‘Paint Your Wagon’ was the last ‘proper’ roadshow at my Newcastle (UK) theatre, the Essoldo (later ABC) when it was still a single auditorium. The run was 22 weeks from 13 Apr 1970 and the cinema seated 1,975…..
When the theatre reopened as a twin on 23 July 1971 another Paramount picture, ‘Love Story’ ran for 29.5 weeks ( the first 6.5 weeks being in both screens) although its popularity amazes me to this day……..
CF100: The introduction of the latter ‘delicacies’ marked the beginning of the down marketing of the industry,in my opinion. I used to feel nauseous when patrons bought them at sales kiosks and proceeded to smother them in the condiments on offer….
Wherever I would be standing on the foyer the happy eaters of this commodity always seemed to head in my direction, just to add to my queasiness!
RadioVenus: Given the way that the exhibition industry has veered toward a hi – tech/intensive catering culture at the expense of atmosphere and presentation, nothing would surprise me either.
If it is a case of supplying and fitting a new motor then you should be fortunate enough to see the auditorium at its best – albeit nowhere near as good as was once the case – when you next visit………
What was the point of fitting those house tabs if the attitude of the theatre staff is “Well, we show films all day so we leave the curtains open” ?
Has it not always been the case that West End (and provincial city/large town) cinemas show films all day?
I could understand tabs not being part of the performance at OLS during the period between December 2018 and late May/early June(?) of this year when there were simply none to use.
What was the point of fitting those house tabs if the attitude of the theatre staff is “Well, we show films all day so we leave the curtains open” ?
Has it not always been the case that West End (and provincial city/large town) cinemas show films all day?
I could understand tabs not being part of the performance at OLS during the period between December 2018 and late May/early June(?) of this year when there were simply none to use.
I should point out that the £28,000,000 revised restoration cost I stated is incorrect. I should have said £27,000,000 (as stated on the local BBC news a few days ago)…..
Paradoxically, Debenhams , who purchased the ABC Stockton all those years ago (ABC bought the Essoldo Newcastle with the proceeds), are to close their department store next year. This is adjacent to the Globe and one would have thought that they would wait to see if the considerable extra footfall (which the large reopened next door theatre is bound to generate) may have a positive effect before making such a drastic move……..
Marks & Spencer have already withdrawn from the town and they could have waited also – especially whilst they still have to pay £150k per annum rent to a Scandinavian landlord. There is no ‘get out clause’ and the rent is payable for 100 years. I cannot believe that M&S would , as a going concern, have been losing anywhere near £150k each year!
Cinema circuits are equally guilty of such decisions and I remember my local Odeon in Bishop Auckland closing the very week that a new shopping centre and bus concourse opened next door many decades ago…..
To do as I mentioned would have been expecting too much, I suppose, Zappomatic but I did think at the time (I was based as an A/M for ABC ‘Up North’)of the initial conversion that it was a very good job they did by retaining the proper circle with the dome, chandelier etc and then I was appalled by the act of vandalism a couple of years later when it was split approximately two thirds and a third.
I had to refrain from laughing at a meeting at ABC Glasgow some years later when I was a full Manager. The Operations Manager told us that , for statistical purposes, ABC Fulham Road was compared with Glasgow. I do not know why as, even after subdivision, screens 1 and 2 at Glasgow seated 970 and 872 unlike the ‘paltry’ capacities at Fulham Road but that’s ‘big business’ for you, I suppose……..
They really ought to remove the division of the circle (which looked ‘cock -eyed’ afterwards) to restore full width and symmetry. EMI, the parent company of ABC, were just being greedy when they did this years ago and they ought to have considered this theatre’s location within an affluent area of the capital rather than some dead end district.
If the original capacity of almost 800 is too large (as it obviously will be these days) then they can always re-step it and have a capacity of around 400 but the two cinemas adjacent to one another need scrapping….
After a considerable absence, however, the technical staff are going to have to refamiliarise themselves with the use of the tabs for presentation; I refer to the lighting on the house tabs being doused before they actually start to part.
Whatever type of illumination is in use ( footlights, pageant lighting or spotlights on the splay walls), it should be gradually dimmed as the curtains open.
CF100: The ‘bellowing’ I refer to is when the tabs would ‘waft’ forward of the footlights (at about a 105 – 110 degree angle) culminating in the “oscillating” you mention. This applied more to the flimsier screen tabs as opposed to the heavier house tabs.
The fitting of the blue velvet house tabs has improved astronomically the look of the auditorium.
I do not believe that Odeon (under the influence of umbrella organisation, AMC) would ever have made this move had it not been for much adverse criticism and I would very much like to think that the many, many comments recorded on this particular site have been particularly influential……
Certainly, in bygone days, the two major circuits , Rank and ABC had a strict policy of Managers collating all media coverage – be it good or bad – of the circuits' theatres for onward transmission to the powers that be and I do not imagine that this will have changed.
I am slightly bemused, however, about the requirement for the faster opening and closing of the tabs. Fifteen seconds was considered about right for a 40 – 50 feet proscenium width, any faster (especially with the plenum in use) being likely to result in the ‘bellowing effect’.
