The Independent Cinema operator that took over in 1958 was BT Davis who bought it as a job lot of 5 Cinema off Rank. Those included Chepstow. Lydney. Monmouth which the family still own. The fifth at the moment I cannot remember.. age.. Later he took over Odeon’s Henley on Thames and Marlow.
Well with Cameron Mackintosh running the Theatre we can be assured that He will do a good job of the restoration.. I remember “The Crazy Gang Shows” Brilliant..
Terry. The Hippodrome Nuneaton was ABC’s first Theatre in the Town. Which was in Partners ship with Leon Salberg and Sidney Clift… The Ritz was owned and built by Union Cinemas which was part of the take over by ABC… I used to do relief Management at the Ritz when I was a Lad :o)
Terry Ken Roe and I are doing research on this problem funny enough I believe the Sunderland Theatre was done By George Alexander. When ABC Built Cinemas they employed a more local Architect to supervise stages of construction as it is required by Law.. Which probably why the name has appeared.. Glen’s assistant C. Jack Foster was the Ex PCT Architect by the way So that is how the connection was made.. Take a Look at the Queens Cinema Wolverhampton you see the design repeated again..
Most of the Tower was an emergency staircase for the projection box and taking a flow from the Ballroom. The Clock was a slave type ran from the Managers Office
Hmm. Yes ABC and other companies started closing their 3rd cinemas in towns.. to avoid the cost of conversion.. The sale of these theatres defrayed the expense of conversion to Cinemascope type formats. ABC did not have many true Fox Cinemascope sites.. Cinemascope was patented in 1917 by Bausch & Lomb.. Although this had run out by the time Fox decided to try the format, they used their lenses.. Cinemas that shown Cinemascope in the first period used Bausch and Lomb.. ABC and Rank where cheapskates and used Delrama and Ranks own make.. I may add that I am Ex real ABC and Independent… I had put a picture of the Capitol Interior as a Bingo operation on and it has disappeared of the site. ?
The Theatre had rear projection. When the Tabs needed opening or closing a Projectionist had to cross the stage and use a handle to operate them… Up until the day it closed as a Cinema…
The Theatre was purchased off Hugh Orr by the Local Council but leased back on an odd deal… It was done for Hugh Orr’s lifetime So when he died It closed…
Very Vaguely after all these years .. After all I had to cope with being in the office with Joan Cooks as well :o) I have a feeling we have met.. Jonny Simmons was a Top class manager and had style of the old school
@ Donna That is a long time ago I only had one Asian ever work for me and All I can remember His Family had a factory directly opposite the Old Regal Handsworth… The Family took over the Regal from Mecca Bingo and turned it back to a Cinema… If my memory is right “the Prime Minister of India Visited the Regal..
This Cinema was not built for Odeon Theatre Ltd., which was purely a Management company .. It was the Odeon Theatre (Newport)Ltd., and had 50 Shareholders With Oscar and Lilly having 100 shares each.. As was all built Odeons ..
The Independent Cinema operator that took over in 1958 was BT Davis who bought it as a job lot of 5 Cinema off Rank. Those included Chepstow. Lydney. Monmouth which the family still own. The fifth at the moment I cannot remember.. age.. Later he took over Odeon’s Henley on Thames and Marlow.
Well with Cameron Mackintosh running the Theatre we can be assured that He will do a good job of the restoration.. I remember “The Crazy Gang Shows” Brilliant..
Picture Curtesy of Carline Lane.
The Site is now a Co-op Supermarket..
Terry. The Hippodrome Nuneaton was ABC’s first Theatre in the Town. Which was in Partners ship with Leon Salberg and Sidney Clift… The Ritz was owned and built by Union Cinemas which was part of the take over by ABC… I used to do relief Management at the Ritz when I was a Lad :o)
Terry Ken Roe and I are doing research on this problem funny enough I believe the Sunderland Theatre was done By George Alexander. When ABC Built Cinemas they employed a more local Architect to supervise stages of construction as it is required by Law.. Which probably why the name has appeared.. Glen’s assistant C. Jack Foster was the Ex PCT Architect by the way So that is how the connection was made.. Take a Look at the Queens Cinema Wolverhampton you see the design repeated again..
The Co-operative Supermarket is now open.
Most of the Tower was an emergency staircase for the projection box and taking a flow from the Ballroom. The Clock was a slave type ran from the Managers Office
Wetherspoon’s have announced that the pub will close Saturday 19th March…
Correct to the credit Hickton and Farmer designed the new frontage
Hmm At Terry. You are being generous with your description of the Vue.. I would have said and NCP Car Park.
Hmm. Yes ABC and other companies started closing their 3rd cinemas in towns.. to avoid the cost of conversion.. The sale of these theatres defrayed the expense of conversion to Cinemascope type formats. ABC did not have many true Fox Cinemascope sites.. Cinemascope was patented in 1917 by Bausch & Lomb.. Although this had run out by the time Fox decided to try the format, they used their lenses.. Cinemas that shown Cinemascope in the first period used Bausch and Lomb.. ABC and Rank where cheapskates and used Delrama and Ranks own make.. I may add that I am Ex real ABC and Independent… I had put a picture of the Capitol Interior as a Bingo operation on and it has disappeared of the site. ?
The Theatre had rear projection. When the Tabs needed opening or closing a Projectionist had to cross the stage and use a handle to operate them… Up until the day it closed as a Cinema…
The Theatre was purchased off Hugh Orr by the Local Council but leased back on an odd deal… It was done for Hugh Orr’s lifetime So when he died It closed…
Very Vaguely after all these years .. After all I had to cope with being in the office with Joan Cooks as well :o) I have a feeling we have met.. Jonny Simmons was a Top class manager and had style of the old school
@ Donna That is a long time ago I only had one Asian ever work for me and All I can remember His Family had a factory directly opposite the Old Regal Handsworth… The Family took over the Regal from Mecca Bingo and turned it back to a Cinema… If my memory is right “the Prime Minister of India Visited the Regal..
Yes I was the Company General manager and I managed the Theatre.
Hi Donna Did he come from hadswort ? and have a brummi accent
If my memory is right Peter Macrae was assistant Manager at the ABC New Street Birmingham before me..
This Cinema was not built for Odeon Theatre Ltd., which was purely a Management company .. It was the Odeon Theatre (Newport)Ltd., and had 50 Shareholders With Oscar and Lilly having 100 shares each.. As was all built Odeons ..
Correction This frontage was Hickton and Farmer and not Robinson will be doing a correction and repairing the picture
PS Keep up the Good work David
SVCT Belonged to John Maxwell and was the precursor to BIP then ABPC.. (ABC Cinemas Ltd.,)
Hi Sam I hate to say this But there may be only Eddie Hopkins who was an assistant manager alive who lives in West Bromwich I believe ..
@ quellaverde Yes you are right. Age… We used to own the Green Lane cinema as well