Maxime Cinema
High Street,
Blackwood,
NP2 1AH
High Street,
Blackwood,
NP2 1AH
2 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 37 comments found
Christian’s input is interesting. I have also heard that Diana Dors visited the Maxime although like Christian I’m not able to expand on the reasons why as I’ve never been able to dig deeper on this idea.
The cinema did screen The Exorcist and was given some rough media coverage as a result although the queues were considerable so the negative press coverage certainly attracted the patrons.
Unfortunately for me I wasn’t allowed in to the Maxime to see the Exorcist as I was 15 at the time and turned away by the ticket seller in the box office who recognised me from numerous visits, with a children’s ticket… lol I had to go to another cinema in the valleys to see the film.
It was a similar story with Emmanuelle, another film shown at the cinema attracting considerable press attention. Others included Straw Dogs, Soldier Blue, Last Tango in Paris and Clockwork Orange {I’m certain this was shown}.
Good to read that like myself Christian enjoyed his experience of the Maxime.
The final film to run at The Maxime was the Eddie Murphy comedy, Coming To America. There was no B feature as Screen Two had long been made redundant.
I’ve many fond childhood memories of this cinema and definitely remember the lengthy ‘hype’ queues for ET, Ghostbusters et al. I’m sure that local church goers encouraged folks to boycott the cinema for it’s decision to show The Exorcist and The Evil Dead.
I’m 95% certain that the first film I saw there was Watership Down.
It is my understanding that the late Diana Dors visited the cinema to mark an occasion there (possibly a reopening?) – but I cannot elaborate any more on that as it was before my birth and based on what older friends tell me.
Hi Puddle – you’ve not been able to add your report back to us following your planned visit to the cinema so I have to assume that you were not able to secure access. If you have been inside it would be great to learn of your findings?
Hey Puddle…
How did the visit to the former Maxime cinema go?
You got me jealous now, I cant wait to read how it went:)
GREAT NEWS, I have been given full run of the cinema to document the interior and projection room having had a conversation today with Lee the manager. Planning to complete this Saturday, thankfully before bingo starts. Let’s hope he wasn’t winding me up…
Hi Puddle – great to read your memories, be good to read your findings if you are able to get inside the former cinema. Esp if you can take any pics:) You would probably need to pay for a game of bingo of course.
For me it was usually the Hanbury and Cameo in Bargoed for AA and X rated movies, the Maxime box office woman was very strict indeed. I also got into the Abertillery cinemas as well as the Ebbw Vale one but rarely the Blackwood cinema.
The background music used must have been a compilation album and like you I can remember them all being instrumentals.
Unsure if the CTA has done a feature on this venue, they had not done so a while back?
I read with great interest the history of this cinema which I have been trying to find out for some time, my thanks to everyone who have cleared so many questions I had. I have tremendous fondness for this cinema which I spent my early Saturday mornings but later as a spotty youth trying to see as many films as poss that mother would fund and attemps to get in to see the X certs. Failed miserably with this cinema but had no problems in getting in at the Olympia in Tredegar to see Last Tango, The Omen etc. The memories are still vivid of the Maxime’s Gold Festoon Curtains floodlit at the bottom of the stage with mostly gold and red lights waiting patiently for the curtains to lift, lights out and with me mate to try and chat up any girls we knew from school who would show an interest. I also remember the songs played while waiting for the presentation, all were instrumentals at the time. The Shadows, Mantovani and Herb Albert. I rencently made a compilation cd of all I could remember about thirteen songs in total Great memories, Great times. Pleased to see that this Art Deco Gem it is still standing and looked after still open for Bingo in Feb 2010. Must try and get inside to see what’s changed or altered, will update if I ever manage it.
Should you be interested in Cinema Theatre buildings then please support The Cinema Theatre Association and give this charity your support by becoming a member
Photo of the Maxime from the mid sixties.
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Hi Element 54,
The Capitol Blackwood already has a listing here {/theaters/28108/
}. Comments placed by Editha and I already draw reference to the Capitols use as a theatre and market. Unfortunately other than what we’ve included in the text under this venue there is little else confirmed. Editha once worked there while I’ve experienced the cinema as a patron and also entered the venue while it was closed and unused following a period of use as bingo. This cinema had a good size stage with fly tower.
Additionally if you view my website there are images of the venue alongside additional written information. If you have any further information please do add. Also, view my website, if you discover anything incorrect please do let me know.
http://cinemawales.homestead.com/INDEX.html
A separate page for the Capitol(Blackwood)could be started. The book I found said it was built as a live theatre and later used as market before becoming a cinema.
I’ve also spent time in the local library and found nothing – surpriding because the Argus did cover the original closure of the cinema and included a feature when the new screen 1 and 2 opened in the former balcony. they probably covered the closure of screen 1 and 2 later too, it left most of the SE valleys without a cinema.
