Comments from Biffaskin

Showing 176 - 200 of 609 comments

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Ace-State Cinema on Jul 13, 2023 at 6:08 am

Interestingly, the link to Dusashenka’s Flickr album linked by Ken Roe has the re-opening article by ABC, with interior photographs, giving the cinema as having been closed for 5 years, so a closure year of 1943, rather than 1941. This ties in with the 1944 KYB, prepared and printed in advance in 1943, which lists the State Cinema (under Barking) as still being operational under the Kay Bros. (Kessex Cinemas).

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Picture House on Jul 12, 2023 at 7:39 am

Banchory isn’t listed in the 1944 KYB at all, with just the Picture House listed in the 1966 KYB. The ‘66 KYB has the proprietor as Robert Martin Cay, 458, Holborn Street, Aberdeen, 398 seats, screen 24 ft. by 10 ft. 6 in., CinemaScope, proscenium width of 28 feet.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Picture House on Jul 12, 2023 at 5:24 am

Picture House (Banbridge) Ltd. also operated the Iveagh Cinema in the town.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Cinema on Jul 11, 2023 at 4:53 pm

Reduced to 430 seats in 1944 KYB.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Picture House on Jul 11, 2023 at 4:45 pm

The other cinema in the town was the Victoria Hall, a much older stone building of Victorian era build.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Orient Cinema on Jul 11, 2023 at 7:04 am

In 1944 the cinema was operated by the Crown Cinema Co. Ltd. of Glasgow, booked by A.B. King in the same city.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about County Cinema on Jul 11, 2023 at 6:12 am

Robert Bond was the architect of this cinema, along with several more in the same area built to the same plans.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Odeon Luxe Aylesbury on Jul 10, 2023 at 2:00 pm

The link to the night-time picture that Ken has posted no longer works.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Market Theatre on Jul 10, 2023 at 1:51 pm

The 1944 KYB has the cinema listed as closed.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Regal Cinema on Jul 10, 2023 at 8:04 am

It is also hoped to re-open this as a cinema once again, the antiques sales has closed. A gallery of the present interior can be found here:

https://www.auchterarderpicturehouse.co.uk/gallery/

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Regal Cinema on Jul 10, 2023 at 7:58 am

Historic Environment Scotland has listed this former cinema as a Category B building. They credit the architect as being Charles T. Ewing of Crieff, built 1925-26, so possibly opened in 1926 rather than 1928.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Palace Cinema on Jul 9, 2023 at 4:48 pm

The cinema was sold, the name was changed to the Palace Cinema.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Buffalo Cinema on Jul 9, 2023 at 4:20 pm

As can be seem in the later photographs of this cinema, Wallaw Pictures Ltd. gave the old fashioned looking hall a make-over at some point, receiving an updated look in the art deco style.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Park Hall Cinema on Jul 9, 2023 at 9:27 am

Sadly, it has been demolished in favour of bungalows.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Luxor Cinema on Jul 9, 2023 at 9:03 am

Located at the junction of Hill Street and Dew Street, bizarrely, the address is now given as 7, High Street! Postcode is LL59 5EE.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Village Hall on Jul 9, 2023 at 8:53 am

Cinema has returned to the Village Hall once again, on a monthly basis. Postcode is LL58 8NY.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Electric Picture Theatre on Jul 7, 2023 at 1:46 pm

The actual name for the cinema was Electric Picture Theatre, as per the sign over the doorway.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Tivoli Cinema on Jul 7, 2023 at 3:26 am

Reported as part of W. Shanly’s circuit in The Bioscope dated 18th May, 1911, and still called the Victoria Hall.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Carlton Cinema on Jul 7, 2023 at 3:23 am

Conversion from a church into a cinema was for W. Shanly.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Plaza Cinerama Theatre on Jul 7, 2023 at 3:17 am

The conversion from a chapel to a cinema was for W. Shanly, not Shaulay as per the main text. Shanly had a small, but growing group of cinemas dotted around the UK and here in Dublin.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Dowry Picture Palace on Jul 6, 2023 at 1:43 pm

The screen end and main entrance was on Moore Street according to the plans shown.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Savoy Cinema on Jul 3, 2023 at 4:44 pm

Tender placed with Meagher & Hayes, Drinan Street, Cork, at a cost of £80,000 in 1928, Marble work for new cinema by C.W. Harrison & Sons. Architect Michael John Scott employed to survey damage after fire of 1938, the work being supervised by John Joseph Higginbotham, as the Corporation’s surveyor of Places of Public Resort. This work carried out prior to AIC/ABC’s sale to the Elliman Group in 1939.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Astor Cinema on Jul 3, 2023 at 4:31 pm

Robinson & Keefe provided ‘works for same’ whilst called the Sackville Cinema, so would be between 1917 & 1937. No other detail has been provided, nor a year of the plan’s submission to Dublin Corporation.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Metropole Cinema on Jul 3, 2023 at 4:24 pm

In 1927, the original architect added a canopy over the restaurant entrance on Prince’s Street.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Grand Central Cinema on Jul 3, 2023 at 4:20 pm

In 1913, plans were submitted by Frederick William Higginbotham for a ‘New picture theatre at Grand Restaurant, for William Kaye, ornamental plasterwork by M. Creedon, Dublin’. Then, in 1917, by the same architect ‘In destroyed area, 1916 - proposed reconstruction.’ The tale of woe isn’t quite complete, as, apparently, plans were submitted by Robinson & Keefe for ‘Reconstruction of part of building and refurbishment after fire of Dec 1933, for Walter McNally’, plans for proposed alterations were also submitted by the same practice in 1946 for alterations. A rather ‘unlucky’ building!