Just to clarify: The Alderley Edge Medical Centre occupies the front of the building, while the Festival Hall is housed in the former cinema auditorium, with access from the right hand side.
Sadly, in the spring of 2018 Flix was facing closure. However, thanks to an influx of new volunteers, it returned on Thursday 4th October (with “The Shape of Water”, starring Sally Hawkins and Michael Shannon) with a new regular day and a new direction, with emphasis on limited release and foreign language films; films that reflect Flix’s location near the School of Arts. Screenings will be followed by a discussion group, TalkFlix.
In July 2018 I was asked by Claudia Materna, at ODEON, for permission to use my May 1998 image in a display the company was creating, at the cinema, to celebrate this historic movie palace. I was only too pleased to provide this, and the history wall, a permanent installation, was unveiled in October 2018. In these days of ever more futuristic, state-of-the-art all-digital multiplexes (such as ODEON’s own Luxe brand) it is heartening that the company is so mindful of its proud heritage. (Similar history walls have been installed at the ODEONs at Exeter, Weston-super-Mare and Glasgow Quay.)
According to the book ‘The Cinemas of West Wales’, written by Alan Phillips and published in 2017, the Palace was first equipped with a hand-cranked Kalee projector, later replaced by a motorised version. The seats were basic wooden benches. Films were shown nightly from Monday to Friday, with two changes of programme each week. He says the Palace closed in 1928/29 – as Editha suggests, most likely when faced with the coming of sound.
Alan says the building is in retail use, and the cinema frontage remains. However, on a visit to Aberaeron in June 2018 I was unable to locate the building. I subsequently e-mailed Alan courtesy of his publishers, but received no reply.
I then contacted Frances Owen, of the local history society. She canvassed her members and, although no one could recall this cinema as such, one member did find a reference in a brief report in the Welsh Gazette of 2nd March 1916, which said that entertainment needs in the town are now being met by “Mr Cheetham’s Cosy Cinema in Market Street, where bright and entertaining programmes help to counteract the gloom occasioned by War and Worry”. No further address details were provided, but this must surely be the same building. Although the licence was issued to “The Cinema”, this indicates it opened as the Cosy. Assuming it adopted the name Palace later on, this could have been following a refurbishment or, possibly, a change of ownership.
I will report further as and when more information comes to light!
It is a great shame that this splendid cinema is not used for regular screenings. However, when I visited, in August 2018, the Hospitality Manageress was only too pleased to open up the auditorium, so at least I got to see it. You will notice, in the photos I took from the stage, the black curtain pulled halfway across the stalls. There is a matching curtain on the other side; these are used to produce a more intimate atmosphere when the full capacity is not required.
I visited on 11th August 2018 and saw “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” in the splendid Screen 1. Seating capacities are: Screen 1:756 (569 in the stalls + 187 in the VIP lounge [circle]); Screen 2:63; Screen 3:63 and Screen 4:55.
I visited Filmstaden Sergel on Saturday 11th August 2018 to see “Mission: Impossible – Fallout”, starring Tom Cruise, in Screen 1. I was intrigued to note the side slips down both sides, presumably a legacy of its theatre origins. Seating capacities are: Screen 1:512 [reduced from the 700 quoted in the Overview]; Screen 2:63; Screen 3:196; Screen 4:55; Screen 5:225; Screen 6:72; Screen 7:51; Screen 8:109; Screen 9:89; Screen 10:104; Screen 11:77; Screen 12:99; Screen 13:49 and Screen 14:140.
By August 2018, the building had become home to a ‘gastronomic paradise’, with a number of restaurants and cafes. Thankfully, the magnificent interior remains intact.
Great news! It was announced on 11th August 2018 that the Columbia is going to undergo an extensive renovation, so by summer 2019 the city hopes to re-open it as a visitor center, a 50- to 75-seat theater for classic and contemporary films and it will also house the relocated Laurel & Hardy Museum that is the city’s biggest tourist draw.
Residents got a glimpse of what’s planned at a public meeting, during which they were shown the condition of the building and what needs to be done.
Mark Lorah, the Augusta structural engineer assigned to the project, said only the bottom floor of the three-level building will be restored as part of this project. The other two levels will be preserved, for renovation later. This decision was made largely “in deference to the budget” he said, which for now is $1 million. He added that some parts of the theater are in better condition than others. The original trusses are in good shape, and parts of the roof were replaced several years ago, soon after the city bought the building in 2005.
