Embassy Cinema Bridgend

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Uploaded on: May 19, 2022

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The 1324 seater Embassy opened two months after W.W.2 was declared with seats priced 8d. to 1s.9d. The interior decorations were cut back because of restrictions, however, Eugene Mollo’s proscenium design was retained. Originally designed for the Regals Walton-on-Thames and Bridlington, later followed by Embassy Fareham as splay wall panels. Then as a large frame enclosing the screen at the Rex Berkhamsted. Here at Bridgend for the last time as this was to be Mollo’s last cinema design. The large area of a frame within a frame certainly stood out, finished in gold and silver Marb-L-Cote lit by concealed lighting as all eyes focused on this area it attained its full effect. Mollo never saw the opening as he and Egan were commissioned into the Army Camouflage Corps at Farnham Castle, in the Army List of April 1944 both were promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant and decommissioned in 1946. Michael Egan returned to his designing career of shops and banks also a few cinema alterations. Eugene Mollo never returned to cinema design and concentrated on collecting historic arms and uniforms. He died on 24th February 1985 aged 80.

Ron Knee