Vue Leamington Spa
Portland Place,
Leamington Spa,
CU32 5EP
Portland Place,
Leamington Spa,
CU32 5EP
5 people
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Showing 17 comments
I have also posted a couple more pictures, if you zoom in close on the 75th Anniversary pictures you will see the time capsule film can being placed by yours truly and Femi
I was Apollo’s first General Manager at Leamington Spa and ran the Cinema for fourteen years. Taking the concept from a single screen through to six. Witnessing first-hand the fire and the floods. I can confirm Anne Diamond visited many times and so did Adam Woodyatt from EastEnders. The time capsule was placed by TV news Presenter Femi Oke and contained a radio tape from BBC CWR, a Television script from Central TV, an admission ticket from the day and a few memorabilia bits and bobs that the staff collated at the time that went into the film can. Apollo Cinemas as a company (sadly, now ceased trading) was eventually sold to VUE
The company the purchased the Bath Company assets was “The Stratford Picture House Company Ltd., which was associated with Clifton Management. Sidney Clift only had 10% stake in the company which was why it survived. The Birmingham accountants Harold Brown. Solicitor Howard Baker (also Ranks Midland Legal Man). Dr Rowe and Ken Jones Snr were the main owners Having Sir Sidney Clift on the board gave the Theatre booking power. On the big fall out 1962 Those cinemas with this ownership configuration joined up with the BT Davis Group of Cinemas to form Theatre Administration Ltd.,
The Regal Cinema was built in 1931 by the Bath Cinema (Leamington) Company which was owned by my gt aunt Edith Devis. The Bath Cinema Company also built the Bath (Clifton) Cinema and bought the Scala and Regent Cinemas, finally owning all 4 Leamington Cinemas. The Company also had sites for two further cinemas in Warwick and Stratford. The Bath Cinema Company sold all 4 cinemas to the Clifton Cinema Company in 1937.
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 ..
For Mike Blakemore an image of the press cutting for this is attached as a photo. The April 1996 date given in the overview is likely a closure date for conversion to four screens which it became from 12 July 1996. A few other notes is that a time capsule was placed in the building in October 1994. Also at the time of the takeover in 1993 the cinemas major stakeholder was facing a murder charge on the Isle of Man where he lived at the time. A fire took hold in the building in April 2000 which distrupted operations for several weeks.
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
Second screen of the conversion project was opened by Anne Diamond on 16 December 1994. “Miracle on 34th Street” and “Junior” were the two films shown that day.
I’ve uploaded photos of Peter Lee’s models of this cinema (the original cinema and the Apollo addition). These were on display, with models of the Regal, Minehead, and the Playhouse, Beverley, during the visit by the Cinema Theatre Association in July 2000.
I have now loaded the picture of the Stage area before the 70mm conversion..
Hello, I would like to retrieve a piece/part of this Barbieri cinema organ, do anyone of you know of someone who may have (also a part to throw)? Thank you!
Hello madorganplayer, have you got a person to contact for more information? Thank you! Giorgio Italy
The basis of the organ is i believe in a church in the midlands with the console reduced to two manuals and church pipework substituted for the the original.
Hi Giorgio. The organ from Leamington must have been broken up at some point, as the pipework is for sale on ebay;
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FIVE-CINEMA-ORGAN-RANKS-OF-PIPES-/330783653260?pt=UK_MusicalInstr_Keyboard_RL&hash=item4d043dfd8c
Regards
Steve.
Hello, somebody knows where is “Barbieri 3Manual/6Rank organ” that equipped The Regal Cinema? Thank you! Giorgio Italy
There is a beautiful model, part of the Peter Lee collection on show in the narrow gauge room of the Enigma cinema in Bletchley Park. It shows both original style as well as present Apollo.Well worth a visit.
The Theatre along with all the other Theatres in Leamington. was owned by. “The Stratford Picture House Co.Ltd., (Founded by Bosco ) I have a number of pictures in my files of The Regal before the 70mm was installed in the 60’s I will load them as soon as I find wher she had put them…..