Luxor Cinema

In Llanfairfechan, a Victorian resort on the North Wales coast, in Conwy, the Town Hall Cinema opened, in the Town Hall, around 1920.

The 1923 and 1928 Kinematograph Year Books simply show the cinema’s name, with no further details. The first edition I have access to, which has additional information, is for 1932.

By that time, at least, the Town Hall Cinema was being operated by Llanrwst Cinemas Ltd. (owned by Mr E. James). The proscenium was 26ft wide, the stage was 25ft wide and there were two dressing rooms. There was one show nightly, with two on Wednesdays and three on Saturdays. A Uniquaphone sound system had been installed.

The 1936 Kinematograph Year Book lists 500 seats, but this had reduced to 354 by the following year.

By 1944 a BTH (British Thomson-Houston) sound system had been installed, and the Kinematograph Year Book listed an apparent increase in seating capacity to 400.

By the 1945 edition the cinema had been renamed the Luxor Cinema and, from the 1948 edition, the proprietor was shown as E. H. James. From the 1951 edition the proprietor was listed as G. E. H. James then, from the 1955 edition, as M. O. James and, from the 1956 edition, M. D. James (possibly a misprint as regards “M. O.” and “M. D.”).

The Luxor Cinema was listed in the 1964 Kinematograph Year Book, but not the 1966 edition. Frustratingly, I do not have access to the 1965 edition. However, the book “North Wales Cinemas” maintains that the Luxor Cinema actually closed back in 1956.

The building went into community use, which has apparently included occasional film screenings. Aside from the Main Hall, there is the Lloyd Hughes Room (a café-style venue for smaller events) and a Conference Room on the first floor.

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