The cinema was housed in one of the former variety theatres (The Empire) they started the conversion with the intention of providing a 2 screen cinema,but changed their minds half way through and used the other half for bingo, I think the signs for screen 2 were still up.
I helped out at the Odeon Butlin’s during the period that Neuadd Dwyfor cinema Pwllheli was being refurbished,as the resident projectionist had been taken ill.
The projectors were 2 Cinemecanicca Victoria 8 machines, Dolby Surround Sound and the xenon lamps were encased in converted Kalee lamp houses.
Although the films opened on the nationwide release date,the Odeon company did not seem all that interested in the place,I don’t think the equipment was serviced very often and the screen tabs (curtains) did not work at all.
Still it was a neat little cinema,but might have been better if it was not situated so deep inside the camp,locals had to check with the security to get in.
I must admit to geoff a second mistake, I’m pretty sure by now that the first Cinemasscope film was another John Wayne seafaring adventure titled ‘Blood Alley’
Just noticed that in my introductory posting on the Palladium, I stated that it was demolished in the late 1980’s, typing error should have been 1990’s.
I used to be a projectionist in Pwllheli before my retirement, I remember in 1960 going on a coach trip to Cardiff, setting off after 10.00pm Saturday evening. I did not even have time to pop home after finishing work, It’s not the easiest of journeys down to South Wales even now, but much worse back then.
After travelling all night we were all very tired after walking around all day Sunday,there was no hotel involved on this crazy trip.the bus was not due to set back for home until quite late on Sunday. In the end we all landed up in the Olympia, mostly just for the rest. the first thing I noticed was the location of the box as described mickrick,the first i’d seen in that position. The film running was ‘Hercules Unchained’ starring Steve Reeves not that we cared much of what was on offer. Smashing cinema I visited it a couple of times after that, when more awake !
Here’s a photo from 1996. http://www.flickr.com/photos/58677517@N03/?saved=1
When the Palladium converted to Cinemascope in 1956, the work was done over the course of a weekend, they started after the last show on Saturday night and completed it in time for the first show on Monday.
Pwllheli cinemas were closed on Sundays anyway in those days, so they did not lose on any performances. The new screen was wall to wall & in front of the procenium arch, also there was no need to lose any seats for the conversion. The old Kinematograph Cinema Directory is incorrect in attributing the Palled with 800 seats, as it was always 702. I have the old monthly programme, when i find it I’ll know the exact date.
This is a not very sharp photo, as it was taken from a moving coach, I only just noticed it as we were passing, if the camera was not already in my hand I’d of missed it.
I’m only including it as the building was still open at the time, albeit only for bingo. I think it was around 1999. View link
Can anyone help me ? when on holiday in 1992 in Southern California we stopped at a market which was held in a drive in theatre. I noticed that the projection booth’s port holes were just that,I mean ROUND windows.
This place is somewhere between San Diego & the Mexican Border,I have photos and when I find them I’ll paste them on here.
Here is a photo of the Ritz which I took when on holiday from Wales in 1990, great double feature on at the time.
I once saw the British comedy “whoodunit” there, Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple in Agatha Christie’s “Murder At The Gallop" View link
Next time I’m in Barmouth or Abermaw to give it it’s Welsh name,I’ll try to take a better photo of the White. It’s only an hour’s train ride from Pwllheli, but it won’t be until the summer.
It,s probably obvious due to the size of the building but there was no balcony, I remember this vividly although I was only 11 at the time as I had never been to a single floor cinema before.
Glad to see that this cinema has been listed, I remember being in Barmouth as a kid on probably a Sunday school trip, and my sister took me to see “White Christmas” ( in the middle of summer"!!). A friend who used to work in the Barmouth area told me that the hand winch for the screen masking which changed the format for Cinemascope was in full view inside the auditorium, and one of the usherettes used to operate it, to loud applause ! The building now seems so small from the outside, it’s hard to beleive it used to be a cinema.
Pange’s comment above that he was technically not old enough to work during the run of “Alien” reminded me that soon after I started as a junior projectionist,I was told by the chief that I could not work during the run of the “Little Hut” which had an X certificate, it starred David Niven & Ava Gardner.
Now this was 1958, and fifteen year old’s were much more naive than today’s youngsters,so I stayed home on the first evening of the film’s run. only to find that when I turned up to work the following morning it was a big wind up.
So everyone had a big laugh at my expense, the cinema in question was the Town Hall Pwllheli,which is still open under it’s new name Neuadd Dwyfor.
The equipment at the Majestic consisted of two Kalee 12 projectors and the wonderfull Peerless magnarcs lamps,and as already mentioned above Western Electric sound system.
I was told that the equipment may have still been there at the time of the fire, even though it’s function during the last few years was that of a nightclub. I have no way of knowing if this was true.
Like the circuit’s other cinema in Pwllheli, the Majestic had a cafe which was a very popular and pleasing meeting place.
The cinema was housed in one of the former variety theatres (The Empire) they started the conversion with the intention of providing a 2 screen cinema,but changed their minds half way through and used the other half for bingo, I think the signs for screen 2 were still up.
