no hotel involved on this crazy trip.the bus was not due to set back for home until quite late on Sunday. In the end we all landed up in the Olympia, mostly just for the rest. the first thing I noticed was the location of the box as described mickrick,the first i’d seen in that position. The film running was ‘Hercules Unchained’ starring Steve Reeves not that we cared much of what was on offer. Smashing cinema I visited it a couple of times after that, when more awake !
Here’s a photo from 1996. http://www.flickr.com/photos/58677517@N03/?saved=1
When the Palladium converted to Cinemascope in 1956, the work was done over the course of a weekend, they started after the last show on Saturday night and completed it in time for the first show on Monday.
Pwllheli cinemas were closed on Sundays anyway in those days, so they did not lose on any performances. The new screen was wall to wall & in front of the procenium arch, also there was no need to lose any seats for the conversion. The old Kinematograph Cinema Directory is incorrect in attributing the Palled with 800 seats, as it was always 702. I have the old monthly programme, when i find it I’ll know the exact date.
This is a not very sharp photo, as it was taken from a moving coach, I only just noticed it as we were passing, if the camera was not already in my hand I’d of missed it.
I’m only including it as the building was still open at the time, albeit only for bingo. I think it was around 1999. View link
Can anyone help me ? when on holiday in 1992 in Southern California we stopped at a market which was held in a drive in theatre. I noticed that the projection booth’s port holes were just that,I mean ROUND windows.
This place is somewhere between San Diego & the Mexican Border,I have photos and when I find them I’ll paste them on here.
The Kinematograph Cinema Directory for 1958 has another cinema in it’s listings,the Savoy Picture Palace, 700 seats & G B Kalee equipment. Theatr Clwyd of course was not built at this time.
The name Neuadd Dwyfor was not adopted in 1974 when the cinema was taken over by Dwyfor District Council,as suggested by Capelmawr they kept the name Neuadd Y Dref / Town Hall.for their entire reign. It was Gwynedd Council which came into being in April 1995 that renamed the building to Neuadd Dwyfor, heven knows why as it was built by the old Town Council, also I’m not sure where the glass cages surrounding the projectors on display in the foyer are supposed to be situated as I erected the equipment on my own a few years before I retired.
Like I said I was only wondering, and from the picture the building looks long enough,It’s not possible to see the length from the road to the back without visiting the site, which Capelmawr has done.
There are cinemas with the main doors on the side of the buildng, such as the former Luxor Menai Bridge.
Picturedrome, Thanks for the information I cannot say that I remember the police station. I knew that the Stella was demolished, I saved a picture of it from a site which I can’t seem to find anymore, but at least I still have the photo. I remember when I was a projectionist in Pwllheli, sending a few features after our run on to the Palladium and thinking of all the cinemas in the country in those days that I was addressing them to a place I knew. These crossovers as was the term did not happen often as films almost always were sent back to the film depot.
How nice to see that the building is still standing, for some reason I was under the impression that it had been demolished years ago.
I remember going to the palladium as a child when staying with relatives in Seaforth, I cannot remember the films we saw but I do remember seeing “The Rainbow Jacket” at Seaforth’s other picturehouse the Stella Cinema starring Bill (Compo) Owen, this was a horse racing drama with Owen as a jockey.
The Google image above only partly shows the cinema’s entrance as it’s unfortunately obscured by the red van.
The Guild Hall cinema was above the arch with the clock on the above Google image.
I was just wondering what the overhanging extension on the google picture was,my statement was that it looks like it’s still there,why the sarcastic remark ?
Theatr Gwynedd is now sadly demolished, but building has now already started on a new university complex which will incorporate a new theatre & probably with cinema facilities.
I’ve adjusted the google picture to the Empire’s location, looks like the overhanging projection room mentioned by capelmawr is still there. The former cinema in Llanidloes was the same,although the proj room was pulled down after closure, but the building still stands today.
It’s listed on the Cinema Treasures site.
The cinema was housed in one of the former variety theatres (The Empire) they started the conversion with the intention of providing a 2 screen cinema,but changed their minds half way through and used the other half for bingo, I think the signs for screen 2 were still up.
Took this photo last week, looks in pretty bad shape now http://www.flickr.com/photos/58677517@N03/5867346800/in/photostream/
I helped out at the Odeon Butlin’s during the period that Neuadd Dwyfor cinema Pwllheli was being refurbished,as the resident projectionist had been taken ill. The projectors were 2 Cinemecanicca Victoria 8 machines, Dolby Surround Sound and the xenon lamps were encased in converted Kalee lamp houses. Although the films opened on the nationwide release date,the Odeon company did not seem all that interested in the place,I don’t think the equipment was serviced very often and the screen tabs (curtains) did not work at all. Still it was a neat little cinema,but might have been better if it was not situated so deep inside the camp,locals had to check with the security to get in.
I must admit to geoff a second mistake, I’m pretty sure by now that the first Cinemasscope film was another John Wayne seafaring adventure titled ‘Blood Alley’
Just noticed that in my introductory posting on the Palladium, I stated that it was demolished in the late 1980’s, typing error should have been 1990’s.
Thanks Mike I hope to include some more soon.
I used to be a projectionist in Pwllheli before my retirement, I remember in 1960 going on a coach trip to Cardiff, setting off after 10.00pm Saturday evening. I did not even have time to pop home after finishing work, It’s not the easiest of journeys down to South Wales even now, but much worse back then.
After travelling all night we were all very tired after walking around all day Sunday,there was no hotel involved on this crazy trip.the bus was not due to set back for home until quite late on Sunday. In the end we all landed up in the Olympia, mostly just for the rest. the first thing I noticed was the location of the box as described mickrick,the first i’d seen in that position. The film running was ‘Hercules Unchained’ starring Steve Reeves not that we cared much of what was on offer. Smashing cinema I visited it a couple of times after that, when more awake !
Here’s a photo from 1996.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58677517@N03/?saved=1
Another photo here.
View link
Here is a photo from 1991.
View link
Please try again here for the photo.
View link
When the Palladium converted to Cinemascope in 1956, the work was done over the course of a weekend, they started after the last show on Saturday night and completed it in time for the first show on Monday.
Pwllheli cinemas were closed on Sundays anyway in those days, so they did not lose on any performances. The new screen was wall to wall & in front of the procenium arch, also there was no need to lose any seats for the conversion. The old Kinematograph Cinema Directory is incorrect in attributing the Palled with 800 seats, as it was always 702. I have the old monthly programme, when i find it I’ll know the exact date.
Here is a photo from 1991 during the supermarket years, It’s not the same without the name Palladium on that white wall.
View link
This is a not very sharp photo, as it was taken from a moving coach, I only just noticed it as we were passing, if the camera was not already in my hand I’d of missed it.
I’m only including it as the building was still open at the time, albeit only for bingo. I think it was around 1999.
View link
Forgot to mention I’m from Wales,rather to far for me to check it out myself.
Can anyone help me ? when on holiday in 1992 in Southern California we stopped at a market which was held in a drive in theatre. I noticed that the projection booth’s port holes were just that,I mean ROUND windows.
This place is somewhere between San Diego & the Mexican Border,I have photos and when I find them I’ll paste them on here.