The chronology of this building’s names needs to be checked as in the years around 1930 as a theatre it was still known as the Playhouse and was known by this name when taken on by William Coutts.
During the period when sound had been installed in most of the local cinemas the Imperial described itself as “The home of the silent screen” and featured a live orchestra.
Press report in 1930 stated that it was owned by the Splott Cinema Company but was not included in their block advert for the group’s five cinemas when this began shortly afterwards. Did it become surplus to requirements after the Splott had been rebuilt?
In the next ten years the group doubled in size, operating 10 Cardiff Cinemas by acquiring the Plaza, redeveloping the Tivoli and building Monico,Avenue, and County as well as carrying out extensions and upgrades of several of the others.
Ian must have been there pre-1987, during the early years when things were a bit basic, but that was reflected in the admission price.
The new build cinema was a great step forward and certainly better than similar-sized auditoria in high-street triple/twins, and has given excellent service for 20 years and the future for which refurbishment is planned.
The opening programme, advertised in the press, was “The Panther’s Prey” and “The Indelible Stain”.
It had been planned to open by Christmas 1912 including a colour film in the programme but the opening was delayed.
Following the closure of the convenience store the building remained empty until June 2007 when sold for refitting as a clothing store serving the Asian community.
Publicity for the opening of the Washington ( Monday April 4th 1938) provides the following further details.
1. Opening feature- Will Hay in “Oh Mr Porter"
2. Architect- Harry Teather (Teather & Jones, Cardiff)
3. Seating- Stalls 1000, Circle 300 ,Seats "fawn velvet plush on light oak frames, spacing more than usually provided"
4. Lift from foyer to Circle.
5. Colour scheme- gold and green
6. Proscenium curtain- gold; Silver festoon curtain in front of screen for lighting effects.
7. Mirrophonic sound system
8. Picture shows how little the frontage has been altered for its new use.
9. Car Parking available for patrons.
When Bingo began in July 1961 the tremendous success of the game in the Coliseum (Canton)owned by the other local operator, Rex Willis, encouraged the Jackson Withers Circuit to introduce Bingo into several of their cinemas , starting with the Splott, on a part-time basis, either Sunday to Wednesday or Thursday to Saturday.
In September 1961 the Gaiety was the first of the Group to go over to 7-day Bingo but others continued showing some films until at least the following year.
The unusual external architecture of the Gaiety was preserved, and indeed restored in later years, and a few features survived in the two bar/bowl floors in the most recent conversion.
A half-page article and advertisement in the local press on the Saturday before opening states that the Monico was a Splott Cinema from the start, (though a later licence was granted under the “Luxury Cinema Co” name, just as the Avenue and County were built by the “Rumely Cinema Co”, owned by the Splott Company.)
The architect was the Splott Company’s usual choice, William S Wort, the builder was J.E.Evans & Co.
Among the innovations were Western Electic Mirrophonic Sound, the first local installation.
However, the opening programme was “Theodora Goes Wild”(Irene Dunne & Melvyn Douglas) and “Bengal Tiger” (Barton Maclaine & June Travis), showing Monday to Wednesday.
The Management had to apologise via Tuesday’s paper, for a breakdown on Opening night.
Architects plans for the addition of a balcony were first submitted in 1935 by “The Elite Cinema Company” and appear to have been adopted and modified in the rebuilding for Odeon.
Photographs recently published from this period show some small differences in the completed building from the plans.
Constructed by local builder E. Turner and described in their book published in 1929 where it states that the Architect Mr Wride did much of the work after the death of Mr Phillips.Some plans survive and may provide more details.
The Canton Cinema closed in late November 1960, the last film was “Strangers when we Meet”.
When bingo was legalised in the following year The Splott (still operating)and The Gaiety converted at once.
After closure as a bingo hall the building was unused for a while. Eventually it was re-modelled internally to two floors, for 10-pin bowling and bar/restaurant, and the “domes” were restored.
A cinema poster from the 1930’s was framed on the bar wall.
This venture did not succeed and closed in 2006, the premises are currently vacant.
Original architects drawings may be seen at the Glamorgan Record Office, and reveal that buiding was originally planned as a skating rink and cinema.
correction to last comment, date was in fact 17 March 1930.
The latest Western Electric sound installed from 17 March 1930.
The chronology of this building’s names needs to be checked as in the years around 1930 as a theatre it was still known as the Playhouse and was known by this name when taken on by William Coutts.
During the period when sound had been installed in most of the local cinemas the Imperial described itself as “The home of the silent screen” and featured a live orchestra.
