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In 1955 The Wests was equipped with CinemaScope and the first film to be screened in this process was “Sign of the Pagan” starring Jeff Chandler.

The seating capacity was reduced to 1,448. In 1961, the cinema was closed from 30th November until 18th December to install Todd-AO. It re-opened with “Porgy and Bess”, presented in Todd-AO and using only 650 seats in the stalls (the circle was closed).

Greater Union then booked many roadshow engagements into Wests Cinema, including: “Spartacus”, “El Cid”, “Guns of Navarone”, “Lawrence of Arabia”, “Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines”, “Thoroughly Modern Millie”, “A Clockwork Orange”, “What’s Up Doc?”, “Earthquake”(in Sensurround), “Jaws” and “Battle for Midway”.

Wests Cinema closed on 19th February 1977 with “Carry on England”. The building was sold by Greater Union, as they were operating the former Metro Theatre across the road, which in 1975, they had converted into the Hindley Cinemas 1-4.- Notes by Ken Roe & Brian Pearson.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -