Further to Ken’s comments, when I visited, on 1 June 2015 (to see “Wild”), a huge curtain had been slung across the auditorium to mask off the rear stall and circle, where improvement work was being undertaken. An 8.5m screen, with masking, and surround sound, is due to be installed. All this is due to be completed by 3 September 2015, when “The Beaux Stratagem” is set to be the Arts Centre’s first NT Live streaming.
This is a very nice cinema. Unfortunately, however, yet again auditorium space has been sacrificed for extended lounge and bar/restaurant areas. Whilst entirely understandable, this is nevertheless rather regrettable.
As can be seen from my photographs, this is a fantastic pub conversion by J. D. Wetherspoon. The duty manager kindly allowed me to go up to the rear of the former circle, not open to the public, to get a lovely photograph from that splendid vantage point.
On 15 March 2011, J. D. Wetherspoon opened one of their pubs on the ground floor. “The Electrical Wizard” was named after Dr. Walford Bodie, a Scots-born entertainer, known as ‘The Electrical Wizard of the North’, who was famous for his ‘shocking’ magic tricks and the use of a replica electric chair!
By April 2015 the bingo club had been closed for some time, and the empty building, including a small cafe to the front, also closed, was up for sale. Outline planning permission had been granted for conversion into 16 apartments, but alternative uses would clearly be considered.
In a nice nod to the company’s cinemas from the past, five of the new Curzon auditoriums are named Renoir (the largest, with 141 seats plus 9 more in a small balcony), Lumiere, Plaza, Phoenix and Minema (I believe the smallest, with 21 seats). The sixth is the Bertha DocHouse, devoted to showing documentaries; this has it’s own lounge/reception area. Inevitably, shoehorning six auditoriums into a relatively restricted space has led to the five smaller ones being rather cramped.
On Saturday 30th May 2015 I visited the Sherborne, to see the matinee screening of “Paul Blart Mall Cop 2” and to meet up with Mark Cunningham, who I last saw at the Palace, Cinderford, which he has since sold. Mark has created a wonderfully traditional, welcoming feel to the Sherborne, with many very attractive art deco fixtures and fittings – some original, some self-crafted – and he’s even installed an Automaticket machine! Mark spent two years on this project: all that effort has been well worthwhile!
I visited the Maxime on 1st June 2015 and saw “Danny Collins”, starring Al Pacino, in Screen 5. Despite this being one of the smaller auditoriums, it is very well proportioned, very comfortable and has plenty of leg-room. (For the record, Screen 1, in the former front stalls, has 235 seats, Screens 2 and 3, in the former circle, have 110 seats, and Screens 4 and 5, in the former rear stalls, have 72 seats.) Indeed, echoing Jeffrey’s July 2014 comments, the whole cinema has been extremely attractively refurbished and fitted out, the result being a wonderful blend of traditional cinema-going with modern standards of convenience and comfort. Manageress Shelley and her enthusiastic team, who are rightly very proud of their cinema, made me very welcome and allowed me to take the photos that appear here. It was a wonderful experience, and I hope the Maxime can go from strength to strength. As a postscript I e-mailed General Manager Andrew Millar to pass on my compliments and send him the link to this entry.
Further to my ‘Overview’ comments, David Dearle has recently found, amongst his late mother’s personal effects, some letters that he wrote home from Christmas Island in 1959.
In particular, in this letter dated Friday 25th September (not long before he left that deployment in November 1959), he says “I saw the film "Tiger Bay” [J. Lee Thompson/1959] last night and it’s one of the best I’ve seen on the Island. The leading part is taken by a very smart girl of about 12 [who, of course, David now knows was Hayley Mills]. I don’t know whether I told you but I go to the pictures on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday every week…in fact to every film that comes here! I’ve seen films that I wouldn’t dream of seeing if I was at home, everything from Westerns to Horror. We get them about six weeks after [his home town] Southend [in Essex] because by the time I get the ‘Southend Standard’, the films advertised are on here. Mind you we get a lot of old ones thrown in, like “The Sad Sack” [George Marshall/1957] which I saw years ago. Another annoying thing is that we invariably get colour films in black and white and, in a musical, that can ruin the whole impression of the picture."
My thanks to David for sharing this fascinating insight into the films on offer at the Astra. (Judging by his comment about colour films being screened in BW, presumably the Astra used 16mm projection, where the BW versions were much cheaper than the colour originals.)
In June 2011, Cineworld opened “The Screening Rooms”, a three-screen luxury cinema, alongside their existing multiplex. See separate entry for full details.
Despite the extensive damage to the auditorium, and its subsequent demolition, in December 2014 the street frontage remained, albeit (not surprisingly) in very poor condition. See my photos.
In December 2014 (see my photos) the front of the building was still boarded up. However, there was no sale board, and a gym occupies at least part of the building, with its entrance round the side. According to posters still on display by the former entrance, bingo ceased on Tuesday 22 April. This could have been 2003 or, perhaps more likely, 2008.
This brand new multiplex – the first to be constructed by the Empire circuit (which has hitherto been built up from existing cinemas that had to be divested, following circuit takeovers, under competition rules) – is situated in the basement of a high-rise development called The Scene at Cleveland Place, which also provides apartments, retail and restaurant spaces. A small entrance hall leads to steps down to the basement foyer and concession area.
The capacities of the nine screens are: 1: IMPACT large format screen, with 3D capability and 170 seats in total, including a separate VIP seating area; 2: 54 seats; 3: 101 seats (3D); 4: 101 seats (3D); 5: 85 seats; 6: 79 seats; 7: 101 seats (3D); 8: 96 seats and 9: 309 seats in total (including VIP seating area and 3D).
In a nice touch, there are two stand-alone cabinets on the street outside which contain film information posters.
In December 2014 (see my two photographs) the restaurant had been nicely renamed “Picture House”. I visited on a Monday, and unfortunately it was not open. Hopefully it is open on other days of the week.
For the record, Screen 1 (downstairs) seats 66, while Screens 2 and 3 (upstairs) seat 88 and 66 respectively. The cinema is described in Curzon publicity as “bijoux boutique”, and that’s about right! All three screens are very comfortable and well equipped. However, ‘shoe-horning’ three screens into such a relatively small space was always going to be difficult, and the auditoriums do feel very cramped. I was fortunate that the film I saw – “The Imitation Game” – was in the largest screen and there were only a few other patrons for the early afternoon show. However, a larger attendance might well have led to problems with sight-lines – and sitting on the front row would, for me, be far too close.
On a visit in September 2014 I was delighted to see that the frontage had been tidied up and painted to resemble the cinema as shown in an archive photograph helpfully displayed together with other heritage information (yes, the ‘windows’ are merely painted on!).
That information confirms this was the Palladium. It opened in 1937 and closed in May 1969, the final film being “Planet of the Apes”, starring Charlton Heston.
During a visit in September 2014 I was kindly given a copy of the opening programme, starting 28 July 1937. (See scan.) The building is referred to as “The Cinema”, although the 1940 Kine Year Book has it listed as “Picture House”.
By September 2014 – see my photograph – the cinema had seven screens. According to its website, the largest (“Studio 1”) has 305 seats, while the smallest (“Screen 7”) has 145. All have Dolby sound systems.
On a visit in September 2014, by which time the cinema had been re-branded Odyssey, I attempted to clarify the ownership situation. According to the manager it has always been owned by Village Cinemas, and was only leased to Vue, then Storm. It is now operated directly by Village Cinemas. (The licence is in the name of Village-Theatres 3 Ltd). This is despite news reports in May 2006 stating that Storm Cinemas had bought the multiplex outright for €7m, but supported by news reports in February 2010 that Patrick O'Sullivan, owner of Storm Cinemas, was trying to get his lease annulled because the previous operator had failed to disclose loud music and vibrations from a nearby bar and nightclub that had led to complaints from cinemagoers! The case was decided against him, the judge remarking that Mr O'Sullivan was using this issue as a ploy to get out of his contract. So it seems clear that Storm never owned the cinema, which is now operated directly by Village Cinemas. (In April 2008 Entertainment Enterprises Group and Odeon had acquired the other Storm cinemas, all situated in Ireland.)
As can be seen from my photographs, the former entrance down the side alley has been completely blocked off, and the entrance is now on University Square. Presumably this was done during a major refurbishment that took place in 2003. Unfortunately, the powers that be will not allow poster boards or other advertising by the new entrance, leaving a rather nondescript doorway! By way of some small compensation, the poster cases at the entrance to the side alley (round the corner, off College Street) are still utilised, although only regulars will be aware of them!
As befits its location, this is an extremely luxurious cinema. And the entrance canopy is especially imaginative and attractive. However, it might only be temporary. The staff told me that it will run for at least six or seven months, after which it will be reviewed. And, even if successful, it might close if Selfridge’s require the space for other functions or exhibitions.