Press report in 1930 stated that it was owned by the Splott Cinema Company but was not included in their block advert for the group’s five cinemas when this began shortly afterwards. Did it become surplus to requirements after the Splott had been rebuilt?
In the next ten years the group doubled in size, operating 10 Cardiff Cinemas by acquiring the Plaza, redeveloping the Tivoli and building Monico,Avenue, and County as well as carrying out extensions and upgrades of several of the others.
Advertised as Globe (late Penylan) in April 1930 shortly before first mention of sound .
Ian must have been there pre-1987, during the early years when things were a bit basic, but that was reflected in the admission price.
The new build cinema was a great step forward and certainly better than similar-sized auditoria in high-street triple/twins, and has given excellent service for 20 years and the future for which refurbishment is planned.
The opening programme, advertised in the press, was “The Panther’s Prey” and “The Indelible Stain”.
It had been planned to open by Christmas 1912 including a colour film in the programme but the opening was delayed.
Architects' plans by Trent and Milburn for Moss Empires are dated 1931 and 1933.
Now operated by REEL cinemas and trading under their name this cinema currently offers new films at lower prices than the multiplexes.
Following the closure of the convenience store the building remained empty until June 2007 when sold for refitting as a clothing store serving the Asian community.
Much of the 1937 upgrade by architect W.S. Wort was at the proscenium end of the building, in the style used in other Splott Cinemas.
Correction- date should read 1876.
Further information delayed as archived plans are not currently available.
By April 2007 all Mecca signage removed. Currently named Riva.
Press advertised 5/6 February 1932
George Arliss “Old English” plus “Lord Richard in the Pantry”
Publicity for the opening of the Washington ( Monday April 4th 1938) provides the following further details.
1. Opening feature- Will Hay in “Oh Mr Porter"
2. Architect- Harry Teather (Teather & Jones, Cardiff)
3. Seating- Stalls 1000, Circle 300 ,Seats "fawn velvet plush on light oak frames, spacing more than usually provided"
4. Lift from foyer to Circle.
5. Colour scheme- gold and green
6. Proscenium curtain- gold; Silver festoon curtain in front of screen for lighting effects.
7. Mirrophonic sound system
8. Picture shows how little the frontage has been altered for its new use.
9. Car Parking available for patrons.
Some recent pictures available on the “flickr” website via “Penarth Washington”
At the beginning of the Bingo era, the game was played at the Monico on Sundays only.
When Bingo began in July 1961 the tremendous success of the game in the Coliseum (Canton)owned by the other local operator, Rex Willis, encouraged the Jackson Withers Circuit to introduce Bingo into several of their cinemas , starting with the Splott, on a part-time basis, either Sunday to Wednesday or Thursday to Saturday.
In September 1961 the Gaiety was the first of the Group to go over to 7-day Bingo but others continued showing some films until at least the following year.
The unusual external architecture of the Gaiety was preserved, and indeed restored in later years, and a few features survived in the two bar/bowl floors in the most recent conversion.
A half-page article and advertisement in the local press on the Saturday before opening states that the Monico was a Splott Cinema from the start, (though a later licence was granted under the “Luxury Cinema Co” name, just as the Avenue and County were built by the “Rumely Cinema Co”, owned by the Splott Company.)
The architect was the Splott Company’s usual choice, William S Wort, the builder was J.E.Evans & Co.
Among the innovations were Western Electic Mirrophonic Sound, the first local installation.
However, the opening programme was “Theodora Goes Wild”(Irene Dunne & Melvyn Douglas) and “Bengal Tiger” (Barton Maclaine & June Travis), showing Monday to Wednesday.
The Management had to apologise via Tuesday’s paper, for a breakdown on Opening night.
Architects plans for the addition of a balcony were first submitted in 1935 by “The Elite Cinema Company” and appear to have been adopted and modified in the rebuilding for Odeon.
Photographs recently published from this period show some small differences in the completed building from the plans.
Constructed by local builder E. Turner and described in their book published in 1929 where it states that the Architect Mr Wride did much of the work after the death of Mr Phillips.Some plans survive and may provide more details.
The Canton Cinema closed in late November 1960, the last film was “Strangers when we Meet”.
When bingo was legalised in the following year The Splott (still operating)and The Gaiety converted at once.
Architect was Howard Williams, plans survive.
After closure as a bingo hall the building was unused for a while. Eventually it was re-modelled internally to two floors, for 10-pin bowling and bar/restaurant, and the “domes” were restored.
A cinema poster from the 1930’s was framed on the bar wall.
This venture did not succeed and closed in 2006, the premises are currently vacant.
Original architects drawings may be seen at the Glamorgan Record Office, and reveal that buiding was originally planned as a skating rink and cinema.