bla
commented about
Ritz Cinemaon
Oct 7, 2018 at 10:15 am
Hi Terry, the Chief was Brian Roscroe, not Roscoe.
I note an error in the entry for the cinema. It closed with Fame. Not Fame and Xanadu. The latter film was never shown at The Ritz, it was shown at The Lyceum Theatre near by.
The Empire was an ABC cinema in its latter days. It’s a pity it didn’t survive. Out of 6 cinemas in Crewe, only The Palace remains. How sad. Nantwich had two early cinema’s and both buildings are surpisingly, still standing, although one is highly modified as part of the Chatwins bakery. Do you remember either of these?
bla
commented about
Ritz Cinemaon
Oct 30, 2017 at 10:55 am
I’m not aware that the cinema was re-named from Kino to King. Both my parents and a lot of other people, including the old chief projectionist from the Ritz always stated that it was the Kino right up until its closure prior to the Star Group lease on the building in 1961. I even have some original correspondence from the Star Group from 1961 which refers to “the former Kino Cinema” discussing such things as the refurbishment including an interesting debate as to whether the gas secondary lighting should be retained or removed. I suspect the researcher may have been misled by a typographical error. What is the provenance for the information relating to the Kin(g)o please?
PS They did decide to take the gas out, although the original gas lighting fittings remained backstage in the old dressing rooms. A new battery secondary lighting installation was fitted in the right-hand under staircase area accessed from the ground floor gents toilet.
The cinema wasn’t built in traditional stadium style as stated. It had a completely separate circle which unusually didn’t overlap the stalls area. The drop wall below the circle front contained the rear entrance into the stalls. The under circle area was occupied by the crush area for the stalls foyer. The circle was accessed by dedicated staircases which led to a substantial circle crush area.
Much of my very happy youthful cinema-going life was spent here and at the Ritz, Co-operative Street during the 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s when they both sadly closed for demolition.
I remember the run of the Irwin Kostal re-recorded Fantasia in 4 track at the Odeon. It was fantastic! The Odeon became one of my favorite West End cinema’s and Fantasia, one of my all time favourite films. I saw it at Haymarket several times. Do you happen to remember the date this run started by any chance? Curiously enough I used to keep a movie going diary at that time and I noted on the 16th August 1983 (my first ever visit to this Odeon):“A very pleasant air conditioned modern cinema, nicely designed with comfortable seats and pleasant staff.” On presentation, I noted: “Excellent! Screen nicely lit.” (I didn’t at this time know that it was carbon arc, but I clearly recognised the quality of the light!) I went on to note that admission was £3 and thought that to be dear at the time! Some time later, I followed the same print from the Odeon when it transferred to the Studios, Oxford Circus and on the 5th October 1983 noted: “Previously unscathed print, now scratched!” I think their Westrex tower did the damage, I remember the closing sequence with the sunset having become marred by a rain of scuff marks!!
Hi Terry, the Chief was Brian Roscroe, not Roscoe.
I note an error in the entry for the cinema. It closed with Fame. Not Fame and Xanadu. The latter film was never shown at The Ritz, it was shown at The Lyceum Theatre near by.
The Empire was an ABC cinema in its latter days. It’s a pity it didn’t survive. Out of 6 cinemas in Crewe, only The Palace remains. How sad. Nantwich had two early cinema’s and both buildings are surpisingly, still standing, although one is highly modified as part of the Chatwins bakery. Do you remember either of these?
I’m not aware that the cinema was re-named from Kino to King. Both my parents and a lot of other people, including the old chief projectionist from the Ritz always stated that it was the Kino right up until its closure prior to the Star Group lease on the building in 1961. I even have some original correspondence from the Star Group from 1961 which refers to “the former Kino Cinema” discussing such things as the refurbishment including an interesting debate as to whether the gas secondary lighting should be retained or removed. I suspect the researcher may have been misled by a typographical error. What is the provenance for the information relating to the Kin(g)o please?
PS They did decide to take the gas out, although the original gas lighting fittings remained backstage in the old dressing rooms. A new battery secondary lighting installation was fitted in the right-hand under staircase area accessed from the ground floor gents toilet.
The cinema wasn’t built in traditional stadium style as stated. It had a completely separate circle which unusually didn’t overlap the stalls area. The drop wall below the circle front contained the rear entrance into the stalls. The under circle area was occupied by the crush area for the stalls foyer. The circle was accessed by dedicated staircases which led to a substantial circle crush area.
Much of my very happy youthful cinema-going life was spent here and at the Ritz, Co-operative Street during the 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s when they both sadly closed for demolition.
Dear theonlysbf,
I remember the run of the Irwin Kostal re-recorded Fantasia in 4 track at the Odeon. It was fantastic! The Odeon became one of my favorite West End cinema’s and Fantasia, one of my all time favourite films. I saw it at Haymarket several times. Do you happen to remember the date this run started by any chance? Curiously enough I used to keep a movie going diary at that time and I noted on the 16th August 1983 (my first ever visit to this Odeon):“A very pleasant air conditioned modern cinema, nicely designed with comfortable seats and pleasant staff.” On presentation, I noted: “Excellent! Screen nicely lit.” (I didn’t at this time know that it was carbon arc, but I clearly recognised the quality of the light!) I went on to note that admission was £3 and thought that to be dear at the time! Some time later, I followed the same print from the Odeon when it transferred to the Studios, Oxford Circus and on the 5th October 1983 noted: “Previously unscathed print, now scratched!” I think their Westrex tower did the damage, I remember the closing sequence with the sunset having become marred by a rain of scuff marks!!