Palladium Cinema
102 Waterloo Road,
Blackpool,
FY4 2AA
102 Waterloo Road,
Blackpool,
FY4 2AA
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Upstairs is now some sort of boxing club while Pizza Hut occupy part of the ground floor area.
I have loaded a better view… taken some years ago now…
The bingo has now closed.
The bingo operation is set to close.
I wonder what fate awaits this unlisted building?http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/Blackpool-bingo-set-for-final.5606060.jp
What a surprise to see something about the Palladium. I worked there from 19662 until I joined the Navy in 1967, as the second projectionist under Ronnie Gregson who was the Chief Projectionist/Assistant Manager.It was a fabulous place to work and I have never forgotten it. It was a very happy time of my life and the staff were great. The projectors were the top of the range at the time – 70/35 mm CineMechanica Projectomatics from Milan. They ran at dual speeds of 24 frames per second and 30 frames per second, for the odd film still around at that speed (Oklahoma being one of them), and had both optical sound and 6 track magnetic stereo sound all powered by the reliable Westrex Sound system. We used to specialise in “Roadshow” film seasons – My Fair Lady (26 weeks), Lawrence of Arabia (26 weeks)and, of course, The Sound of Music (46 weeks)for example. I saw that about 11 times each week!! The manager was Mr. Spencer, a lovely man and my good friend Harry Hunt was the doorman – he could tell some stories!! So to sum up it was a great place to be and there are lots of wonderful memories that I still have. What a shame that all the cinemas that Blackpool used to have are no longer around. Great times! John Senese
Page 14 of brochure linked above.
for vintage photo of auditorium scroll down:
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A couple of interior pictures (as a bingo hall) here:–
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The “Eyes Down” episode of “The Peter Kay Thing” was filmed here.
I had a chance to view the interior on Saturday June 12th 2004 during the evening session of Bingo.
The stalls have been covered by a false floor to cover the shallow raking of the stalls, much of the original plasterwork survives ( despite some more modern attempts to blend in similar design elements ). Most notable are the Ventian lion friezes on the walls of the auditorium – what’s the connection there I wonder?
Despite not being in the use the balcony area is still accessible and I was able to wander around unchallenged. Perhaps because of the heat the door to the projectionists box was open at the rear upper of the balcony. passing through this revealed that the wall at the back of the balcony is false with several stepped rows still thier from which the seats had been long removed. The projectionists box, accesisible via a strong steel fire door, was empty – as expected.
The downstairs foyer area, which has two accesses on either side of the building still retains a lot of charming original features particulary the doors.
The location is slightly off the main road so conversion by a large pub chain is probably not on the cards – well worth a visit though you will have to join the club ( in line ) 24 hours before Bingo is in play.