Cannon Walsall
Park Street,
Walsall,
WS1 1NS
Park Street,
Walsall,
WS1 1NS
4 people
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Right… There needs to be a correction. The ABC Savoy was operated by The Walsall Theatre Company operated The Savoy until 1956.. Maxwell Purchased 51% of The Walsall Theatre Company shares for the cost of building The Savoy. This was made up of unsold shares of the company plus small shareholders. The principles were intact.. Sir Sidney Clift had brokered the deal. He had connections through The Clifton Cinemas (Walsall Ltd., Were The principles of the WTC owned shares.. Plus The BTH Projection Equipment was purchased through him. and P&M advertising Ltd., provided the posters for The WTC.. This has now been cross referenced with other sources and the local newspaper The Sale of The Palace Walsall provided the final pay-out
The Last Films were. “Rising Sun”, “Tina” and “The Fugitive
I saw Star Wars (many times) at the ABC. I was 14 years old. Another film I returned to watch again and again was Chariots of Fire, which played as a double bill with Gregory’s Girl. I can’t believe this cinema is gone now.
As the Savoy this was the first cinema I recall attending for the ABC Minors Club on Saturday mornings during the mid-fifties. Although I never managed to master the song, even with the little ball bouncing over the words! If the Gaumont/Odeon was the grand aristocratic lady, the Savoy was the art-deco flapper and a beautiful example too. Though remodelled as a multi, some of the original 1930s decorative detail was revealed during demolition I remember seeing Ben-Hur and Zulu here
The Shop is Now “Poundland”
The Film Producer Euan Lloyd started as a Trainee Manager Here Noted for working on the Bond Movies and later his own. “Shalako” “Wild Geese” “Sea Wolves” “Paper Tiger” to name a few. Plus some Travel films to accompany the Bond Movies. to achieve the British Quota showings ..
Of All The Cinemas I have worked at in 40 years. This was my favorite. I did 6 ½ years as Assitant Manager under Frank W. Attoe. before going to Work for The Birmingham Cinema Owner B.T.Davis becoming his General Manager and Having Cinemas of My Own..
The number 3 cinema came backwards under the circle. so it was back to back the other5 side of the number 3 was the pub..
Looking at the photo above of Screen 2, that appears to be the full width of the original cinema, or is the photo very deceptive? So where was screen 3, they cannot both have been in the front stalls surely? Was it perhaps on the stage?
Vintage photographs of the ABC:
In March 1962:
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Rear of the building in 1962:
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In 1972:
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In November 1973:
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Close-up:
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Auditorium of Screen 2, in the former front stalls:
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In August 1975:
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Later in 1975:
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Awaiting demolition in 1994:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pebar/3941361670/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pebar/3941361376/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pebar/3941362260/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pebar/3940581059/
A final look in colour in 1995:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pebar/3940978469/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pebar/3941696398/