Seating capacities are: Screen 1:450, Screen 2: 131 and Screen 3:131. The very plain Screens 2 and 3 are virtual mirror images, in the former circle area.
Rather confusingly, the manager told me this cinema opened in 1996! Hopefully another correspondent will be able to confirm the year of opening! Seating capacities range from 140 to 390.
During a visit to Cincinnati I crossed the Ohio River into Kentucky on Thursday 12th July 2018 to see “The First Purge”, starring Marisa Tomei, at the AMC. Newport on the Levee is a large multi-purpose entertainment destination, with restaurants and shops and also office accommodation. The AMC occupies Level 3 of the main building, which is adjacent to the Newport Aquarium.
In April 2018 the Electric Palace was awarded £653,000 from the Heritage Lottery for extensive refurbishment work, especially with regard to the ceiling plaster work (which followed incidents in London and Ipswich where plaster had fallen from the ceiling). The cinema has also not been fully redecorated since it was first restored in the 1970s; the seats and toilets will be refurbished, some electrical equipment will be replaced and the stage will be enlarged. The work will be carried out by Ipswich-based firm Nicholas Jacobs Architects.
The cinema will be closed for several months. The closure date has been put back a few times (as of writing, it is set for August). Anticipating a slightly earlier closure, the Trust had the inspired idea of recreating a ‘cinema-in-a-tent’ Bioscope on Harwich Green for the Harwich Festival, which ran from Thursday 21st June to Sunday 1st July.
This was based on the type of Bioscope presented by Charles Thurston, the travelling showman who built the Electric Palace.
His first travelling cinema, the Original Royal Show, first appeared at Norwich Easter Fair in 1901. It had a Gavioli fairground organ and was soon renamed Thurston’s Royal Show. It visited Harwich and many towns in East Anglia. In 1908 he launched an even bigger attraction, “The Great Show”, which featured the Bioscope showing ‘Living Pictures’ and vaudeville acts. It, too, had an organ and a very elaborately decorated ‘front’. Very soon afterwards, of course, safety regulations led to the rise of the purpose-built cinemas, and the fairground bioscopes closed down. [Thanks to Ken Roe for this information.]
The programme of events at the ‘Bioscope on Harwich Green’ included a demonstration of the Edwardian Bioscope by David Cleveland and Nigel Lister, local films and a variety of classic and recent feature films. I attended on the final day, when Eisenstein’s “Battleship Potemkin” was shown, with live piano accompaniment by Chris Jarrett. The show was introduced by Trustee Chris Strachan and the mayor, Charlie Powell, made this a Gala screening. He spoke passionately about the Electric Palace.
The ornate frontage to the Bioscope was the work of carpenter Adam Threadgall and his team, with design and painting by sign writer and artist Bryan Rowland. See ‘Photos’ for the results!
Following a visit to Newcastle Emlyn in June 2018 I was fortunate to be in contact with Ken Jones, chairman of the local history society. He kindly sent me the scans of the programme booklets for March 1960 and April 1967.
Although the Star and Shadow moved out of its former home in 2015, the official opening of its new premises did not take place until the weekend of 22nd-24th June 2018. A crowd-funding campaign had eventually raised the £50,000 needed to enable the team of dedicated volunteers (there are no paid employees) to transform the former furniture showroom into the ‘new’ Star and Shadow community cinema and arts space.
I visited on Sunday 24th June 2018 to see “Deadpool 2”, starring Ryan Reynolds. This is the usual high quality, very colourful and inviting Cineworld. Beyond the ticket-checker is a large, very comfortable lounge, perfect to relax in before heading into the screening.
The very generous seating capacities are: IMAX:428; Screen 1:158; 2:157; 3:264; 4:195, 5:55; 6:63; 7:55; 8:62; 9:212 and 10:311.
I visited on Sunday 24th June 2018 and saw “Ocean’s Eight”, starring Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett. I had a nice chat with the very friendly duty manager, who is clearly a serious film buff! The cinema has all the distinctive features of the Light circuit – a ‘green’ cafe, readograph over the bar, vintage posters and multi-coloured seating. I was also intrigued to see the new logo “Sociable Cinema”, which is apparently being rolled out across all their sites.
When I visited, on Saturday 23rd June 2018 to see “The Happy Prince”, starring Rupert Everett, I was given a warm welcome by the duty manager. This is another splendidly appointed Light multiplex, with the circuit’s distinctive ‘green’ cafe, readograph over the bar and, in the auditoriums, comfortable multi-coloured, rocker seats. I was intrigued to note the circuit’s new logo: “Sociable Cinema”. I gather this is being rolled out across all their existing sites.
