This was taken in 1986, 15 years before the 1995 refurbishment.
You can just about see 2 of the port holes (these are the windows from the projection room to into the auditorium).
It’s interesting that some cinemas such as the former palladium down the road & the Coliseum porthmadog had theirs much to low, even though the buildings were designed as cinemas and Neuadd dwyfor was not. The Coliseum’s windows are so low peoples images are to be seen on screen if the walk along the back wall during the show.Neuadd Dwyfor’s are so high up you can stand on the edge of the stage and the beam from the projector will still clear your head.
2 new photos, photographed on Easter Monday 2012.
It was a very wet day, which accounts for the “blob” on the picture which I did not notice on the camera’s screen.
Hi David,yes it was a very large screen for a cinema of the Palladium’s size,thios was because Mr Baker wanted a bigger one than the Town Hall’s which had Cinemascope installed the previous year 1955.
I think I’ve mentioned on one of my previous posts that they did this by erecting the screen in front of the proscenium arch, as I was only 12 at the time I thought the arch was demolished, only for me to see it again when Kwik Save started conversion to a supermarket.
Of course it really came down then, I don’t beleive the circuit erected screens in this fashion in any of their other screens, so it could well have been the biggest.
They did not install a stereo sound system, The equipment at the time of closure was B A sound system from the closed down Guild Hall Cinema Caernarfon, which of course was run by them.
I’ve uploaded 3 photos of the interior as it is now, and one of the exterior.
At least Wetherspoons have kept to the theme of the building, they’re very good at that, unlike the supermarket lot.
Please click on photos.
This is a photo of the Late Mr Bob Piercey (Chief Projectionist)I took this photo in 1992 or 93,as well as the one showing the Kalee equipment although the latter was submitted by Mr Rowe from Flicker.
Eric Evans.
Thanks for the info Jeffrey, I must admit I don’t know the area at all, I was just going by the Kinematograph Year Book for 1958. It states that they had British Acoustic sound system,405 seats and continuous performances.
Proprietors Markham Village & District Miners Welfare.
Pity they do0 not have the occasional film show there now, or is there a multiplex to close maybe ?
Just viewed a Welsh language programme on S4C “Wedi Saith, (After Seven) Not a mention of the building having been used as a cinema.
Even had an elderly lady who has always lived in the district reminicing about everything except the movies, I think sometimes there’s a kind of snobbery by some theatre loving people against the cinema.
Otherwise it was a good feature showing both the exterior & auditorium, which looked excellent.
Worth mentioning that the shop next door (Options) was the City Cinema cafe, which I’m sure was open right up to the cinema’s closure.
I only visited the City once, to see the film “Judith” starring Sophia Loren & Peter Finch,a story set in the months leading up to the Israeli nationhood.
Also went up to the projection room, they had American Equipment Super Simplex projectors & RCA sound system.
As I say it was my only visit but frequented the Plaza quite often, hard to beleive tha Bangor now has no cinemas at all. There was talk quite a while ago that a multiplex was coming to Farrar Road, the home of Bangor City FC, but of course the new Asda supermarket has started construction now.
Nothing stays the same forever I guess,Bangor’s new ground looks nice though, but that story does not belong on this site !
Mr W J Kenny (Billy). the cinema’s former manager has sadly passed away at the age of 80.
He started his cinema career at the age of 14 as a trainee projectionist at the former Palladium Pwllheli,where he worked for 10 years (Interrupted by national service in the british army. He carried on as a projectionist in the services as well.
He was working as the 2nd projectionist at the Palled when the post of Chief Projectionist came up at The Town Hall Cinema, (now Neuadd Dwyfor) in 1955 at the time of the cinema’s refurbishment and transistion to Cinemascope.
When Dwyfor Council took over fro Pwllheli Corporation in 1974, he became the manager, previous to the council’s reorganisation the borough treasurer was acting manager.
He began a succesfull Children’s Theater in the late 70’s (Theatr Plant Pwllheli) which carried on for many years.
He retired in September 1993 at the age of 62 when the building started on it’s second refurbishment.
At the time of writing I have 191 hits on my Flickr photostream,so I assume most of them would have clicked on to this link.
It would be nice if some of them could contribute stories about the Crescent, they do not have to be experts on cinemas or anything, just interesting or humorous anecdotes.
Incedentally my original introductory contribution has been altered by someone else,I had no idea that this cinema opened in 1937 or of when the Paramount circuit took over, but of course the more info the better.
Hi again Mike, tried looking for your cinema, it does not seem to be on this site.
Hi Mike, BTH sound heads & BTH Type A projector head. The lamps were also BTH during the carbon years.
This was taken in 1986, 15 years before the 1995 refurbishment. You can just about see 2 of the port holes (these are the windows from the projection room to into the auditorium). It’s interesting that some cinemas such as the former palladium down the road & the Coliseum porthmadog had theirs much to low, even though the buildings were designed as cinemas and Neuadd dwyfor was not. The Coliseum’s windows are so low peoples images are to be seen on screen if the walk along the back wall during the show.Neuadd Dwyfor’s are so high up you can stand on the edge of the stage and the beam from the projector will still clear your head.
