Albert Hall Cinema

The Albert Hall opened on 19th May 1864 and was built as a concert hall and reading rooms. In 1914 it was screening C.W. Poole's great 'Myriorama' show. The frontage was re-furbished in 1920 and in 1922 it underwent an internal rebuilding to the design of architect Charles Tamlin Ruthin. From August 1922 it had re-opened as a full time cinema and was operated by South Wales Cinemas Ltd.

It was leased to Union Cinema from March 1937 and fully taken over by them in October 1937 (managed by Associated British Cinemas-ABC). From 1st October 1939 it was taken back by South Wales Cinemas Ltd. The Cardiff based firm of Jackson Withers took control from 1955 and they operated it until 1st November 1976 when they were taken over by the Rank Organisation.

The Albert Hall was closed on 3rd December 1977 and converted into a Top Rank Bingo Club which remains open today as a Mecca Bingo Club.

This is a photo of Cradock Street from around 1880 and here is one from around 1906.

Hello! does anyone have any info, large or small on the other great cinemas that swansea no longer has. There was The Castle, The Carlton and The glorious Plaza. I know the foyer area of the Carlton is now a bookshop (auditorium demolished!). The Castle is complete but is a lazer game place!!!!!!. The Plaza on the Kingsway was demolished sometime in the 60's to be replaced by the very grand Odeon wich in turn has now closed. Swansea now only has the Odeon Parc Tawe which is multiplex and the Vue which opened in Oct 06, again a multiplex. As i said any info however little would be fantastic. I spent my childhood Saturdays at these picture palaces (well except the Plaza as i was a little too young) Ian Howells

Photo of the Albert when used as a bingo hall (picture 1989) here:-

http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/328111251/

The above picture shows what a grand building the Albert Hall is. I would love to see some interior pictures. I rember the main foyer being very grand and proberbly the height of the building with large double staircase leading to the circle on the right as you entered. The box office and concession shop were directly facing the street. I will try myself to get some interior pics on a future visit but maybe someone already has some??

The Albert Hall Swansea closes its doors for the last time as a bingo hall on Saturday 31st March 2007.

I was in Swansea a few days ago unaware that it was to close (funny how these things are kept quiet locally!!) and asked if i could possibly take a few photos inside. The guy i spoke to was very interested but the manager said no photos due to gambling laws!!! Then i was told that it was actualy closeing down for good on the 31st March and if i came back after that date i could take as many photos as i liked. I asked what was going to happen to the building and was told that when Mecca vacate on the 31st they have to remove everything because its a listed building. Its being considered as a music venue- perfect setting for classical orchestras etc i think!
Im not sure how so many photos of bingo halls get onto this site -i can can only imagine cameras being sneaked in and when the bingo caller yells 'eyes down' the cameras came out! True/False?
ANYWAY. I couldnt handle the thought of maybe never getting some photos of the auditorium so later that day i returned and took out membership. Later still i returned again and entered the Albert Hall for the first time since it closed in 77. Wow wow wow! Firstly i was taken aback by the sheer size of the auditorium and how deep it was. As i proceeded to take a 'table with a view' i began to take in the absolute beauty of the place- incedible tal also with fantastic ceiling decor. It's very similar to an old music hall set up. Where the screen once was is now clearly visable as a very large concert platform with wonderful paneled decor. All mouldings on the circle fronts and everywhere are intact and everthing in perfect condition. If it closed today and was given a paint job of cream and gold it would be nothing short of spectacular. Well i sat there and the games began- this used to seat anything between 2000 & 2500 as a cinema but i counted no more than 30/40 there this night- i had my camera out and started to click away as best i could. I sat remembering seeing a very diverse programe there as a teenager- The Towering Inferno- Benji- Man About The House movie along with other tv show films- The Sound Of Music- Planet of the Apes -Mary Poppins and al those double bills! wow! At the end of the night i just walked around and took as many as i could with nobody looking at me twice including the staff. Now im not sure how to upload the pictures at the moment- a friend is going to help me very soon. I know you will be impressed with inside and i look foreward to all your comments. Ian
PS i needed number 2 to win £2287 !

Well guys only just over a week left now until Mecca close the doors on this magnificent building. Im still waiting for the tools to upload the 7 or 8 pics i have of the building inside and out. Also i still intend to be there 3 days after it closes for a more varied set of pictures. Lets hope Swansea announces pretty soon what the Albert Hall will be used for. Its listed so we can sleep at night- for now anyway.

Dear editors! When will we be able to upload pictures to Cinema Treasures -its seems a very long time thias facility has been off line!!! Please inform us of any progress please!

Ian, The 'add a photo' facility has been off for well over a year now. Even if and when it does come back, it will only place one photo on the top of each page. The best way to share your photographs is to open a free Flickr or Webshots account and download your photos to that and then link on to Cinematreasures pages as lostmemory or Ian did above.

Looking forward to your input!

Thanks again Ken! Once more you come up the goods. Ive asked this question a few times on the site and your the only one to reply. I have my photos on Flickr but im terrible with computers but im now going to try what you just explained! Dont hold your breath tho!!!

I really dont remember much about the presentation of the movies i saw here in the 70s and 80s but what kind of standard would you expect in these kind of cinemas back then.

Over the weekend, pretty much everyone i spoke to about the Albert Hall said it was going to be turned into flats soon! What happened to its listing, any one?

photos

Sorry guys im trying to upload some pics here from my file but havent worked it out yet! It will be worth it i promise!

Ian, I have no record of the Albert Hall being on the Listed buildings register. Still looking forward to your pics when you manage to up-load them.

Hey Ken! Yea im still trying here!
I was told by three separate people when i was in Swansea, one who works for Swansea City Council. Maybe it was wish full thinking on every ones behalf. I dont know if your familiar with the interior of the Albert Hall but it is stunning and should be listed.

View from top of Walters Road.IMG_0618

The Auditorium from front stalls.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtians/2220796788/

MY GOD IVE JUST POSTED MY FIRST PHOTO AFTER TRYING FOR NEARLY ONE YEAR! YEEEEEHA!

View from the top of Walters Road
http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtians/2219975233/

Side view after closure.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtians/2219974031/

Front view a few days after closure on March 31st 2007
http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtians/2220767644/

Side view of the top the building from a car park on The Kingsway.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtians/2219971371/

All boarded up and its future unknown.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtians/2219918627/

Projection Box
http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtians/2219918627/

Bingo callers booth with a lot of wonderful plaster work behind!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtians/2220811186/

Main foyer staircase.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtians/2220014545/

The huge stage area. The screen was placed halfway back in the middle of the red arches. If you sat in the front 5 or 6 rows the screen was very high.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtians/2220809108/

Close up of the stage area showing the great plaster work along the ceiling. Part of this collapsed a few years ago and Mecca were told to replace it as it is a listed building!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtians/2220807822/

View from rear stalls. the bottom of the screen would be along the bottom of the blue stage balcony installed for bingo.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtians/2220806480/

Full view of stage area taken from mid stalls.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtians/2220798986/

Great view showing the wonderful decor.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtians/2220797790/

View to stage from mid stalls.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtians/2219999071/

The Albert Hall (Swansea) and the Plaza (Cardiff) were the two flagship cinemas of the Jackson Withers circuit. Whilst I worked in the Warner Pathe Vaults, the company always made a point of repair shop checking any print that was to go to these cinemas.
As far as the Withers projectionists were concerned, you had reached the top flight of the local projectionists ladder if you could secure a position at the Albert. The Albert being considered far more projectionist friendly than the strictly run Plaza under the managership of Dai John.