I visited Libanus 1877 on Thursday 21st June 2018 to see “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom”. I was made very welcome by co-owner Peter Fleming, who is quite rightly very proud of this splendid cinema and restaurant. The auditorium is especially comfortable, with a main bank of seats supplemented by large, free-standing armchairs down the right-hand side, and two alcoves at the back, with seating for one patron on one side and two patrons (on a rather comfortable settee!) on the other side.
When I visited, on Thursday 21st June 2018, for a matinee of “Solo: A Star Wars Story”, I was given a very warm welcome by Liz Hutchinson who, in addition to managing the cinema, runs her own company, Hutchfolk Media, and is very passionate about film! The Magic Lantern is a splendidly quirky cinema, with a wonderful set of murals down the auditorium sides and a pleasant cafe/bar in the foyer (into which the auditorium originally extended). It was lovely to see tabs being used, and it’s not often I get the choice of stalls or circle! A thoroughly enjoyable visit.
The rather plain building ‘hides’ a really lovely auditorium, complete with extremely comfortable seats, side slips and balcony in a very distinctive design. When I called in, on Tuesday 5th June 2018, to see “Edie”, starring Sheila Hancock (and filmed in the Scottish Highlands) I was made very welcome by the clearly very enthusiastic staff.
When I visited, on 6th May 2018, the building was closed up. An undated note in the front window, from “Paul and Lynn”, said that it closed without warning “due to the manner of the sale of the snooker centre” and that they have now retired. They thanked their customers for their patronage over the last 32 years, so presumably closure came in 2017.
Just to clarify: The Alderley Edge Medical Centre occupies the front of the building, while the Festival Hall is housed in the former cinema auditorium, with access from the right hand side.
By the time I visited, in October 2018, the building had been converted into the Handyman micro brewery and bar.
In August 2018, the hall’s principal use was as The Malthouse dance school.
Sadly, in the spring of 2018 Flix was facing closure. However, thanks to an influx of new volunteers, it returned on Thursday 4th October (with “The Shape of Water”, starring Sally Hawkins and Michael Shannon) with a new regular day and a new direction, with emphasis on limited release and foreign language films; films that reflect Flix’s location near the School of Arts. Screenings will be followed by a discussion group, TalkFlix.
In July 2018 I was asked by Claudia Materna, at ODEON, for permission to use my May 1998 image in a display the company was creating, at the cinema, to celebrate this historic movie palace. I was only too pleased to provide this, and the history wall, a permanent installation, was unveiled in October 2018. In these days of ever more futuristic, state-of-the-art all-digital multiplexes (such as ODEON’s own Luxe brand) it is heartening that the company is so mindful of its proud heritage. (Similar history walls have been installed at the ODEONs at Exeter, Weston-super-Mare and Glasgow Quay.)
According to the book ‘The Cinemas of West Wales’, written by Alan Phillips and published in 2017, the Palace was first equipped with a hand-cranked Kalee projector, later replaced by a motorised version. The seats were basic wooden benches. Films were shown nightly from Monday to Friday, with two changes of programme each week. He says the Palace closed in 1928/29 – as Editha suggests, most likely when faced with the coming of sound.
Alan says the building is in retail use, and the cinema frontage remains. However, on a visit to Aberaeron in June 2018 I was unable to locate the building. I subsequently e-mailed Alan courtesy of his publishers, but received no reply.
I then contacted Frances Owen, of the local history society. She canvassed her members and, although no one could recall this cinema as such, one member did find a reference in a brief report in the Welsh Gazette of 2nd March 1916, which said that entertainment needs in the town are now being met by “Mr Cheetham’s Cosy Cinema in Market Street, where bright and entertaining programmes help to counteract the gloom occasioned by War and Worry”. No further address details were provided, but this must surely be the same building. Although the licence was issued to “The Cinema”, this indicates it opened as the Cosy. Assuming it adopted the name Palace later on, this could have been following a refurbishment or, possibly, a change of ownership.
I will report further as and when more information comes to light!
A second screen, seating 41, backing on to the original auditorium, opened on 31st August 2018.
