Astor Cinema
18 Spa Road,
Bolton,
BL1 4AG
18 Spa Road,
Bolton,
BL1 4AG
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Associated British Cinemas Ltd.
Previous Names: New Olympia Cinema, Regal Cinema
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Originally built as the Olympia Skating Rink, it began screening films around 1908. It converted to the New Olympia Cinema opened on 27th May 1912. Seating was proved for 2,200 (the cheaper seats were located behind the screen!). There was a small balcony along one side of the auditorium. The cinema also featured music hall acts as part of the programme.
The New Olympia Cinema was equipped with a Western Electric(WE) sound system in 1930, and it was re-named Regal Cinema in 1931. It was taken over by the Associated British Cinemas(ABC) chain in around 1932. Seating was now provided for 2,380.
In 1947 it was taken over by independent operator Arthur Hall, and operating under a company named Woodhall Entertainments (based in Manchester), it was re-named Astor Cinema. The seating capacity had been reduced to 1,907 when it closed in 1955.
It was converted back into a skating rink, named the Nevada Rink, which was destroyed by a fire in 1985. It was demolished, and the Bolton Ladies and Girls Club has been built on the site.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 1 comments)
The following text is from a ‘RootsWeb’ page and was by “Linda Hindley” whose parents acquired the building for its return to roller-skating in the 1950s. She credits a Bolton Evening News article for some of the facts.
“The Olympia roller skating rink was erected on the site in 1909 and opened on Saturday Sept 25 of that year. The admission charge was 6d and hire of skates a further 6d and there were 3 sessions daily. The Olympia only lasted 3 years and closed on 27 May 1912.
Later that year, it opened as a picture house with the same name and had the largest seating capacity of any picture house in Bolton. On Sept 15 1929 it became the Regal and reopened as a ‘talkie’ cinema. From Sept 1929 until Sept 1952 the Regal led a relatively untroubled life except for hooliganism which resulted in destruction of many seats.
In (1952) the Progressive Publicity Co Ltd, a Manchester firm, took over the lease and Reginald Liversedge, the well known organist was appointed manager. On November 24 the cinema once again changed its name, this time to the Astor and the first film was ‘Le Ronde’. The major decline in the Bolton cinemas began in the mid 50s. Between 1955 and the end of 1959 eight closed, the first being the Astor. The building then was converted back to roller skating by my parents and was opened by footballer Nat Lofthouse on November 9th 1955."