Comments from Mike_Blakemore

Showing 76 - 100 of 670 comments

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Alexandra Palace Theatre on Feb 24, 2020 at 7:40 am

I believe the Theatre should be fully restored and not a conserved wreck of an auditorium

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Theatre Royal on Feb 18, 2020 at 5:36 am

For the British Members This was the first professional Booking that Bruce Forsyth performed in.

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Picture Playhouse on Feb 11, 2020 at 6:22 am

Was owned by Hewitson’s of Smethwick They built the Warwick Cinemas as a replacement for this then closed it. They used Horace Bradley who designed a number of theatres for Hewitson

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Warwick Cinema on Feb 11, 2020 at 6:19 am

The Vitoria Place House Group took over in the 1950’s From Hewitson’s of Smethwick when they put up a number of their cinemas up for auction One of the others was the Broadway Cinema Bristol Road which they sold off to Joseph Cohen of Jacey with 24 hours

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Ritz Cinema on Jan 31, 2020 at 5:22 am

Terry The Kine Year book has a very large number of inaccuracies as there was always a delay of up to date details reaching the company From 1954 seen the reduction of seating capacities due to CinemaScope being installed. The is legal a requirement for the front row in relationship to the top of the screen of 35 degrees Which seems to be being ignored now. But Probably the Local Licensing department no longer employ people that know what they are doing

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Regal Cinema on Jan 18, 2020 at 7:43 am

Boyo45. Theatre Administration (BT Davis was the Chairman of that company) was the Film Bookers of the Theatre The Cinema was owned by BT Davis and Ken Jones The BT Davis Family still own the Savoy at Monmouth

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Kingston Cinema on Jan 17, 2020 at 5:28 am

E.J. BRYANT Mentioned here was the main shareholder in the built Odeon Cinema Bradford and he built it. The Odeon was going to be a Clifton cinema

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Delicia Cinema on Sep 11, 2019 at 8:14 am

It was not the Arts Lab That was on a different site

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Bruce Cinema on Sep 11, 2019 at 7:01 am

Mr Woodruff main job was Managing a Woolworths

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Forum Cinema on Sep 11, 2019 at 6:41 am

You see the canopy sticking out on the right We are still short of a full on picture of the frontage during this period

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Odeon Queensway on Aug 30, 2019 at 4:34 pm

The James A Roberts architects practice designed the structure of the cinema plus all of the Queensway They employed Modernisation Ltd., The John Freeze-Greene company to designed and the fitout the interiors of both cinemas

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Cannon Wolverhampton on Jun 29, 2019 at 3:58 am

The Cinema is currently being demolished. 29.6.19

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Cannon Bristol Road on Jun 21, 2019 at 7:36 pm

The Cinemas was Built for the Victoria Playhouse company and later they sold to ABC

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Cannon Bristol Road on Jun 21, 2019 at 7:34 pm

dallasmovietheatres Correct C. Jack Foster was the Head of the ABC in House Architects Department Prior he was PCT’s Architect Jack Foster was assisted by Alan Morgan Modernisation Ltd., was the contractor

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Oxford Cinema on Jun 17, 2019 at 5:06 pm

I have loaded the original exterior of the Oxford Cinema

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Avion Super Cinema on Jun 7, 2019 at 8:34 pm

Correction He did over 90 cinema and 2 Theatres

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Empire Theatre on Feb 28, 2019 at 8:55 am

Mayfair Circuit Control was part of ABC .. Salberg and Clift Still held an interest in the building

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Vue Leamington Spa on Jan 15, 2019 at 5:29 am

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 ..

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Rosum Cinema on Jan 3, 2019 at 7:18 am

The Rosum name came from Ro was from Round Edgar Summers maiden name and Sum Came from his name. She was a share holder in her own right.

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Winson Green Picture House on Dec 4, 2018 at 7:45 am

I suggest looking at the Regal Evesham as they are rather similar

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Empire Cinema on Nov 9, 2018 at 5:54 am

CaptainC Clifton owned some 130 cinema most of ABC Cinemas in Birmingham including ABC New Street were leased off Clifton. They also owned 7 Odeons around the country and were principle shareholders in all Built Odeons. from 1954 after the major refurbishment was the most modern equipped cinema in Walsall until it was demolished For a number of years The Empire Played the Fox Cinemascope release in Walsall as They were the only cinema to have Real Cinemascope. Only the Rosum and the Avion outside of the town centre had it.

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Imperial Cinema on Nov 9, 2018 at 5:46 am

CaptainC The Imperial was up until the 1950’s would have got the secondary ABC release. plus the added weeks passed from the ABC Savoy as there was very little Retained for further weeks due to far more films being around then there are today From the 1960’s With fewer films it slipped into Classics. pass on from the ABC and the more shady class of films. Remember ABC did not play Rank Releases in those days.

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Rex Cinema on Sep 12, 2018 at 5:38 am

Picture Curtesy of Liz Lloyd

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Odeon Cinema Rhyl on Sep 2, 2018 at 6:30 am

My Favourite Real Odeon.

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about ABC Aston on Aug 23, 2018 at 6:40 am

ABC did not take over Cinema proprietors as such. There was a strange merging arrangement ABC bought out two of the principles Dent and Cohen who went on to found their own circuits. It must be remembered ASSOCIATED BRITISH CINEMAS LTD meant what it said on the label.. ABC managed the hall along with the others in the CP company even the ABC New Street.