It is a great shame that this splendid cinema is not used for regular screenings. However, when I visited, in August 2018, the Hospitality Manageress was only too pleased to open up the auditorium, so at least I got to see it. You will notice, in the photos I took from the stage, the black curtain pulled halfway across the stalls. There is a matching curtain on the other side; these are used to produce a more intimate atmosphere when the full capacity is not required.
I visited on 11th August 2018 and saw “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” in the splendid Screen 1. Seating capacities are: Screen 1:756 (569 in the stalls + 187 in the VIP lounge [circle]); Screen 2:63; Screen 3:63 and Screen 4:55.
I visited Filmstaden Sergel on Saturday 11th August 2018 to see “Mission: Impossible – Fallout”, starring Tom Cruise, in Screen 1. I was intrigued to note the side slips down both sides, presumably a legacy of its theatre origins. Seating capacities are: Screen 1:512 [reduced from the 700 quoted in the Overview]; Screen 2:63; Screen 3:196; Screen 4:55; Screen 5:225; Screen 6:72; Screen 7:51; Screen 8:109; Screen 9:89; Screen 10:104; Screen 11:77; Screen 12:99; Screen 13:49 and Screen 14:140.
By August 2018, the building had become home to a ‘gastronomic paradise’, with a number of restaurants and cafes. Thankfully, the magnificent interior remains intact.
Great news! It was announced on 11th August 2018 that the Columbia is going to undergo an extensive renovation, so by summer 2019 the city hopes to re-open it as a visitor center, a 50- to 75-seat theater for classic and contemporary films and it will also house the relocated Laurel & Hardy Museum that is the city’s biggest tourist draw.
Residents got a glimpse of what’s planned at a public meeting, during which they were shown the condition of the building and what needs to be done.
Mark Lorah, the Augusta structural engineer assigned to the project, said only the bottom floor of the three-level building will be restored as part of this project. The other two levels will be preserved, for renovation later. This decision was made largely “in deference to the budget” he said, which for now is $1 million. He added that some parts of the theater are in better condition than others. The original trusses are in good shape, and parts of the roof were replaced several years ago, soon after the city bought the building in 2005.
Seating capacities are: Screen 1:450, Screen 2: 131 and Screen 3:131. The very plain Screens 2 and 3 are virtual mirror images, in the former circle area.
Rather confusingly, the manager told me this cinema opened in 1996! Hopefully another correspondent will be able to confirm the year of opening! Seating capacities range from 140 to 390.
During a visit to Cincinnati I crossed the Ohio River into Kentucky on Thursday 12th July 2018 to see “The First Purge”, starring Marisa Tomei, at the AMC. Newport on the Levee is a large multi-purpose entertainment destination, with restaurants and shops and also office accommodation. The AMC occupies Level 3 of the main building, which is adjacent to the Newport Aquarium.
Seating capacities are: Screen 1:146, 2:58, 3:49, 4:59, 5:62, 6:76, 7:88, 8:59, 9:190, 10 (DOLBY):213, 11 (IMAX):349, 12:190, 13:59, 14:89, 15:76, 16:62, 17:59, 18:57, 19:59 and 20:146.
In April 2018 the Electric Palace was awarded £653,000 from the Heritage Lottery for extensive refurbishment work, especially with regard to the ceiling plaster work (which followed incidents in London and Ipswich where plaster had fallen from the ceiling). The cinema has also not been fully redecorated since it was first restored in the 1970s; the seats and toilets will be refurbished, some electrical equipment will be replaced and the stage will be enlarged. The work will be carried out by Ipswich-based firm Nicholas Jacobs Architects.
The cinema will be closed for several months. The closure date has been put back a few times (as of writing, it is set for August). Anticipating a slightly earlier closure, the Trust had the inspired idea of recreating a ‘cinema-in-a-tent’ Bioscope on Harwich Green for the Harwich Festival, which ran from Thursday 21st June to Sunday 1st July.
This was based on the type of Bioscope presented by Charles Thurston, the travelling showman who built the Electric Palace.
His first travelling cinema, the Original Royal Show, first appeared at Norwich Easter Fair in 1901. It had a Gavioli fairground organ and was soon renamed Thurston’s Royal Show. It visited Harwich and many towns in East Anglia. In 1908 he launched an even bigger attraction, “The Great Show”, which featured the Bioscope showing ‘Living Pictures’ and vaudeville acts. It, too, had an organ and a very elaborately decorated ‘front’. Very soon afterwards, of course, safety regulations led to the rise of the purpose-built cinemas, and the fairground bioscopes closed down. [Thanks to Ken Roe for this information.]
