Globe Cinema
Albany Road,
Cardiff,
CF2 3PE
Albany Road,
Cardiff,
CF2 3PE
2 people
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I’ve just published a small volume of photos of The Globe, Cardiff that I took in the early 1970s – auditorium, back offices, projector room. Google ISBN 9780992989804 if you fancy tracking down a copy.
There seems to be some confusion about which member of the Willis Family founded the Willis circuit. The Willis circuit was founded by W.E. (William Elias) Willis who was a native , I believe, of Tonypandy.He was still alive in the early 1960,s residing in a house in Wellfield Road that was immediately next door to the Globe.This house was used as the registered head office of the Willis circuit. His son Rex Willis, a noted Welsh rugby player, had taken over the general management of the circuit by 1961.
Ken Wardle, who managed the cinema, usually started the show at about five pm each day.Later a part time projectionist would arrive at about 6pm and take over the box.
Ken Wardle then departed to his other job which was that of bingo caller at the Canton Coliseum Bingo Hall which was also owned by the Willis Circuit. One day a week he would travel to yet another Willis former cinema named the Gorki Hall at Abergorki where he again called bingo.
The two projectors were fitted with cinemascope lenses. However, the cinema possessed very poor masking. Thus when a scope film was being shown with a flat screen second feature, the masking was left open which gave the flat presentation very rough edges.
In the early years the cinema was fitted with an DC generator that was driven by mains AC current. The generator was kept on at the cinema when the later Kalee arcs were installed and used as a backup should one of the Kalee arc rectifiers fail.
The Globe was owned by Willis Cinemas who had their offices in the house next door in Wellfield Road. In the 1960s it was managed and operated by Ken Wardle and his wife. The entire staff being four people. Mrs. Wardle, a lady of German origin, manned the ticket box at the front of the cinema whilst two usherettes looked after the balcony and the stalls respectively. These two ladies also cleaned the cinema each morning. The projection box contained two GB Kalee 12 arc projectors and sound heads. Power was provided by two Kalee mmercury arc rectifiers – one for each machine.
In November 2008 the former “Monroe” has been renamed “Globe” and opened as a live music venue.
What a wondrous place!
I was there in 1978,1979 & 1980
I rememember the “dash” to the Claude afterwoods
There was a “pile” of broken seats at the front, do you remember that? and Oh! that dizzying staircase
The entrance fee was only 50pI guess you could smoke in threre in them days — seems inconceivable now
I am desperately(?) always seeking photos of the loverly place for ourourourour Reunion website www.psyreunion.com
I’d certainly be interested in an Globe Cinema Appreciation Society
pajamahead
So many great memories of this cinema, I still get dreams about it every so often. I went there between 1977 and the time it closed. I recall seeing Star Wars there when it first came out, and my father would take me regular. The auditorium took up most of the building. There was a ticket stall in the porch area of the building, which is where they sold the sweets and stuff as well.
Once you went past the ticket booth you had two options – go into the down stairs through one door or go upstairs up a winding spiral staircase. If my recall is good, the toilets were in the middle of the spiral up to the balcony. At the very back of the balcony area was a single L-shaped seat that could seat 3 or 4 people. That was where we always sat (when we could get it!) I’d love to see some interior photos of it one day, there’s not many about.
correction to last comment, date was in fact 17 March 1930.
Advertised as Globe (late Penylan) in April 1930 shortly before first mention of sound .