Comments from Mike_Blakemore - Cinema Treasures

Mike_Blakemore commented about Clifton Great Barr on Feb 3, 2012 at 12:36 pm

SIR.. Sydney W. Clift and Satchwell & Roberts must be turning in their graves.. This was their masterpeice..

Mike_Blakemore commented about Cine Capitol on Jan 27, 2012 at 5:48 pm

I took the photos around 1980-81.. The Name of Cinema Attracted me as it was the name of one of Ours in the Birmingham UK.. More information most Welcome

Mike_Blakemore commented about Bull Ring Cinema on Jan 24, 2012 at 2:24 pm

The Bull Ring Cinema was last operated by “The Lyons Estate.. along with the Globe and 50% of the Maypole Cinema

Mike_Blakemore commented about Imperial Cinema on Jan 23, 2012 at 8:32 am

Hi Keith You are correct… I live in Walsall and my family had interests in the Walsall Theatre Company known as WTC.. The Palace had a sign on the side of building “The Palace Electric Thatre” Home of Moving Talking Films… Hmm Giving my age away…

Mike_Blakemore commented about Cinema on Jan 19, 2012 at 2:35 pm

Strange… Being as it was a Cinema from the 1920. It do’s not need Planning Permission. I had a similar case in the 1990’s..

Mike_Blakemore commented about Kinmel Camp Cinema on Jan 18, 2012 at 10:38 am

Hmmm.. I thought I’d betten Ken this time.. Damm.. Damm.. :@)

Mike_Blakemore commented about Birchfield Picture House on Jan 16, 2012 at 4:24 pm

This is the Refurb done by Moderisation Ltd., in the 1950’s

Mike_Blakemore commented about Waldorf Cinema on Jan 16, 2012 at 5:20 am

This insertion has thrown up interesting design thoughts See Tonyk’s photo

Mike_Blakemore commented about Regal on Jan 15, 2012 at 6:40 am

This is the Front stalls entrance without flood. The Regal was Posh.. It had 3 entrances

Mike_Blakemore commented about Bryn Mawr Theatre on Jan 13, 2012 at 2:21 pm

Interesting Name… Its Welsh.. Bryn means Hill or mont Mawr means Big or Great… There must have been settlers from Wales…

Mike_Blakemore commented about ABC New Street on Jan 10, 2012 at 7:31 am

To Johncine. It was very common for cinemas to do this. Odeon new street opened side masking and dropped top masking. as did the Gaumont. Odeon Queensway. Our cinemas The Capitol. Stockland Green.. A Number only moved the top masking. Dependant on the Pross opening and achieving the biggest picture at a true ratio was the main thing and not ending up with a very small screen..

Mike_Blakemore commented about Regal Picturehouse on Jan 9, 2012 at 6:42 am

The Real Regal that stood there was owned by B.T. Davis and K.B.K. Jones who bought if off The Rank Organisation
I was B.T. Davis General Manager in Birmingham

Mike_Blakemore commented about Regal Picturehouse on Jan 9, 2012 at 6:40 am

I will be loading Pictures of The Interior and Exterior pictures when I have found where my mother put them for saftey :o)

Mike_Blakemore commented about Regal Cinema on Jan 8, 2012 at 4:27 pm

The Birmingham Exhibitor Was BT Davis and K Jones Snr. at the same time they bought Regal Henley on Thames Will load Pictures when I can find where my mother put them for saftey

Mike_Blakemore commented about Rex Cinema on Jan 8, 2012 at 1:55 pm

Kenneth Friese-Green was the sone of William Friese-Green. One of the Fathers of Cinema.. Kenneth’s brother was Claude. The founder of Elstree Studios.. Kenneth’s son carried on running the Family company Modernisation Ltd., They did copus works during the Cinemascope installing era. John developed multi cinema conversions that where sound proof.. Un like those who tried to copy..

Mike_Blakemore commented about Regal Cinema on Jan 2, 2012 at 5:50 am

Steve. A lot of the photos I have put on here, are from those I collected whilst working with ABC-EMI. My late mother had put my collection in safe places around the home and have been doing Time-team methods to find them. Its nice to get thanks for my efforts. As I am fing pictures I am loading onto my hard drive as some are now decaying with age. and the pencil is fading. :o) Like me… I must also thank Ken for doing infomation on Cinemas that I don’t have details of..

Mike_Blakemore commented about ABC Bridgeton on Dec 31, 2011 at 7:39 pm

Have loaded pictures of better times

Mike_Blakemore commented about Regal Cinema on Dec 31, 2011 at 6:57 am

What is of interest is that Harry Wheedon of Odeon fame was a junior archiect at the Harold Seymore Scott Practice..

Mike_Blakemore commented about Palace Cinema on Dec 29, 2011 at 1:47 pm

I have found the picture from the other side…

Mike_Blakemore commented about French art house shuts its doors in protest on Dec 28, 2011 at 5:45 pm

The Cinema Le Balzac has shut its doors in protest ??? I do not understand the point in shutting.. Being a retired Theatre – Cinema Owner I found there is no such thing as customer loyalty at the end of the day.. Shuting in protest serves no purpose, other then helping the Big boys..

Mike_Blakemore commented about Cannon Peterborough on Dec 28, 2011 at 3:49 pm

I have a picture of the of the stage. My late Mother put a load of my photos in a safe place.. Will load when I find them…

Mike_Blakemore commented about Palace Theatre on Dec 27, 2011 at 1:14 pm

In Birmingham there was the same problem with the Alexandra Theatre.. The original Bars where an after thought. Satchwell and Roberts where noted for their fine Cinemas.. They Did Art Deco first in 1924…. I Think They could have been the first in UK..

Mike_Blakemore commented about Palace Cinema on Dec 27, 2011 at 12:54 pm

See My comments of the Picture

Mike_Blakemore commented about Regal Cinema on Dec 22, 2011 at 7:07 pm

Had added a picture of the Regal ballroom after its refurb 1959

Mike_Blakemore commented about ABC Edinburgh on Dec 21, 2011 at 3:27 pm

I have load a picture of the interior View (i hope I have loaded right one. (The pencil on back faded)