Woolworths used the Cinema part for a period.. Until knocking it down to build the New Woolworths in the late fifties Which has since become a BM Store
Frank Crane worked for us at the Penn Cinema Wolverhampton Prior to this and funny enough Gary went on to work at the Apollo (Regal) Leamington Spa. which used to be Ours..
The Interiors of the Complex including the attached Nightclub was a design build carred out by Modernisiation Ltd., I was going to be the General Manager of the Cinemas. and visited the project regular. Which including studying the plans.. and the updates. etc
I decided to stay with B T Davis Circuit.. Money was better..
Have loaded the picture of the Archibald Hurley Robinson Theatre. Our Company “The BT Davis Circuit signed contracts to Buy the Kennedy Circuit. but was gasumpt..
The Original General Manager was “Jack Hart” Who previous was general manager of “The Holborn Empire” He Trained the Manager (Frank W. Attoe) Who later trained me in management at the ABC Walsall…
Hmm. There remains one Roland Satchell Live Theatre Left. When In Birmingham Visit “The Alexandra Theatre” The Frontage has been cladded But the fine Interior is intact…
Doug was the manager. I had been told he was going to the Capitol when Sparkbrook closed. Johnny Brockington phined me up and in the conversation told be that Doug Did not make the move.. within 10 days I had been appointed Manager of the Capitol Doug went to the Warwick Acocks Green.
@ Michael1948 I used to do relief for Doug Reeves.. From memory they used to have a female Projectionist there. and for a short time The District Offices wher there… Peter Albutt. Jim Hunt was engineer
In 1898 ish.. The Walsall Theatre Company had planned a brand new Theatre on the Imperial Site. which involved taking over extra land to the left. The Walsall Council it seems offered the land that was earmarked but never used for the new Walsall Townhall. So they Built the Spectacular “Her Majesties Theatre” on Townend Bank..
I think I have found an error.. Hmm using other sources It looks as though Archibald Hurley Robinson had no had if the Major change for Sound films or the current frontage. This was based theory was based on the “Rookery Cinema” Handsworth Birmingham which is credited as an Hurley Robinson design by the experts.. The Architect that should be credited should be the local firm of “Hickton and Falmer” That did other work for the Walsall Theatre Company.. At the same time calls into question the Rookery Cinema. which could have been one of the lost Hickton and Falmer designs..
Referring to my previous comments. On further research. The Theatre along with Odeon Warley.. Stafford.. Shirley. Kettering.. Hereford.. and another one, Which is possibly the built Odeon Bradford Where controlled by the Clifton Syndicate (share wise all except the 200 shares in each site J. Arthur Rank had purchased off the Deutsch Family ). until Rank – Odeon did a Share rites issue in December 1947 to buy up anomalies like these theatres. Most Built Odeon’s had a Clifton Syndicate holding of a lesser degree. Hmm So we ended up buying shares in the Odeon Properties Ltd., So they could by us out of these odd companies..
The Blue Plaque details wrong Roland Satchwell designed 80 Cinemas and 2 live theatres and was also a Director of around 30 Cinemas
The comment in the first Paragraph commenting on the Odeon Style of this building.. Is Very simple Roland Satchwell and Cecil Clavering created the Odeon Look at the Odeon Kingstanding and Warley These Cinema although Branded as Odeon where in fact controlled by the Clifton Circuit (Share wise) until 1947-48
It was odd with the Cinema Although ABC rebranded it ABC The locals still refered to it as The Empress.
I think the Mananger in the Picture was Norman Long..
The conversion was designed and carried out by Modernisation Ltd., inc the Mirror system of projection.
Woolworths used the Cinema part for a period.. Until knocking it down to build the New Woolworths in the late fifties Which has since become a BM Store
Frank Crane worked for us at the Penn Cinema Wolverhampton Prior to this and funny enough Gary went on to work at the Apollo (Regal) Leamington Spa. which used to be Ours..
