@ Jaiom.. My advice.after 39 years in the business.. for what it worth Advoid 35mm Format Projection will finish completely the end 2013 RFrom my memory of Small Heath. You have no Chance Best place to re-open is The Clifton Great Barr.. This would make a good proportioned 5 screen Cinema..
Some 20 years ago I searched the country for Cinemas to take over… with difficulty.. (for Cinema use) How times have changed.. Now I am to old.. and wise.. alas
A Piece of Cinema Trivia. “Rodney Cinema” is named after a son of Walter Eckart. the owner of Star Cinema.. Rodney and his Brother (Who at the moment I cannot remember his name) Took over the Star Group)
Up until Bob Sankey The Freehold of the Theatre was owned by Essoldo.. (as was the Savoy Statford ABC Purchased the Freehold as they owned the Headlease and sold the Freehold to Bob Sankey.. I remember on one of my visits to see Bob Sankey he was moaning having to pay more then he thought he should.. On one friday night Bingo session someone dared to win the Jackpot.. He used to put a scowl on his face when he handed the cheque over.. The Players enjoyed seing his Face.. But it was a sham.. It did not bother him :o) Peter Lea is right about the Simplex Projectors..
I have put on a Picture Showing the Major Refurbishment.. Done by Modernisation Ltd., the company headed By John Friese-Greene.. Grandson of William Friese-Green..
I had a purchased a number of seats from this Theatre when it closed, for the Savoy Theatre Monmouth. We used these until we had enough funds to have brand new one..
Hi Gogsy In 1996 I had a minor stroke names I get mixed up.. We dealt with a Peter.. I think his nickname was kipper (Behind his back) plus Mangers and Projectionist at sites We supplied Focus. Appolo..Hutchinson.. Star.. Classic.. Even did Emergency repairs for Rank at Birmingham.. I got given a hugh amount of Pictures when I was younger.. and met the Big names in Cinema.. They where always very helpful.. when I praised the cinemas That they had built.. There lies tales.. Hmm.. These people that drop names get on my nerves. as I said to the Queen the other Day :o)
@ Bill Gibbs Hmm.. I remember when we played Purple Rain at Our cinema 2 reels had the wrong leaders and tails on.. The Film Played Sunday and was noticed by a customer on the Thursday night… Nobody else noticed. Friday morning it was corrected.. We traced the effending Circuit Cinema that played it before us and Complained ( I must add “Purple Rains was a very odd film anyway..
Hmm The 1975 interior shot looks like a Moorebird Ltd., (I am trying t be kind in my comment) Load of **** They did for interiors what “Herod” did for Childcare.. In that period they where EMI flavour of the month. (CHEAP)
Hutchinson Leisure Ltd., was the last company to show films for the summer season before they took over the Savoy.. Projection Equipment was Ross GC3 Picture mechs. RCA sound.. and I think they had BTH Zenons
Those pictures of the Projection boxes reminded me of our projection equipment at the ABC I was at. We had Philips DP75s Cakestand.. Morganite conversion and those nasty Milbank amps Hmm The automation I think was Gretton-Ward.. All those Fantastic Theatres wreaked by progress.. When I worked for ABC I did Relief Management at 30 plus Cinemas and only 3 I think are still open .. Run by independents..
Hi Gogsy… I had the picture from someone at Focus that I worked with, at ABC years previously. Was involved with supplying spare parts for Projectors etc. etc.. to Focus.. Brent Walker
That was over 30 years ago… Thanks for making me feel old…
@ andirichardson.. Those pics bought back memories.. When I did Relief Management there. I had to go on the stage to go to the Managers Flat to collect the theatre keys. The Stage Tabs when I was there was a proper Theatre flying set.. and The Drenchers.. The Lighting bars where still in place..
Mike_Blakemore on May 12, 2013 at 5:04 pm (remove) So.. Right.. Fanatical— Odeon… From when I started with ABC and finished being an Independent Circuit Director. I Expected and gave Presentation. to almost All Programmes. Inc of an Overture inc a suitable colour on the Tabs to set the mood.. Turning the sound up on Trademarks and screems Hmm.. The Bang of the Gong.. The Fox Fanfair.. The Roar of the Lion.. The Multiplex management are only interested in Coke and Popcorn sales. Cinema has lost “The Magic”
Hmm. There is no choice, by the end of this year no more 35mm… They must have digital.. The are current problems in getting prints of films.. Mind you have always been told that there is a shortage of prints.. Thankfully I have retired.. and I have not got the worry of finding the money to do it….
@ Jaiom.. My advice.after 39 years in the business.. for what it worth Advoid 35mm Format Projection will finish completely the end 2013 RFrom my memory of Small Heath. You have no Chance Best place to re-open is The Clifton Great Barr.. This would make a good proportioned 5 screen Cinema..
