Crescent Cinema

Well i used to know the guy who last ran this cinema (into the ground), he did the same with a cinema he ran here in Manchester, and in Buxton and in Hyde. Ran them all into the ground from what I remember. Nice cinema this and would be nice to help get it open again.

Hi Everyone!

I am an artist living in Manchester but originally from Pontefract. I remember going to this cinema when i was young to watch Bambi! I had no idea that it still existed. I was sure that it had been converted into the Riley’s Snooker hall.

Des any one have the access to the owners contact information? I would love to get in touch and open up the possibility of renovating and creating a community and professional Arts Centres, as I know that the Arts Council England would be very interested in funding an impoverished area like Pontefract.

Any help would be grand!

Best

Adam Davies

Hi everyone. There is an active comment thread on the Crescent Pontefract on Streetlife https://www.streetlife.com/conversation/1kbvidndxa4eb/#comment Please feel free to sign in and join in. Cheers JohnTollick

did u have any luck finding the current owner lensi ?

Not as yet John. Can only assume it’s come to stand still!

Hello Rachey, I’ll get on to it today. Excellent!! Can’t believe you’ve had the chance to look inside! I spoke to the owner, (Gary?) some time back but didn’t think to ask if I could have a look!! The person I’m thinking of is a long standing friend of my parents and I think he’s retired now! Whatever I find out I’ll let you know as soon as! I’ve also emailed you on your society contact email address. May I just add at this point, it’s been a long standing wish of mine since the cinema closed in 83 that something should be done? I have made some tentative enquiries and as far as I can tell, the building has a covenant on it restricting it’s use for entertainment only! I spotted the new sign above the cinema entrance regarding the dance school so that’s great that at least some of the building will be used again. Hope this is ok as I’ll send another email to your society page with my contact details….

Hello Rachey, when you say you and your partner recently had a look around the cinema, do you mean inside? I can certainly ask round to see if anyone knows of an architect who’d be willing to have a look and give advice?

There are some photos of the Crescent Auditorium, The Playhouse and Thr Alexandra at www.wakefieldmuseums.org Go into museum collections and scroll down to historic photographs. There was a fire in the Crescent, (not sure of the date) and the original auditorium was gutted so there are photos of the original auditorium (1926) with windows above the proscenium and some of the reconstructed art deco auditorium which lasted until conversion in 1970, the two pillars at each side of the screen were removed for the installation of cinemascope.There are also a few photos that are definitely not the Crescent but could possibly be the Alexandra auditorium. Hope this helps.

Well said John, I was thinking along the same lines especially now that there is so much parking available towards the back of the cinema. Surely a one screen venue showing older films rather than trying to compete with the multiplexes could be workable. There are some venues like this but none too near to Pontefract that it couldn’t be made viable. Just wish I had the knowledge to know how to get the ball rolling!

Thanks for the information – it seems from people’s comments that using the Crescent cinema as a theatre venue would not be possible, which is a shame. Regarding the comments made by ‘Carousel10’, if you’re interested in getting involved in our amateur theatre group, then I suggest you first have a look at our website, which is www.ticketybootheatre.co.uk We rehearse two nights per week and are performing a play in April at Thornycroft (some know it as CISWO) on Halfpenny Lane. On the website there is an email address and telephone number if you would like to know more or would like to arrange to pop down to a rehearsal to meet us.

Regarding the comments made by ‘Rachey?’ I for one would certainly be interested in being involved in an amateur theatre group. I’ve been involved with numerous societies in the local area for a long time now. Certainly given other comments its sounds very much like using Pontefract cinema as a theatre venue would be difficult due to the alterations made over the years which really is a shame. Some months back I spoke to the owner of the building ringing him on the number listed on the rent advert to the exterior of the cinema. I didn’t get a great deal of info but he sounds like a local property developer. He did tell me that the interior is basically as it was when it closed in 1993 even down to the projector! I have many fond memories of the Crescent Cinema and always found it tardis like in the main screen area considering what area the building covers outside! It’s a shame about the stage being removed but it would be interesting to know what’s behind the screen! Wouldn’t it be great to get a consortium together and see if it’s possible to use this building again and certainly by the comments on this page I get the impression there would be enough interest in such a project! I’d value any comments and thoughts people have.

My involvement with the Crescent began in 1965. I was 10 years old and was a Saturday morning monitor. We had the job of trying to make the other children behave during the rowdy mornings.I also helped out tearing tickets, seating customers, filling up ice cream trays etc during school holidays.I did this for 8 years and loved every minute of it, until I left school in 1973. Even after leaving school I still worked on a part time basis for the big films of the day until it closed in 1993. I remember the times when the 1200 seater was packed for films like The Sound Of Music, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Thunderball, the queues stretched all the way along Ropergate. Some of the films were special presentations and the seats were bookable with separate performances.I was there the night it closed in 1970 for conversion. We were showing ‘The prime of Miss Jean Brodie’,the builders arrived before the film had finished and started ripping out the foyer and offices, when the customers came out at the end of the film they had to make their way carefully around the wood and rubble. It was sad later to watch the screen and festoon curtain taken down and the seats taken out prior to the major work starting. The Bingo club was the first to open on 22nd June.The cinema opened as Studio One on Monday 6th July 1970. The opening film was ‘Kes’. Highlights of the later years were Jaws in 1977, Star Wars and Close Encounters in 1978. The longest run at the cinema was ‘Grease’ in 1978, it ran for 6 weeks filling nearly every seat for every performance seat. In those days it was continouous performances and it was quite a job getting 400 people out and another 400 in within 10 minutes. I Have many happy memories of my time at the cinema and still keep in touch with a few of the staff,
Geoff Ward the projectionist, Mary ,Irene, Carol, Pauline the usherettes. Mrs Smith who was the assistant manager and then Manager for many years, died a couple of years ago aged 99.I have fond memories of Maureen during the run of Lawrence of Arabia in the 60’s, after a particularly busy intermission said ‘I’m going to end up bowlegged if I carry many more drinks on this tray!'We had some great fun, happy days!