The Interiors of the Complex including the attached Nightclub was a design build carred out by Modernisiation Ltd., I was going to be the General Manager of the Cinemas. and visited the project regular. Which including studying the plans.. and the updates. etc I decided to stay with B T Davis Circuit.. Money was better..
Have loaded the picture of the Archibald Hurley Robinson Theatre. Our Company “The BT Davis Circuit signed contracts to Buy the Kennedy Circuit. but was gasumpt..
The Company that made Gyrotone sound systems owned the Cinema…
I think this is the right photo… Its not very good..
The Organist Harry Davidson later Played the Organ at Our Regal Cinema Henley on Thames..
The Original General Manager was “Jack Hart” Who previous was general manager of “The Holborn Empire” He Trained the Manager (Frank W. Attoe) Who later trained me in management at the ABC Walsall…
She Reminds me of the Cashier in the Film “The Smallest Show on Earth” :o)
Do’s anybody know the date the Theatre was bombed during the second world war Please .. I am trying to do research on the subject..
Hmm. There remains one Roland Satchell Live Theatre Left. When In Birmingham Visit “The Alexandra Theatre” The Frontage has been cladded But the fine Interior is intact…
This Picture if of the Shareholders and staff preparing for a day out…
@ Harryrig. I was present at that demonstration I ran the Capitol at Alum Rock. and “The Regal was a sister Theatre to Ours
Leslie Holderness ended up a Supervisors for the Clifton Cinema Circuit.. There is a picture of him on the Regal Wolverhampton listing (First Left)
Doug was the manager. I had been told he was going to the Capitol when Sparkbrook closed. Johnny Brockington phined me up and in the conversation told be that Doug Did not make the move.. within 10 days I had been appointed Manager of the Capitol Doug went to the Warwick Acocks Green.
@ Michael1948 I used to do relief for Doug Reeves.. From memory they used to have a female Projectionist there. and for a short time The District Offices wher there… Peter Albutt. Jim Hunt was engineer
In 1898 ish.. The Walsall Theatre Company had planned a brand new Theatre on the Imperial Site. which involved taking over extra land to the left. The Walsall Council it seems offered the land that was earmarked but never used for the new Walsall Townhall. So they Built the Spectacular “Her Majesties Theatre” on Townend Bank..
I think I have found an error.. Hmm using other sources It looks as though Archibald Hurley Robinson had no had if the Major change for Sound films or the current frontage. This was based theory was based on the “Rookery Cinema” Handsworth Birmingham which is credited as an Hurley Robinson design by the experts.. The Architect that should be credited should be the local firm of “Hickton and Falmer” That did other work for the Walsall Theatre Company.. At the same time calls into question the Rookery Cinema. which could have been one of the lost Hickton and Falmer designs..
I have revamped this picture..
Referring to my previous comments. On further research. The Theatre along with Odeon Warley.. Stafford.. Shirley. Kettering.. Hereford.. and another one, Which is possibly the built Odeon Bradford Where controlled by the Clifton Syndicate (share wise all except the 200 shares in each site J. Arthur Rank had purchased off the Deutsch Family ). until Rank – Odeon did a Share rites issue in December 1947 to buy up anomalies like these theatres. Most Built Odeon’s had a Clifton Syndicate holding of a lesser degree. Hmm So we ended up buying shares in the Odeon Properties Ltd., So they could by us out of these odd companies..
Hmm I had a senior moment when loading picture. Its Roland Satchwell and not Ronald..
The Blue Plaque details wrong Roland Satchwell designed 80 Cinemas and 2 live theatres and was also a Director of around 30 Cinemas The comment in the first Paragraph commenting on the Odeon Style of this building.. Is Very simple Roland Satchwell and Cecil Clavering created the Odeon Look at the Odeon Kingstanding and Warley These Cinema although Branded as Odeon where in fact controlled by the Clifton Circuit (Share wise) until 1947-48