This is ‘nit picky’, however, as the important factor is Odeon’s willingness to bow to public opinion. Their ‘flagship’ once again is precisely that.
Most unlikely, I know , but it would be brilliant if this change of heart were to herald a ‘sea change’ regarding Odeon’s no tabs policy circuit wide ; certainly larger auditoria are far better with curtains than without them.
The same goes for the likes of Everyman who, after a promising start, then decided not to include these attractive features in situations such as York, Crystal Palace etc.
I should add that OLS would be ill advised to not use the tabs for ‘large screen’ ‘blockbusters’ as this would totally defeat the object.
Very few people in Newcastle use language like “Howay it’s canny lush down ‘ere!”. The few who do are certainly not the well – heeled set most likely to visit Everyman cinemas.
As in the case of their other most recent developments, there is nothing at all “lush” about the screen area…….
Photo uploaded. It was taken a week or so before closure as a cinema/theatre. The popular British ‘kitchen sink drama’, ‘A Kind of Loving’ is showing and a 16 sheet poster on the left front of house indicates that membership of the forthcoming ‘Thistle Bingo Club’ is already under way.
The dual purpose sweet shop (external door for passing trade and a linking door from the foyer for cinema patrons) appears to be somewhat depleted and the still frames look suspiciously devoid of stills.
Two young men (presumably operators) are visible looking down from the projection box fire escape. They would soon be putting on the final reel. Ironically, new Philips FP20 projectors and Philips sound system had been installed in 1959 and the equipment remained in situ throughout the bingo years. Three years cinema usage would hardly have seen a decent return on the investment……
This was taken a week or so before closure as a cinema/theatre. The popular British ‘kitchen sink drama’, ‘A Kind of Loving’ is showing and a 16 sheet poster on the left front of house indicates that membership of the forthcoming ‘Thistle Bingo Club’ is already under way.
2 1955 pics uploaded.
A memory of being on stage during a WW2 bombing raid:–
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH9_y7b674s
‘Paint Your Wagon’ was the last ‘proper’ roadshow at my Newcastle (UK) theatre, the Essoldo (later ABC) when it was still a single auditorium. The run was 22 weeks from 13 Apr 1970 and the cinema seated 1,975…..
When the theatre reopened as a twin on 23 July 1971 another Paramount picture, ‘Love Story’ ran for 29.5 weeks ( the first 6.5 weeks being in both screens) although its popularity amazes me to this day……..
CF100: The introduction of the latter ‘delicacies’ marked the beginning of the down marketing of the industry,in my opinion. I used to feel nauseous when patrons bought them at sales kiosks and proceeded to smother them in the condiments on offer….
Wherever I would be standing on the foyer the happy eaters of this commodity always seemed to head in my direction, just to add to my queasiness!
RadioVenus: Given the way that the exhibition industry has veered toward a hi – tech/intensive catering culture at the expense of atmosphere and presentation, nothing would surprise me either.
If it is a case of supplying and fitting a new motor then you should be fortunate enough to see the auditorium at its best – albeit nowhere near as good as was once the case – when you next visit………
What was the point of fitting those house tabs if the attitude of the theatre staff is “Well, we show films all day so we leave the curtains open” ?
Has it not always been the case that West End (and provincial city/large town) cinemas show films all day?
I could understand tabs not being part of the performance at OLS during the period between December 2018 and late May/early June(?) of this year when there were simply none to use.
What excuse do they have now??
What was the point of fitting those house tabs if the attitude of the theatre staff is “Well, we show films all day so we leave the curtains open” ?
Has it not always been the case that West End (and provincial city/large town) cinemas show films all day?
I could understand tabs not being part of the performance at OLS during the period between December 2018 and late May/early June(?) of this year when there were simply none to use.
What excuse do they have now??
Apologies – I meant Charles (‘Chuck’) Watson.
Horace (‘Chuck’) Walker was our Manager at the Princess, Blackpool….
Photos added.
Royalty to reopen later in 2019 :–
https://www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk/news/business/the-arc-cinema-takeover-great-yarmouth-cinema-1-6123065
Another article :–
https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/17737330.stockton-globe-65m-vote-narrowly-passed/
I should point out that the £28,000,000 revised restoration cost I stated is incorrect. I should have said £27,000,000 (as stated on the local BBC news a few days ago)…..
Paradoxically, Debenhams , who purchased the ABC Stockton all those years ago (ABC bought the Essoldo Newcastle with the proceeds), are to close their department store next year. This is adjacent to the Globe and one would have thought that they would wait to see if the considerable extra footfall (which the large reopened next door theatre is bound to generate) may have a positive effect before making such a drastic move……..
Marks & Spencer have already withdrawn from the town and they could have waited also – especially whilst they still have to pay £150k per annum rent to a Scandinavian landlord. There is no ‘get out clause’ and the rent is payable for 100 years. I cannot believe that M&S would , as a going concern, have been losing anywhere near £150k each year!
Cinema circuits are equally guilty of such decisions and I remember my local Odeon in Bishop Auckland closing the very week that a new shopping centre and bus concourse opened next door many decades ago…..