Bingo operates in the old stalls, when passing by it never seems that busy so assume bingo days are numbered…
Info on the Capitol is patchy and conflicting, suggesting the cinema opened after the Maxime which was purpose built. Unlikely the Capitol will have opened for folm after the Maxime was built so must have been before. The library in Newport might be a better port of call for info esp through the south wales argus archives…
Very little found in the library at Blackwood, other than a comment in a book that suggested 1936 as the opening date, but that’s very dubious as the same author’s caption to a picture of the Capitol ( c 1950) shows a CinemaScope screen in front of the previous proscenium.(i.e. about 5 years out).
Bingo still seems to be in operation in some part of the former Maxime.
Some Library research is needed on the subject, starting in the one which has the local paper archive.It was very common in the 1930’s for extensive illustrated features to appear when new cinemas opened, and these have been the source of a number of my submissions.
Possibly no partnership but maybe the cinema was acquired by Withers from Corne.
The question was raised by finding another cinema re-named Maxime when acquired by Corne, who had a company called “Cornell Cinemas” amongst others.
When I was at school in the late 1940’s , early 1950s Maxine was a very common name for girls. I knew quite a few Maxines. On the other hand Maxime was not a common word – therefore it is more than likely that local people unconsciously substituted the name Maxine, during their conversations, for a name that they were unfamiliar with and therefore not in the habit of using.
Hello Ian – good to read your comments. Maxime does seem to be used as a cinema name from time to time during the thirties even so, it is rare. I’m not altogether sure of the origins. I realised there was a cinema in Swansea that shared the name and there is another in Wales originally named Maxime.
Same here Editha { you managed to look at my website yet? – guess you’ve not as you could have emailed me}.
Element 54, seems as though it is down to you to throw more light on any partnership or link beetween JW and MC?
Sorry cannot help – the first time that I ever heard of Max Corne was on this website.
While researching the JW circuit i’ve seen no mention of any working relationship between Albert Withers and Max Corne although it does sound interesting. How about you Editha, have you any knowledge of any form of working partnership between these too?
The Odeon Sketty, in Swansea was originally called The Maxime until Odeon took it over in 1947.
/theaters/20000/
Another cinema of this name ,in Wiltshire, described on another site, took the name Maxime when taken over by Max Corne. Both Corne and Withers had interests in cinema companies mostly in South Wales and the West of England.
Greetings, I never actually met A. Jackson Withers but I did several times get a sight of him. During my time at Warner Pathe he attended several of their promotional receptions. These took the form of lunches at either the Royal or the Park hotels to which anyone with a booking ability, from miner’s welfare hall secretaries to the likes of the bigger circuit operators,were invited. My tasks at these lunches was handing out promotional material as the guests left. At that time he was just another name to me.I later realised that he was the king pin of South Wales Cinemas but never saw him again once I’d taken up itinerant projecting.
I can confirm that the official name is MAXIME, my website includes a photograph from the late 1960’s or early 70’s and the cinema name is clearly identified. I’m unsure why it appears as Maxine in the header here, probably an oversight.
The sunday performance at the Maxime was always advertised by a poster outside the cinema, tp the far left as you look at the lower level of the fasade. It was always an X rated double bill or an AA as I was not old enough then to attend, this would have been the late 1960’s.
Was the name of this cinema the Maxine or the Maxime, as both appear in this posting, how was it listed in the Kinematograph Year Book? A pre-war edition may also reveal the ownership at that time.
Sunday cinema in Wales was controversial subject, like Sunday opening of pubs. When it was finally allowed some Councils wouldn’t allow “X” films on Sundays so the “Sunday Only” trailers were for old re-runs.
Hi Editha
The Sunday double bills that I recall were always X rated horrors although I’m sure that towards the very late 1960’s there were X rated double bills of an adult nature. It never crossed my mind that these double bills were screened as a result of the lower rental charges. I often wondered why the Maxine didn’t just play the usual programme on a Sunday.
Unsure if they did so during your time there, however it was always impressive when a foyer display was used to promote a film. I clearly remember the CHITTY, Chitty Bang Bang car on display in the foyer for the run of that film at the Maxine and Herbie, The LOVE BUG car on display when that film was playing.
Did you ever meet A Jackson when working for the circuit? I can Understand that Julian Hodge would not be seen, I believe he was mostly the financier.
Hello Element 54 – Thank you for your interesting contribution. I’ve not seen mention of Max Corne while researching this cinema and your question is interesting, do let me know if you have any further information?
I also agree with your comments that the Plaza â€" North Road, Cardiff was the best of the local cinemas around Cardiff â€" a real shame they demolished it.