Thanks Marina 2 for the new pictures.. Bought back memories of the Holiday Reliefs (While the Manager was on Holiday) I did there.. In the 1970’s
@ Cravenb Visit Local Library. They should have copies of Local newspapers..
A Special Thanks to Len for the great pics of the Theatre
I have loaded a picture of the Royal Aquarium Theatre that is mentioned in the Profile..
The George Formby Film about Motorcycle racing in the TT was “No Limits”
Some 20 years ago I searched the country for Cinemas to take over… with difficulty.. (for Cinema use) How times have changed.. Now I am to old.. and wise.. alas
A Piece of Cinema Trivia. “Rodney Cinema” is named after a son of Walter Eckart. the owner of Star Cinema.. Rodney and his Brother (Who at the moment I cannot remember his name) Took over the Star Group)
Up until Bob Sankey The Freehold of the Theatre was owned by Essoldo.. (as was the Savoy Statford ABC Purchased the Freehold as they owned the Headlease and sold the Freehold to Bob Sankey.. I remember on one of my visits to see Bob Sankey he was moaning having to pay more then he thought he should.. On one friday night Bingo session someone dared to win the Jackpot.. He used to put a scowl on his face when he handed the cheque over.. The Players enjoyed seing his Face.. But it was a sham.. It did not bother him :o) Peter Lea is right about the Simplex Projectors..
I Understand That The Building is still owned by The “Butterworth” Family
I have put on a Picture Showing the Major Refurbishment.. Done by Modernisation Ltd., the company headed By John Friese-Greene.. Grandson of William Friese-Green..
In Wolverhampton in the UK. There is a very fine example of C J Phipps work “The Grand Theatre” Most of the original design is intact..
I had a purchased a number of seats from this Theatre when it closed, for the Savoy Theatre Monmouth. We used these until we had enough funds to have brand new one..
Hi Gogsy In 1996 I had a minor stroke names I get mixed up.. We dealt with a Peter.. I think his nickname was kipper (Behind his back) plus Mangers and Projectionist at sites We supplied Focus. Appolo..Hutchinson.. Star.. Classic.. Even did Emergency repairs for Rank at Birmingham.. I got given a hugh amount of Pictures when I was younger.. and met the Big names in Cinema.. They where always very helpful.. when I praised the cinemas That they had built.. There lies tales.. Hmm.. These people that drop names get on my nerves. as I said to the Queen the other Day :o)
@ Bill Gibbs Hmm.. I remember when we played Purple Rain at Our cinema 2 reels had the wrong leaders and tails on.. The Film Played Sunday and was noticed by a customer on the Thursday night… Nobody else noticed. Friday morning it was corrected.. We traced the effending Circuit Cinema that played it before us and Complained ( I must add “Purple Rains was a very odd film anyway..
Hmm The 1975 interior shot looks like a Moorebird Ltd., (I am trying t be kind in my comment) Load of **** They did for interiors what “Herod” did for Childcare.. In that period they where EMI flavour of the month. (CHEAP)
Hutchinson Leisure Ltd., was the last company to show films for the summer season before they took over the Savoy.. Projection Equipment was Ross GC3 Picture mechs. RCA sound.. and I think they had BTH Zenons
Notice the Chappell & Co Wagon.. They where the major piano dealers and the Countrys Biggest Music Publishers..
Those pictures of the Projection boxes reminded me of our projection equipment at the ABC I was at. We had Philips DP75s Cakestand.. Morganite conversion and those nasty Milbank amps Hmm The automation I think was Gretton-Ward.. All those Fantastic Theatres wreaked by progress.. When I worked for ABC I did Relief Management at 30 plus Cinemas and only 3 I think are still open .. Run by independents..
Hi Gogsy… I had the picture from someone at Focus that I worked with, at ABC years previously. Was involved with supplying spare parts for Projectors etc. etc.. to Focus.. Brent Walker That was over 30 years ago… Thanks for making me feel old…
@ andirichardson.. Those pics bought back memories.. When I did Relief Management there. I had to go on the stage to go to the Managers Flat to collect the theatre keys. The Stage Tabs when I was there was a proper Theatre flying set.. and The Drenchers.. The Lighting bars where still in place..
Mike_Blakemore on May 12, 2013 at 5:04 pm (remove) So.. Right.. Fanatical— Odeon… From when I started with ABC and finished being an Independent Circuit Director. I Expected and gave Presentation. to almost All Programmes. Inc of an Overture inc a suitable colour on the Tabs to set the mood.. Turning the sound up on Trademarks and screems Hmm.. The Bang of the Gong.. The Fox Fanfair.. The Roar of the Lion.. The Multiplex management are only interested in Coke and Popcorn sales. Cinema has lost “The Magic”
Hmm. There is no choice, by the end of this year no more 35mm… They must have digital.. The are current problems in getting prints of films.. Mind you have always been told that there is a shortage of prints.. Thankfully I have retired.. and I have not got the worry of finding the money to do it….
That is a great picture find
I have found an early picture of the interior