Took this photo last week, looks in pretty bad shape now http://www.flickr.com/photos/58677517@N03/5867346800/in/photostream/
I helped out at the Odeon Butlin’s during the period that Neuadd Dwyfor cinema Pwllheli was being refurbished,as the resident projectionist had been taken ill. The projectors were 2 Cinemecanicca Victoria 8 machines, Dolby Surround Sound and the xenon lamps were encased in converted Kalee lamp houses. Although the films opened on the nationwide release date,the Odeon company did not seem all that interested in the place,I don’t think the equipment was serviced very often and the screen tabs (curtains) did not work at all. Still it was a neat little cinema,but might have been better if it was not situated so deep inside the camp,locals had to check with the security to get in.
I must admit to geoff a second mistake, I’m pretty sure by now that the first Cinemasscope film was another John Wayne seafaring adventure titled ‘Blood Alley’
Just noticed that in my introductory posting on the Palladium, I stated that it was demolished in the late 1980’s, typing error should have been 1990’s.
Thanks Mike I hope to include some more soon.
I used to be a projectionist in Pwllheli before my retirement, I remember in 1960 going on a coach trip to Cardiff, setting off after 10.00pm Saturday evening. I did not even have time to pop home after finishing work, It’s not the easiest of journeys down to South Wales even now, but much worse back then.
After travelling all night we were all very tired after walking around all day Sunday,there was no hotel involved on this crazy trip.the bus was not due to set back for home until quite late on Sunday. In the end we all landed up in the Olympia, mostly just for the rest. the first thing I noticed was the location of the box as described mickrick,the first i’d seen in that position. The film running was ‘Hercules Unchained’ starring Steve Reeves not that we cared much of what was on offer. Smashing cinema I visited it a couple of times after that, when more awake !
Here’s a photo from 1996.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58677517@N03/?saved=1
Another photo here.
View link
Here is a photo from 1991.
View link
Please try again here for the photo.
View link
When the Palladium converted to Cinemascope in 1956, the work was done over the course of a weekend, they started after the last show on Saturday night and completed it in time for the first show on Monday.
Pwllheli cinemas were closed on Sundays anyway in those days, so they did not lose on any performances. The new screen was wall to wall & in front of the procenium arch, also there was no need to lose any seats for the conversion. The old Kinematograph Cinema Directory is incorrect in attributing the Palled with 800 seats, as it was always 702. I have the old monthly programme, when i find it I’ll know the exact date.
Here is a photo from 1991 during the supermarket years, It’s not the same without the name Palladium on that white wall.
View link
This is a not very sharp photo, as it was taken from a moving coach, I only just noticed it as we were passing, if the camera was not already in my hand I’d of missed it.
I’m only including it as the building was still open at the time, albeit only for bingo. I think it was around 1999.
View link
Forgot to mention I’m from Wales,rather to far for me to check it out myself.
Can anyone help me ? when on holiday in 1992 in Southern California we stopped at a market which was held in a drive in theatre. I noticed that the projection booth’s port holes were just that,I mean ROUND windows.
This place is somewhere between San Diego & the Mexican Border,I have photos and when I find them I’ll paste them on here.
Here’s a rather hazy photo.
View link
Here’s a photo from 1993, when the Palladium was a supermarket.
View link
Here is a photo of the Ritz which I took when on holiday from Wales in 1990, great double feature on at the time.
I once saw the British comedy “whoodunit” there, Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple in Agatha Christie’s “Murder At The Gallop"
View link
This is a photo from 1992
View link
Next time I’m in Barmouth or Abermaw to give it it’s Welsh name,I’ll try to take a better photo of the White. It’s only an hour’s train ride from Pwllheli, but it won’t be until the summer.
It,s probably obvious due to the size of the building but there was no balcony, I remember this vividly although I was only 11 at the time as I had never been to a single floor cinema before.
Here’s a night view of the Vine from 1992
View link
Glad to see that this cinema has been listed, I remember being in Barmouth as a kid on probably a Sunday school trip, and my sister took me to see “White Christmas” ( in the middle of summer"!!). A friend who used to work in the Barmouth area told me that the hand winch for the screen masking which changed the format for Cinemascope was in full view inside the auditorium, and one of the usherettes used to operate it, to loud applause ! The building now seems so small from the outside, it’s hard to beleive it used to be a cinema.
The Palladium Pwllheli also did not have to have it’s seating reduced.
Pange’s comment above that he was technically not old enough to work during the run of “Alien” reminded me that soon after I started as a junior projectionist,I was told by the chief that I could not work during the run of the “Little Hut” which had an X certificate, it starred David Niven & Ava Gardner.
Now this was 1958, and fifteen year old’s were much more naive than today’s youngsters,so I stayed home on the first evening of the film’s run. only to find that when I turned up to work the following morning it was a big wind up.
So everyone had a big laugh at my expense, the cinema in question was the Town Hall Pwllheli,which is still open under it’s new name Neuadd Dwyfor.
The equipment at the Majestic consisted of two Kalee 12 projectors and the wonderfull Peerless magnarcs lamps,and as already mentioned above Western Electric sound system.
I was told that the equipment may have still been there at the time of the fire, even though it’s function during the last few years was that of a nightclub. I have no way of knowing if this was true.
Like the circuit’s other cinema in Pwllheli, the Majestic had a cafe which was a very popular and pleasing meeting place.