Comments from Mike_Blakemore

Showing 101 - 125 of 670 comments

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Savoy Theatre on Aug 19, 2018 at 2:47 am

To British members The Talking Pictures Chanel are using the stage view in their presentation titles

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Regal Cinema on Jul 26, 2018 at 4:26 am

Plant has been now moved onto the site in readiness for the demolition

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Vue Leamington Spa on Jul 5, 2018 at 9:56 am

popcorn pete Do not remember Anne Diamond I was Invited along with Joyce Rabbits as part of the old Circuit Management The second Screen was built on the old office area where we used to work.. We watched “Miracle on 34th Street” I would like to see the modal of our former Regal Minehead

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about ABC Eccles on Jul 3, 2018 at 3:29 am

The 4th Operator or should I say Projectionist was a projectionist in training . In those days Projector film capacity’s was just around 2000 feet. In the old days with Main feature the B Film Adverts trailers Newsreel Cartoon These would involve at least 14 reels of films with manual change overs from one projector to the other. For normal shows The Chief projectionist Co-Chief 2nd projectionist and possibly the 3rd would do the running of the show. Whilst the 3rd and fourth would do the rewinding and any repairs to the print. They would also keep the projection box and room clean. The projection box used to be polished daily so if any film dropped on the floor it could be re-spooled without to much dust or dirt going on the print. In the UK when Selective Employment Tax was introduced. Work started in altering the systems to run single manning and long players attached to a projector leading to automation Hope this helps..

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Cannon Rotherham on Jun 13, 2018 at 4:05 am

ABC Leased the cinema in 1929 for 10 years

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Stafford Cinema on May 26, 2018 at 3:24 am

The Cinema was not built for Odeon…This was one of 7 cinemas built for the Clifton Syndicate. Sidney Clift’s business partner Leon Salberg thoughtlessly went and died. Oscar Deutch who was a close friend was appointed as Chair by Clift. J Arthur Rank launched a Rights Share issue November 1947 to purchase the oddities of the Circuit Hmm over 300 companies each Odeon was a separate company. A cleaver system devised by Sidney Clift to finance them.

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Stafford Cinema on May 26, 2018 at 3:17 am

The Cinema has now reopened

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Delicia Cinema on May 25, 2018 at 11:48 am

The Triangle Cinema was not in that building

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Lyttleton Cinema on May 24, 2018 at 10:16 am

A large number of Recycled bricks were used from the demolition of Her Majesty’s Theatre Walsall Before Sidney Bray Died He had the cinema completely Redecorated Re-seated. New Tabs and Carpets etc. So his children would not have to worry for a long time.

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Savoy Cinema on May 24, 2018 at 10:10 am

From My experience of a re-building after a fire More often then no the Walls survive quite well I have known one cinema survive 2 fires re Odeon Walsall were the foyer, walls and concrete circle survived So would be economic to keep the Walls and frontage In that area all the properties are owned by one family and set in plots, so they could not expand on the footprint of the building and have the plans approved by the Mostyn Family At one time I had hoped to have taken over the Savoy from Alan Hutchinson alas not to be.

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Grand Cinema on May 8, 2018 at 5:10 am

Mr Wright Had put the Theatre up for Auction.. We Theatre Administration Ltd., who had the Clifton in the Town was going to attend and bid for the Grand.. Granada circumvented the Auction and made an offer to Mr Wright.. the rest is history I must add that the Grand was kept immaculately by Mr Wright..

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Gaumont Nottingham on May 8, 2018 at 4:54 am

I have tided up the picture

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Grand Central Cinema on May 2, 2018 at 9:14 am

The Kine year Book was always notorious for being incorrect

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Palace Cinema on Apr 30, 2018 at 4:40 pm

The Palace was part of the Cinema Proprietors Ltd., The Group had a management arrangement wit ABC They were not bought out completely until the 1950’s The Bulk of the ABC Cinemas in and around Birmingham was part of the deal.

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Scott Cinemas-Sidmouth on Apr 30, 2018 at 11:16 am

This cinema was ran for a number of years by The Mike Jervis Circuit based at West Bromwich

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Palace Cinema on Apr 17, 2018 at 5:46 am

It looks from the picture that the old Palace was knocked down except for the Entrance and rebuilt longer ang higher with a Balcony and Projection box on the front of the building

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Astoria Theatre on Apr 1, 2018 at 2:07 am

Yes.. Which proves grade ll status is not worth the paper its written on. work should be aimed at minimum of Grade ll star and there are very few of them in the UK.

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Her Majesty's Theatre on Mar 28, 2018 at 1:31 am

Error Moss Empire never operated the Theatre. They just presented Shows there for a percentage fee. Nothing else. The WALSALL THEATRE COMPANY still had a control on the 4 theatres until 1956 when ABC finally paid out. Remember Associated British Cinemas meant what it said on the label It was a large number of Companies.

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Essoldo King's Heath on Mar 20, 2018 at 6:50 am

Reports are in the rear is now demolished.

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Picturedrome on Mar 17, 2018 at 5:42 am

Having studying the Pictures of the cinema I believe it was designed by Hickton and Farmer who designed a number of cinemas around the area

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Moseley Picture House on Mar 15, 2018 at 12:01 pm

Was Owned by Parry Enterprise Ltd who also owned The Waldolf Sparkbrook

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Cinemax Cinema on Feb 22, 2018 at 9:42 am

From 1962 ABC cinema had a policy in dropping the name eg Ritz and standardising to ABC for their main theatre in a town or area .

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Capitol Cinema.. refurb for 70mm screen on Feb 15, 2018 at 4:45 am

I still have the original painting

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Metropole Cinema on Feb 3, 2018 at 10:14 am

I did a holiday management relief there… 1973… The central heating system was odd The boiler ran on fine coal powder blown into the boiler. ABC still used coal there because the cinema was in a coal mining area.. The cinema had just been repainted Best described as Bingo vile Hmm soon after it became Bingo..

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore commented about Palace Theatre on Jan 31, 2018 at 2:24 pm

Photo Maureen Rushton