The programme of events at the ‘Bioscope on Harwich Green’ included a demonstration of the Edwardian Bioscope by David Cleveland and Nigel Lister, local films and a variety of classic and recent feature films. I attended on the final day, when Eisenstein’s “Battleship Potemkin” was shown, with live piano accompaniment by Chris Jarrett. The show was introduced by Trustee Chris Strachan and the mayor, Charlie Powell, made this a Gala screening. He spoke passionately about the Electric Palace.
The ornate frontage to the Bioscope was the work of carpenter Adam Threadgall and his team, with design and painting by sign writer and artist Bryan Rowland. See ‘Photos’ for the results!
Following a visit to Newcastle Emlyn in June 2018 I was fortunate to be in contact with Ken Jones, chairman of the local history society. He kindly sent me the scans of the programme booklets for March 1960 and April 1967.
Although the Star and Shadow moved out of its former home in 2015, the official opening of its new premises did not take place until the weekend of 22nd-24th June 2018. A crowd-funding campaign had eventually raised the £50,000 needed to enable the team of dedicated volunteers (there are no paid employees) to transform the former furniture showroom into the ‘new’ Star and Shadow community cinema and arts space.
I visited on Sunday 24th June 2018 to see “Deadpool 2”, starring Ryan Reynolds. This is the usual high quality, very colourful and inviting Cineworld. Beyond the ticket-checker is a large, very comfortable lounge, perfect to relax in before heading into the screening.
The very generous seating capacities are: IMAX:428; Screen 1:158; 2:157; 3:264; 4:195, 5:55; 6:63; 7:55; 8:62; 9:212 and 10:311.
I visited on Sunday 24th June 2018 and saw “Ocean’s Eight”, starring Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett. I had a nice chat with the very friendly duty manager, who is clearly a serious film buff! The cinema has all the distinctive features of the Light circuit – a ‘green’ cafe, readograph over the bar, vintage posters and multi-coloured seating. I was also intrigued to see the new logo “Sociable Cinema”, which is apparently being rolled out across all their sites.
Seating capacities are: Screen 1:105; Screen 2:105; Screen 3:50; Screen 4:40; Screen 5:37 and Screen 6:51.
When I visited, on Saturday 23rd June 2018 to see “The Happy Prince”, starring Rupert Everett, I was given a warm welcome by the duty manager. This is another splendidly appointed Light multiplex, with the circuit’s distinctive ‘green’ cafe, readograph over the bar and, in the auditoriums, comfortable multi-coloured, rocker seats. I was intrigued to note the circuit’s new logo: “Sociable Cinema”. I gather this is being rolled out across all their existing sites.
Seating capacities are: Screen 1:83; Screen 2:42; Screen 3:146; Screen 4:173; Screen 5:72; Screen 6:62; Screen 7:65; Screen 8:67; Screen 9:136 and Screen 10:64
I visited Libanus 1877 on Thursday 21st June 2018 to see “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom”. I was made very welcome by co-owner Peter Fleming, who is quite rightly very proud of this splendid cinema and restaurant. The auditorium is especially comfortable, with a main bank of seats supplemented by large, free-standing armchairs down the right-hand side, and two alcoves at the back, with seating for one patron on one side and two patrons (on a rather comfortable settee!) on the other side.
When I visited, on Thursday 21st June 2018, for a matinee of “Solo: A Star Wars Story”, I was given a very warm welcome by Liz Hutchinson who, in addition to managing the cinema, runs her own company, Hutchfolk Media, and is very passionate about film! The Magic Lantern is a splendidly quirky cinema, with a wonderful set of murals down the auditorium sides and a pleasant cafe/bar in the foyer (into which the auditorium originally extended). It was lovely to see tabs being used, and it’s not often I get the choice of stalls or circle! A thoroughly enjoyable visit.
The rather plain building ‘hides’ a really lovely auditorium, complete with extremely comfortable seats, side slips and balcony in a very distinctive design. When I called in, on Tuesday 5th June 2018, to see “Edie”, starring Sheila Hancock (and filmed in the Scottish Highlands) I was made very welcome by the clearly very enthusiastic staff.
When I visited, on 6th May 2018, the building was closed up. An undated note in the front window, from “Paul and Lynn”, said that it closed without warning “due to the manner of the sale of the snooker centre” and that they have now retired. They thanked their customers for their patronage over the last 32 years, so presumably closure came in 2017.