Coliseum Cinema
Station Road,
Porthmadog,
LL49 9HD
Station Road,
Porthmadog,
LL49 9HD
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The Coliseum Cinema opened on 20th July 1931 with Greta Garbo in "Romance". Seating was provided for 630 in stalls and circle levels.
The game of bingo was introduced one night a week in the 1970’s. The Coliseum was closed in September 1983 with "Friday the 13th – Part III". There was a large protest at the closure and the local townspeople rallied together and launched their own company to run the cinema.
It re-opened on 6th July 1984 with Kevin Bacon in "Footloose". The original 1931 projectors were replaced in 1994, when Barclay’s Bank donated some ‘nearly-new’ projectors that had been in their training cinema in London. The Coliseum Cinema is staffed by volunteers.
It was closed in late-January 2011, but there hopes it could soon re-open.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 14 comments)
Here is another photo of the Coliseum Cinema.
The original owner was Captain W.E. Pritchard, who also owned cinemas in Pwllheli,Blaenau Festiniog, Pen y Groes and Caernarvon. Fopllowing his death the cinemas were sold to Paramount Picture Theatres in 1945 and it was the death of Guy Baker, that groups owner that caused closure of the Coliseum in 1983. All Bakers cinemas closed following his death. The cinemas projectionist who stayed on when it re-opened on a volunteer basis was Bob Piercy, who was the longest serving projectionist in the world when he eventually passed away.
The projectors during Mr Bob Piercey’s time were 2 Kalee 12 projectors, which he worshipped. The ones donated by Barclays Bank which Mr Roe referred to are Cinemeccanica Victoria 8 machines.
Although the new projectors had arrived Bob did not have a chance to work on them as he passed away at the age of 80 before they had been installed.
He was quite a witty character, he once remarked during the seventies that if he had to show any more Italian movies he’d soon be eating nothing but spagetti !There were in those days quite a lot of dubbed Italian pictures being released in this country such as “Hercules Unchained” “Revolt Of The Slaves” etc. Many had an American star and he or she were the only ones with their lips in sync.
Have to say though although these films were not very good they were certainly spectacular and colourfull.
Afraid the Coliseum is in Crisis, it may have to close it’s doors within the next two weeks unless they get a cash injection, the building needs much work on it. Its not run voluntary as intimated on Mr Roe’s Contribution, they empoy 10 part time staff,although I beleive they have a different manager every week from the chamber of trade,which is voluntary.
Maybe the answer is to try and run it with vounteers as quite a few manage to do so succesfully these days.
Although the cinema is currently closed, much is going on behind the scenes to try to preserve its future.They have already held a ghost hunters night featuring the stars of the TV programme to raise cash and are currently running a signature list for supporters to try to get grant aid to carry out the necessary repair work and are also seeking suggestions on how further cash can be raised. A meeting to be held in the next couple of weeks will tell if re-opening is viable. The cinemas most profitable period is fast approaching – the main holiday period!
The Classic Television Series Film Rushes of the “The Prisoner where shown nightly after the normal programme finished.. and I think White Night Film did the same. Hope it manages to re-open
Please click on photos for picture and info on the projection room.
Hmm Kalee 12 Projectors with drum shutters Universal sound heads (When first put in would have had sound on disc as well) and I think Kaylee Commadore arcs..
I think the arc lamps are Vulcan.
Good read,thanks for the insight.