Article re current situation. The cost of restoration has escalated to £28 million :–
https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/cost-troubled-globe-theatre-renovation-16454723
Photo uploaded.
Photos uploaded of the ABC Fulham Road when it was a ‘proper cinema’ – and, curmudgeon, I agree with all you say…….
To do as I mentioned would have been expecting too much, I suppose, Zappomatic but I did think at the time (I was based as an A/M for ABC ‘Up North’)of the initial conversion that it was a very good job they did by retaining the proper circle with the dome, chandelier etc and then I was appalled by the act of vandalism a couple of years later when it was split approximately two thirds and a third.
I had to refrain from laughing at a meeting at ABC Glasgow some years later when I was a full Manager. The Operations Manager told us that , for statistical purposes, ABC Fulham Road was compared with Glasgow. I do not know why as, even after subdivision, screens 1 and 2 at Glasgow seated 970 and 872 unlike the ‘paltry’ capacities at Fulham Road but that’s ‘big business’ for you, I suppose……..
FanaticalAboutOdeon is quite correct. As I recall now, the term is indeed ‘billowing’ :–)
They really ought to remove the division of the circle (which looked ‘cock -eyed’ afterwards) to restore full width and symmetry. EMI, the parent company of ABC, were just being greedy when they did this years ago and they ought to have considered this theatre’s location within an affluent area of the capital rather than some dead end district.
If the original capacity of almost 800 is too large (as it obviously will be these days) then they can always re-step it and have a capacity of around 400 but the two cinemas adjacent to one another need scrapping….
Very interesting site re Chester Cinemas compiled by David A Ellis, Peter Davies (former Chief Projectionist – Odeon Chester) and Roger Shone:–
https://www.chestercinemas.co.uk/
Interesting video of the CTA visit at OLS.
After a considerable absence, however, the technical staff are going to have to refamiliarise themselves with the use of the tabs for presentation; I refer to the lighting on the house tabs being doused before they actually start to part.
Whatever type of illumination is in use ( footlights, pageant lighting or spotlights on the splay walls), it should be gradually dimmed as the curtains open.
CF100: The ‘bellowing’ I refer to is when the tabs would ‘waft’ forward of the footlights (at about a 105 – 110 degree angle) culminating in the “oscillating” you mention. This applied more to the flimsier screen tabs as opposed to the heavier house tabs.
Finally, someone has seen sense!
The fitting of the blue velvet house tabs has improved astronomically the look of the auditorium.
I do not believe that Odeon (under the influence of umbrella organisation, AMC) would ever have made this move had it not been for much adverse criticism and I would very much like to think that the many, many comments recorded on this particular site have been particularly influential……
Certainly, in bygone days, the two major circuits , Rank and ABC had a strict policy of Managers collating all media coverage – be it good or bad – of the circuits' theatres for onward transmission to the powers that be and I do not imagine that this will have changed.
I am slightly bemused, however, about the requirement for the faster opening and closing of the tabs. Fifteen seconds was considered about right for a 40 – 50 feet proscenium width, any faster (especially with the plenum in use) being likely to result in the ‘bellowing effect’.
This is ‘nit picky’, however, as the important factor is Odeon’s willingness to bow to public opinion. Their ‘flagship’ once again is precisely that.
Most unlikely, I know , but it would be brilliant if this change of heart were to herald a ‘sea change’ regarding Odeon’s no tabs policy circuit wide ; certainly larger auditoria are far better with curtains than without them.
The same goes for the likes of Everyman who, after a promising start, then decided not to include these attractive features in situations such as York, Crystal Palace etc.
I should add that OLS would be ill advised to not use the tabs for ‘large screen’ ‘blockbusters’ as this would totally defeat the object.
Very few people in Newcastle use language like “Howay it’s canny lush down ‘ere!”. The few who do are certainly not the well – heeled set most likely to visit Everyman cinemas.
As in the case of their other most recent developments, there is nothing at all “lush” about the screen area…….
Photo uploaded. It was taken a week or so before closure as a cinema/theatre. The popular British ‘kitchen sink drama’, ‘A Kind of Loving’ is showing and a 16 sheet poster on the left front of house indicates that membership of the forthcoming ‘Thistle Bingo Club’ is already under way.
The dual purpose sweet shop (external door for passing trade and a linking door from the foyer for cinema patrons) appears to be somewhat depleted and the still frames look suspiciously devoid of stills.
Two young men (presumably operators) are visible looking down from the projection box fire escape. They would soon be putting on the final reel. Ironically, new Philips FP20 projectors and Philips sound system had been installed in 1959 and the equipment remained in situ throughout the bingo years. Three years cinema usage would hardly have seen a decent return on the investment……
Early image of the long lost North Road entrance.
Image uploaded.
This was taken a week or so before closure as a cinema/theatre. The popular British ‘kitchen sink drama’, ‘A Kind of Loving’ is showing and a 16 sheet poster on the left front of house indicates that membership of the forthcoming ‘Thistle Bingo Club’ is already under way.