Brian Bull first registered Circle Cinemas as a trading name in 1976. At that time, he was negotiating with Rank for the purchase of leases on both the Monico and the Cameo Cinema in Bargoed.
Ten year leases were acquired for both starting 11th June, 1977. The Monico was twinned by Circle Cinemas between November 1979 and January 1980, the Freeholds being acquired for both sites during this time.
Circle Cinemas was incorporated as a limited company in November 1982. The last cinema operated by the company was the Studio Cinema, Coleford, Gloucestershire which was sold by Circle in 2011.
Circle Cinemas Ltd no longer trades. At it’s height the company operated 9 screens over 6 sites.
The first film was as per the text a navy recruitment film, it’s title was ‘The Royal Navy Division at Work and Play’. The first Market House was built in 1574. A replacement was built on the same sight at a cost of £800 in 1821/22 designed by John Foulston, his fee was 15 guineas.
Mr Pickle’s purchased an organ from a chapel that was in nearby Pensilva village for 30 shillings to accompany the silent films.
My thanks to the Liskeard Old Cornwall Society (and my mum!) for obtaining this extra detail/information for me to add to here.
This cinema did continue to be used as a cinema. It was latterly known as the Astoria Cinema, before closure and becoming a billiards/snooker hall and so on as detailed in the main text.
The local paper in Salisbury has published a bit more info on the Everyman cinema in Salisbury. Still no opening date though.
Screen 1 will have 80 seats. 4K Sony projection and 7.1 Dolby sound.
Screen 2 will have 42 seats, 4K Sony projection and 7.1 Dolby sound.
Screen 3 will have 71 seats, 4K Sony and 7.1 Dolby plus 3D capability.
Screen 4 will have 54 seats, Sharp/NEC 2K projection and 7.1 sound.
The work is being carried out by GF Holdings who say they originally did the plasterwork at the Plaza in Stockport in the 1930’s.
Apparently GF Holdings do a lot of work for Rank, Odeon, Vue and Everyman.
The wedding venue closed in 2019. Unused since then, proposals to demolish the more modern dance hall/bingo club at the rear of the Georgian terrace to be replaced with flats were made in July 2022. The flats conversion would include the older (Listed) Georgian terrace space at ground level as well.
J&A sold the bingo operation to Granada Bingo initially becoming a Gala Club upon the merger with Coral in 1991. Closed in 2017 for town centre redevelopment, the club was on Telegraph Way.
This was the Downs family’s first site where they tried bingo, opening under the Cosmo Bingo name. The club was later transferred to the New Princes Cinema, Stalybridge under the same club name.
Last operated as Cosmo Bingo by the Downs family, they opened this venue upon the closure of their club in the former Empire, Mossley. Closed early 1980’s following a fire.
Actual name was Sex-Kino 2000. Closed 24/06/2003.
Brian Bull first registered Circle Cinemas as a trading name in 1976. At that time, he was negotiating with Rank for the purchase of leases on both the Monico and the Cameo Cinema in Bargoed. Ten year leases were acquired for both starting 11th June, 1977. The Monico was twinned by Circle Cinemas between November 1979 and January 1980, the Freeholds being acquired for both sites during this time. Circle Cinemas was incorporated as a limited company in November 1982. The last cinema operated by the company was the Studio Cinema, Coleford, Gloucestershire which was sold by Circle in 2011.
Circle Cinemas Ltd no longer trades. At it’s height the company operated 9 screens over 6 sites.
At one time known as the Beba-Palast, it was destroyed by Allied bombs around 1943.
Opening year given as 1906, closure year as 1997 according to the Berlin Cinemas database online.
I wonder if the original Alhambra neon signage has been re-used on the replacement building? They look very similar to me!!
Opened as the Union in 1918 with 600 seats, it was renamed Capitol before closure in 1960.
7 screens with 1223 seats now.
The 162 seat cinema opened in 1991, but sadly closed in 1999, the owners concentrating on the successful operation of the larger planetarium.
Opened in 2000, recently expanded to 8 screens and 1545 seats.
Alternative street location is given as Rollbergstrasse 70.
The Stattkino was located at the same address from 1994 to c1996, but I have no further details as yet for this short-lived cinema.
The Palace Theatre was demolished in 1962 following a fire in the closed up building that same year.
The first film was as per the text a navy recruitment film, it’s title was ‘The Royal Navy Division at Work and Play’. The first Market House was built in 1574. A replacement was built on the same sight at a cost of £800 in 1821/22 designed by John Foulston, his fee was 15 guineas.
Mr Pickle’s purchased an organ from a chapel that was in nearby Pensilva village for 30 shillings to accompany the silent films.
My thanks to the Liskeard Old Cornwall Society (and my mum!) for obtaining this extra detail/information for me to add to here.
Interior decoration in the 1935 rebuild was by Mollo & Egan.
Architect could be David Evelyn Nye, as it’s very similar to the work he did for the Bancroft’s at the Embassy, Peterborough.
This cinema did continue to be used as a cinema. It was latterly known as the Astoria Cinema, before closure and becoming a billiards/snooker hall and so on as detailed in the main text.
The local paper in Salisbury has published a bit more info on the Everyman cinema in Salisbury. Still no opening date though. Screen 1 will have 80 seats. 4K Sony projection and 7.1 Dolby sound. Screen 2 will have 42 seats, 4K Sony projection and 7.1 Dolby sound. Screen 3 will have 71 seats, 4K Sony and 7.1 Dolby plus 3D capability. Screen 4 will have 54 seats, Sharp/NEC 2K projection and 7.1 sound.
The work is being carried out by GF Holdings who say they originally did the plasterwork at the Plaza in Stockport in the 1930’s. Apparently GF Holdings do a lot of work for Rank, Odeon, Vue and Everyman.
Planning permission was granted, Everyman are currently converting the auditorium into 4 screens. No opening date for same has been given as yet.
The wedding venue closed in 2019. Unused since then, proposals to demolish the more modern dance hall/bingo club at the rear of the Georgian terrace to be replaced with flats were made in July 2022. The flats conversion would include the older (Listed) Georgian terrace space at ground level as well.
J&A sold the bingo operation to Granada Bingo initially becoming a Gala Club upon the merger with Coral in 1991. Closed in 2017 for town centre redevelopment, the club was on Telegraph Way.
This was the Downs family’s first site where they tried bingo, opening under the Cosmo Bingo name. The club was later transferred to the New Princes Cinema, Stalybridge under the same club name.
Last operated as Cosmo Bingo by the Downs family, they opened this venue upon the closure of their club in the former Empire, Mossley. Closed early 1980’s following a fire.
Architect was R. A. Thomas
Architect was R. A. Thomas.
The parade of shops, Savoy Buildings still survive.