Further to Ken’s comments, when I visited, on 1 June 2015 (to see “Wild”), a huge curtain had been slung across the auditorium to mask off the rear stall and circle, where improvement work was being undertaken. An 8.5m screen, with masking, and surround sound, is due to be installed. All this is due to be completed by 3 September 2015, when “The Beaux Stratagem” is set to be the Arts Centre’s first NT Live streaming.
This is a very nice cinema. Unfortunately, however, yet again auditorium space has been sacrificed for extended lounge and bar/restaurant areas. Whilst entirely understandable, this is nevertheless rather regrettable.
As can be seen from my photographs, this is a fantastic pub conversion by J. D. Wetherspoon. The duty manager kindly allowed me to go up to the rear of the former circle, not open to the public, to get a lovely photograph from that splendid vantage point.
On 15 March 2011, J. D. Wetherspoon opened one of their pubs on the ground floor. “The Electrical Wizard” was named after Dr. Walford Bodie, a Scots-born entertainer, known as ‘The Electrical Wizard of the North’, who was famous for his ‘shocking’ magic tricks and the use of a replica electric chair!
By April 2015 the bingo club had been closed for some time, and the empty building, including a small cafe to the front, also closed, was up for sale. Outline planning permission had been granted for conversion into 16 apartments, but alternative uses would clearly be considered.
In a nice nod to the company’s cinemas from the past, five of the new Curzon auditoriums are named Renoir (the largest, with 141 seats plus 9 more in a small balcony), Lumiere, Plaza, Phoenix and Minema (I believe the smallest, with 21 seats). The sixth is the Bertha DocHouse, devoted to showing documentaries; this has it’s own lounge/reception area. Inevitably, shoehorning six auditoriums into a relatively restricted space has led to the five smaller ones being rather cramped.
On Saturday 30th May 2015 I visited the Sherborne, to see the matinee screening of “Paul Blart Mall Cop 2” and to meet up with Mark Cunningham, who I last saw at the Palace, Cinderford, which he has since sold. Mark has created a wonderfully traditional, welcoming feel to the Sherborne, with many very attractive art deco fixtures and fittings – some original, some self-crafted – and he’s even installed an Automaticket machine! Mark spent two years on this project: all that effort has been well worthwhile!
I visited the Maxime on 1st June 2015 and saw “Danny Collins”, starring Al Pacino, in Screen 5. Despite this being one of the smaller auditoriums, it is very well proportioned, very comfortable and has plenty of leg-room. (For the record, Screen 1, in the former front stalls, has 235 seats, Screens 2 and 3, in the former circle, have 110 seats, and Screens 4 and 5, in the former rear stalls, have 72 seats.) Indeed, echoing Jeffrey’s July 2014 comments, the whole cinema has been extremely attractively refurbished and fitted out, the result being a wonderful blend of traditional cinema-going with modern standards of convenience and comfort. Manageress Shelley and her enthusiastic team, who are rightly very proud of their cinema, made me very welcome and allowed me to take the photos that appear here. It was a wonderful experience, and I hope the Maxime can go from strength to strength. As a postscript I e-mailed General Manager Andrew Millar to pass on my compliments and send him the link to this entry.
Further to my ‘Overview’ comments, David Dearle has recently found, amongst his late mother’s personal effects, some letters that he wrote home from Christmas Island in 1959.
In particular, in this letter dated Friday 25th September (not long before he left that deployment in November 1959), he says “I saw the film "Tiger Bay” [J. Lee Thompson/1959] last night and it’s one of the best I’ve seen on the Island. The leading part is taken by a very smart girl of about 12 [who, of course, David now knows was Hayley Mills]. I don’t know whether I told you but I go to the pictures on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday every week…in fact to every film that comes here! I’ve seen films that I wouldn’t dream of seeing if I was at home, everything from Westerns to Horror. We get them about six weeks after [his home town] Southend [in Essex] because by the time I get the ‘Southend Standard’, the films advertised are on here. Mind you we get a lot of old ones thrown in, like “The Sad Sack” [George Marshall/1957] which I saw years ago. Another annoying thing is that we invariably get colour films in black and white and, in a musical, that can ruin the whole impression of the picture."
My thanks to David for sharing this fascinating insight into the films on offer at the Astra. (Judging by his comment about colour films being screened in BW, presumably the Astra used 16mm projection, where the BW versions were much cheaper than the colour originals.)
In June 2011, Cineworld opened “The Screening Rooms”, a three-screen luxury cinema, alongside their existing multiplex. See separate entry for full details.
In December 2014 – see my photos – the building remains boarded up.
Despite the extensive damage to the auditorium, and its subsequent demolition, in December 2014 the street frontage remained, albeit (not surprisingly) in very poor condition. See my photos.
