This is the other cinema to which I delivered the MovieTone newsreel in the late 50’s and where my fascination with cinema began. The then chief projectionist a lady called Madelaine got me interested in the art of projection.
The Palace Theatre Halifax used to be known locally as the sweetest building in the UK as it was believed that a great deal of sugar was added to the cement during construction to help the cement to set during the cold weather
The projectors when I started were BTH Supa’s. To me the bees knees but after about two years were changed to Kalee 21 s. The parkeet floor of the projection room was so highly polished like a mirror. Last year I revisited the now bingo club and the manager kindly showed me around the many changes that have taken place over 50 years. The old projection suite now looking very rejected and unloved and the highly polished floor WELL! Nice to revisit but also upsetting too. But old memories will prevail.
A wonderful cinema to visit and to work in. The projectionists, the chief and the 2nd John Ramsden were true showmen who took much trouble to find non sinc music to fit with the mood and style of each feature film being shown.
This is the cinema where my cinema career really started as an apprentice projectionist in August 1960. I really loved my time here under Chief Jimmy Thompson and 2nd Tommy Allen who became my adopted father.Loved every minute of it. George Shepheard was the Manager who persuaded me to go into cinema management and I was sent to the Odeon Merrion centre for training.
This is the first cinema in which I was appointed assistant manager to Jack Fenner in the mid 1960’s, after training at the Odeon Merrion Centre Leeds.
I was the House Manager at the Gaumont Sheffield in the mid 60’s under General Manager Harry Murray, a very strict man to say the least. Ha d the privilege to meet many of the “stars” of that era during the one night live shows staged there.
The projection room was really small up two steps from the rewind room which was immediately behind the paybox. Projection equipment was two aging Kalee 12 machines
Way back in the late 50’s I began my career in the cinema industry as a news boy carrying the Movietone newsreel between the Halifax Cosy and Palladium cinemas in Halifax six evenings a week at 1 shilling (5p) per night.
I believe John Ramsden followed Donald Denham as Chief at Odeon York, on promotion from 2nd at Odeon Merrion Centre. Tony Cutts after the Odeon M/C opened became Chief at the Majestic during its epic run with The Sound of Music. He lived at that time in Holmwood Bradford and travelled daily to Leeds. He also had the most comprehensive collection of LP’s a real collector. Later and towards the end of his life he was the Chief at the Picture House in Bradford which is attached to the Museum of film and television and the Imax cinema in Bradford.
If my memory serves me right, the assistant manageress at Odeon Merrion Centre was Margaret Smith and her daughter Carol was the secretary, that was in 1964 the year of it’s opening. Cyril Charles Close was later moved to the Odeon (ex Gaumont ) Bradford where I am told he sadly died.
George’s Chief Projectionist at York was John Ramsden ex Merrion Centre. John, Tony Cutts (Majestic Leeds ) and myself were really good mates in the 60’s. (John was my best man)Sadly we lost touch as the years went by and we all moan the passing of Tony (Mr. Cinema ) Cutts. Would be nice to meet up with colleages from that era before its too late.
Very sad to read that both Beryl and George Shepheard have passed away, but glad to see their son Tim is still going strong. When I worked for George at Halifax, Tim was a very young schoolboy. In 1964 ( I think ) George moved to York Odeon, being replaced at Halifax by Geoffrey May from Rochdale. I moved to the Odeon Merrion Centre Leeds as a trainee manager then to Odeon Bradford as A/M under Jack Fenner then onto Gaumont Sheffield as House Manager under Harry Murray that was 1966 I think.
Some very interesting comments about the Odeon Halifax.
In the early 1960’s I was a young projectionist at the Odeon Halifax under the management of the lovely George Shepheard and his secretary Diana Majdalany. Harry Shatwell was the assistant manager. Those were the days for a teenager with several ‘live’ concerts of all the pop artists of the time. I loved every minute of it all.
After a few years George Shepheard talked me into going into theatre management and I moved on to Odeon Merrion Centre Leeds under Cyril Charles Close for training. After several months George Shepheard had moved to Odeon York where I did relief work for him on a few occasions before being moved to the Gaumont Sheffield as House Manager.
In the early 60’s the Odeon Camden Town also housed the Rank Organisation projectionist training school. If I remember rightly the course lasted 3 weeks before an examination and programme run (no public) before being returned to your own cinema. The students were housed in a B&B in Chalk Farm and travelled daily.
Roxy cinema Sowerby Bridge part of Star Cinema Group Leeds. Projection room had a unique large lump of concrete on the floor painted to match the rest of the rooms colour.
In the 1960’s in was a projectionist at the Odeon Halifax and times were wonderful. George Shepheard was the Manager. Sad to see the cinema closed but glad to see it has not been demolished like so many others.
In the cinema days of the 1960’s this used to be 3 or 4 times the width it is now with large sofas along each side. The two doors visible at the far end were the cloakroom in and out doors.
This is the other cinema to which I delivered the MovieTone newsreel in the late 50’s and where my fascination with cinema began. The then chief projectionist a lady called Madelaine got me interested in the art of projection.