Iv'e added some more pictures, please click on photos.
2 new photos, photographed on Easter Monday 2012. It was a very wet day, which accounts for the “blob” on the picture which I did not notice on the camera’s screen.
Hi David,yes it was a very large screen for a cinema of the Palladium’s size,thios was because Mr Baker wanted a bigger one than the Town Hall’s which had Cinemascope installed the previous year 1955. I think I’ve mentioned on one of my previous posts that they did this by erecting the screen in front of the proscenium arch, as I was only 12 at the time I thought the arch was demolished, only for me to see it again when Kwik Save started conversion to a supermarket. Of course it really came down then, I don’t beleive the circuit erected screens in this fashion in any of their other screens, so it could well have been the biggest. They did not install a stereo sound system, The equipment at the time of closure was B A sound system from the closed down Guild Hall Cinema Caernarfon, which of course was run by them.
I’ve uploade a photograph of the Memorial Hall, which I took in 2010. Please click on photos.
I’ve uploaded 3 photos of the interior as it is now, and one of the exterior. At least Wetherspoons have kept to the theme of the building, they’re very good at that, unlike the supermarket lot. Please click on photos.
Please click on photos for 3 more pictures.
I’ve uploaded a photo I took shortly before closure. (Just click on photos) work on the new complex seems to have come to a halt, no idea why.
I’ve uploaded a photo I took in 1990.
I’ve uploaded 3 photos all soon after closure, with one displaying a poigniant line from the Titanic.
I’ve uploaded two pictures.
I’ve uploaded another photo of The Palladium’s screen before Cinemascope.
I’ve added a couple of photos of the present equipment.
Mr Bob Piercey certainly looked after this machine with loving care.
Eric Evans.
Just uploaded another photo of the former equipment, please just click on photos.
Palladium Cafe Staff.
Palladium Cafe Staff.
This is a photo of the Late Mr Bob Piercey (Chief Projectionist)I took this photo in 1992 or 93,as well as the one showing the Kalee equipment although the latter was submitted by Mr Rowe from Flicker. Eric Evans.
Thanks for the info Jeffrey, I must admit I don’t know the area at all, I was just going by the Kinematograph Year Book for 1958. It states that they had British Acoustic sound system,405 seats and continuous performances. Proprietors Markham Village & District Miners Welfare.
Pity they do0 not have the occasional film show there now, or is there a multiplex to close maybe ?
Just viewed a Welsh language programme on S4C “Wedi Saith, (After Seven) Not a mention of the building having been used as a cinema. Even had an elderly lady who has always lived in the district reminicing about everything except the movies, I think sometimes there’s a kind of snobbery by some theatre loving people against the cinema. Otherwise it was a good feature showing both the exterior & auditorium, which looked excellent.
Worth mentioning that the shop next door (Options) was the City Cinema cafe, which I’m sure was open right up to the cinema’s closure. I only visited the City once, to see the film “Judith” starring Sophia Loren & Peter Finch,a story set in the months leading up to the Israeli nationhood. Also went up to the projection room, they had American Equipment Super Simplex projectors & RCA sound system.
As I say it was my only visit but frequented the Plaza quite often, hard to beleive tha Bangor now has no cinemas at all. There was talk quite a while ago that a multiplex was coming to Farrar Road, the home of Bangor City FC, but of course the new Asda supermarket has started construction now.
Nothing stays the same forever I guess,Bangor’s new ground looks nice though, but that story does not belong on this site !
Mr W J Kenny (Billy). the cinema’s former manager has sadly passed away at the age of 80. He started his cinema career at the age of 14 as a trainee projectionist at the former Palladium Pwllheli,where he worked for 10 years (Interrupted by national service in the british army. He carried on as a projectionist in the services as well.
He was working as the 2nd projectionist at the Palled when the post of Chief Projectionist came up at The Town Hall Cinema, (now Neuadd Dwyfor) in 1955 at the time of the cinema’s refurbishment and transistion to Cinemascope.
When Dwyfor Council took over fro Pwllheli Corporation in 1974, he became the manager, previous to the council’s reorganisation the borough treasurer was acting manager.
He began a succesfull Children’s Theater in the late 70’s (Theatr Plant Pwllheli) which carried on for many years. He retired in September 1993 at the age of 62 when the building started on it’s second refurbishment.
At the time of writing I have 191 hits on my Flickr photostream,so I assume most of them would have clicked on to this link. It would be nice if some of them could contribute stories about the Crescent, they do not have to be experts on cinemas or anything, just interesting or humorous anecdotes. Incedentally my original introductory contribution has been altered by someone else,I had no idea that this cinema opened in 1937 or of when the Paramount circuit took over, but of course the more info the better.