In December 2014 (see my photos) the front of the building was still boarded up. However, there was no sale board, and a gym occupies at least part of the building, with its entrance round the side. According to posters still on display by the former entrance, bingo ceased on Tuesday 22 April. This could have been 2003 or, perhaps more likely, 2008.
This brand new multiplex – the first to be constructed by the Empire circuit (which has hitherto been built up from existing cinemas that had to be divested, following circuit takeovers, under competition rules) – is situated in the basement of a high-rise development called The Scene at Cleveland Place, which also provides apartments, retail and restaurant spaces. A small entrance hall leads to steps down to the basement foyer and concession area.
The capacities of the nine screens are: 1: IMPACT large format screen, with 3D capability and 170 seats in total, including a separate VIP seating area; 2: 54 seats; 3: 101 seats (3D); 4: 101 seats (3D); 5: 85 seats; 6: 79 seats; 7: 101 seats (3D); 8: 96 seats and 9: 309 seats in total (including VIP seating area and 3D).
In a nice touch, there are two stand-alone cabinets on the street outside which contain film information posters.
In December 2014 (see my two photographs) the restaurant had been nicely renamed “Picture House”. I visited on a Monday, and unfortunately it was not open. Hopefully it is open on other days of the week.
For the record, Screen 1 (downstairs) seats 66, while Screens 2 and 3 (upstairs) seat 88 and 66 respectively. The cinema is described in Curzon publicity as “bijoux boutique”, and that’s about right! All three screens are very comfortable and well equipped. However, ‘shoe-horning’ three screens into such a relatively small space was always going to be difficult, and the auditoriums do feel very cramped. I was fortunate that the film I saw – “The Imitation Game” – was in the largest screen and there were only a few other patrons for the early afternoon show. However, a larger attendance might well have led to problems with sight-lines – and sitting on the front row would, for me, be far too close.
The Garry can also be seen several times in the horror film “Silent Night” (2012).
On a visit in September 2014 I was delighted to see that the frontage had been tidied up and painted to resemble the cinema as shown in an archive photograph helpfully displayed together with other heritage information (yes, the ‘windows’ are merely painted on!).
That information confirms this was the Palladium. It opened in 1937 and closed in May 1969, the final film being “Planet of the Apes”, starring Charlton Heston.
During a visit in September 2014 I was kindly given a copy of the opening programme, starting 28 July 1937. (See scan.) The building is referred to as “The Cinema”, although the 1940 Kine Year Book has it listed as “Picture House”.
By September 2014 (see my photograph) the building had been closed and boarded up, and all signage had been removed.
The Orchard Gallery (and Cinema) was closed when i visited in September 2014.
By September 2014 – see my photograph – the cinema had seven screens. According to its website, the largest (“Studio 1”) has 305 seats, while the smallest (“Screen 7”) has 145. All have Dolby sound systems.
On a visit in September 2014, by which time the cinema had been re-branded Odyssey, I attempted to clarify the ownership situation. According to the manager it has always been owned by Village Cinemas, and was only leased to Vue, then Storm. It is now operated directly by Village Cinemas. (The licence is in the name of Village-Theatres 3 Ltd). This is despite news reports in May 2006 stating that Storm Cinemas had bought the multiplex outright for €7m, but supported by news reports in February 2010 that Patrick O'Sullivan, owner of Storm Cinemas, was trying to get his lease annulled because the previous operator had failed to disclose loud music and vibrations from a nearby bar and nightclub that had led to complaints from cinemagoers! The case was decided against him, the judge remarking that Mr O'Sullivan was using this issue as a ploy to get out of his contract. So it seems clear that Storm never owned the cinema, which is now operated directly by Village Cinemas. (In April 2008 Entertainment Enterprises Group and Odeon had acquired the other Storm cinemas, all situated in Ireland.)
As can be seen from my photographs, the former entrance down the side alley has been completely blocked off, and the entrance is now on University Square. Presumably this was done during a major refurbishment that took place in 2003. Unfortunately, the powers that be will not allow poster boards or other advertising by the new entrance, leaving a rather nondescript doorway! By way of some small compensation, the poster cases at the entrance to the side alley (round the corner, off College Street) are still utilised, although only regulars will be aware of them!
As befits its location, this is an extremely luxurious cinema. And the entrance canopy is especially imaginative and attractive. However, it might only be temporary. The staff told me that it will run for at least six or seven months, after which it will be reviewed. And, even if successful, it might close if Selfridge’s require the space for other functions or exhibitions.