The Palace Theatre Halifax used to be known locally as the sweetest building in the UK as it was believed that a great deal of sugar was added to the cement during construction to help the cement to set during the cold weather
The projectors when I started were BTH Supa’s. To me the bees knees but after about two years were changed to Kalee 21 s. The parkeet floor of the projection room was so highly polished like a mirror. Last year I revisited the now bingo club and the manager kindly showed me around the many changes that have taken place over 50 years. The old projection suite now looking very rejected and unloved and the highly polished floor WELL! Nice to revisit but also upsetting too. But old memories will prevail.
A wonderful cinema to visit and to work in. The projectionists, the chief and the 2nd John Ramsden were true showmen who took much trouble to find non sinc music to fit with the mood and style of each feature film being shown.
This is the cinema where my cinema career really started as an apprentice projectionist in August 1960. I really loved my time here under Chief Jimmy Thompson and 2nd Tommy Allen who became my adopted father.Loved every minute of it. George Shepheard was the Manager who persuaded me to go into cinema management and I was sent to the Odeon Merrion centre for training.
This is the first cinema in which I was appointed assistant manager to Jack Fenner in the mid 1960’s, after training at the Odeon Merrion Centre Leeds.
I was the House Manager at the Gaumont Sheffield in the mid 60’s under General Manager Harry Murray, a very strict man to say the least. Ha d the privilege to meet many of the “stars” of that era during the one night live shows staged there.
I worked as a part time projectionist at this Essoldo cinema for about 18 months in 1959. The Chief projectionist at that time was Keith Wood.
The projection room was really small up two steps from the rewind room which was immediately behind the paybox. Projection equipment was two aging Kalee 12 machines
Way back in the late 50’s I began my career in the cinema industry as a news boy carrying the Movietone newsreel between the Halifax Cosy and Palladium cinemas in Halifax six evenings a week at 1 shilling (5p) per night.
Taken when cinemas had proper projectors, Kalee 20’s?
The career story of Tony Cutts can be found on the following site. bradfordodeonrescuegroup.co.uk
I believe John Ramsden followed Donald Denham as Chief at Odeon York, on promotion from 2nd at Odeon Merrion Centre. Tony Cutts after the Odeon M/C opened became Chief at the Majestic during its epic run with The Sound of Music. He lived at that time in Holmwood Bradford and travelled daily to Leeds. He also had the most comprehensive collection of LP’s a real collector. Later and towards the end of his life he was the Chief at the Picture House in Bradford which is attached to the Museum of film and television and the Imax cinema in Bradford.
If my memory serves me right, the assistant manageress at Odeon Merrion Centre was Margaret Smith and her daughter Carol was the secretary, that was in 1964 the year of it’s opening. Cyril Charles Close was later moved to the Odeon (ex Gaumont ) Bradford where I am told he sadly died.
George’s Chief Projectionist at York was John Ramsden ex Merrion Centre. John, Tony Cutts (Majestic Leeds ) and myself were really good mates in the 60’s. (John was my best man)Sadly we lost touch as the years went by and we all moan the passing of Tony (Mr. Cinema ) Cutts. Would be nice to meet up with colleages from that era before its too late.
Very sad to read that both Beryl and George Shepheard have passed away, but glad to see their son Tim is still going strong. When I worked for George at Halifax, Tim was a very young schoolboy. In 1964 ( I think ) George moved to York Odeon, being replaced at Halifax by Geoffrey May from Rochdale. I moved to the Odeon Merrion Centre Leeds as a trainee manager then to Odeon Bradford as A/M under Jack Fenner then onto Gaumont Sheffield as House Manager under Harry Murray that was 1966 I think.
Some very interesting comments about the Odeon Halifax. In the early 1960’s I was a young projectionist at the Odeon Halifax under the management of the lovely George Shepheard and his secretary Diana Majdalany. Harry Shatwell was the assistant manager. Those were the days for a teenager with several ‘live’ concerts of all the pop artists of the time. I loved every minute of it all. After a few years George Shepheard talked me into going into theatre management and I moved on to Odeon Merrion Centre Leeds under Cyril Charles Close for training. After several months George Shepheard had moved to Odeon York where I did relief work for him on a few occasions before being moved to the Gaumont Sheffield as House Manager.
In the early 60’s the Odeon Camden Town also housed the Rank Organisation projectionist training school. If I remember rightly the course lasted 3 weeks before an examination and programme run (no public) before being returned to your own cinema. The students were housed in a B&B in Chalk Farm and travelled daily.
Ritz cinema Brighouse Closed early 60’s. Manager Jack Caufield.
The old Gaumont cinema Halifax. Closed about 1961. Manager Harry Shatwell transferred to Odeon Halifax as deputy Manager.
Palladium cinema King Cross Halifax another member of the Star Group of cinemas. After closure became a carpet store.
Roxy cinema Sowerby Bridge part of Star Cinema Group Leeds. Projection room had a unique large lump of concrete on the floor painted to match the rest of the rooms colour.
1960’s Manager George Shepheard. Chief Projectionist John Ramsden.
In the 1960’s in was a projectionist at the Odeon Halifax and times were wonderful. George Shepheard was the Manager. Sad to see the cinema closed but glad to see it has not been demolished like so many others.
In the cinema days of the 1960’s this used to be 3 or 4 times the width it is now with large sofas along each side. The two doors visible at the far end were the cloakroom in and out doors.