Comments from Ken Roe

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Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Odeon Glasgow on Dec 7, 2005 at 3:25 am

Here are a few exterior photographs of the Odeon Glasgow over the years:
1. In 1949 View link
2. In 1955
View link
3. In the Summer of 1960
View link
4. A closer view on a Summer evening in 1960
View link
5. In 1961
View link
6. Later that same evening in 1961
View link
7. In 1971 as a triple screen, with cladding added to the facade.
View link

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Optic Theatre on Dec 6, 2005 at 10:39 am

The only theatre on S. Broadway operated by R.F.Woodley that I have records of is Woodley’s Theatre later known as the Victory Theatre and then Mission Theatre, located at 842 South Broadway. This was demolished and the current Orpheum Theatre built on the site.

Maybe the Woodley’s/Victory/Mission Theatre, S. Broadway was aka Optic Theatre, or could we have discovered another ‘lost’ theatre.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Lumiere Cinema on Dec 6, 2005 at 7:11 am

A beautiful night view of the entrance taken on the opening night of the Odeon St. Martin’s Lane on 12th October 1967 when it hosted the Gala Premier of “Thoroughly Modern Millie”:
View link

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Gaumont East Ham on Dec 6, 2005 at 3:36 am

Three exterior photographs showing William E. Trent’s modernised Art Deco facade which dates from the early 1930’s, on the former Premier Electric Theatre;
1. As the Premier Cinema, playing a Gaumont Release programme in 1949: View link

  1. In September 1952, now re-named Gaumont, with new signage and the facade cleaned up: View link

  2. An early evening view of the Gaumont, in May 1956:
    View link

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Ponders End Electric Theatre on Dec 5, 2005 at 5:05 pm

Here are two photographs of the current J.D. Weatherspoon’s “The Picture Palace' pub. Click on them to enlarge
View link

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Granada East Ham on Dec 4, 2005 at 1:11 pm

On a musical note; the Granada Theatre was equipped with a ‘190 Granada Special’ Wurlitzer 3Manual/8Rank theatre organ with Grand Piano which was opened by Donald Thorne.

The Beatles appeared twice at the Granada Theatre in March and November 1963

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about New Empire Theatre on Dec 1, 2005 at 9:41 am

The Empire Theatre was built in 1896 and closed in early 1920 for conversion by George Coles and Adams into the Rivoli Cinema.

The Rivoli Cinema opened on 31st May 1920 and it had a cafe and a church organ was installed. In 1928 it was equipped with a Christie 2Manual theatre organ which was rebuilt in 1936 after Union Cinemas had taken over operating the cinema. It was rebuilt with additional ranks as a Wurlitzer 3Manual/10Ranks instrument.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Ritz Cinema on Nov 30, 2005 at 3:37 pm

The Ritz Cinema opened on 23rd March 1937 with George Formby in “Keep Fit”. The original seating capacity was for 1,650 in a stadium plan, with no overhanging balcony.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Empress Super Cinema on Nov 30, 2005 at 3:24 pm

Opened as the Empress Theatre on 12th October 1929 when it had been fitted with a Western Electric sound system. The owner was Mr N. Buck and it was designed for cine-variety performances. By 1937 it was known as the Empress Super Cinema.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Jerome Theater on Nov 30, 2005 at 1:49 pm

The Jerome Theater is listed in the Film Daily Yearbook; 1950 edition. The address given is 113 -14 Jerome Avenue, Richmond Hill, Long Island with a seating capacity given as 850 (887 in the 1941 & 1943 editions of F.D.Y.) I have done a Mapquest search for this address and it comes up with 11314 101st Avenue, South Richmond Hill and seems to be located on the corner of 113th Street.

Was 101st Avenue once known as Jerome Avenue?

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Concrete Theatre on Nov 30, 2005 at 12:17 pm

Listed in the Film Daily Yearbook; 1950 edition with a seating capacity given as 290.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Olympic Theatre on Nov 30, 2005 at 11:18 am

Here is the Palace Theatre, 7th Street, LA page on C.T.:
/theaters/9647

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Olympic Theatre on Nov 30, 2005 at 10:18 am

stevebob; I believe you are correct to say that the location given is an error.

The only theatres I know of on 7th Street are the Palace which would be on the left, just out of view and the Pantages (Warners) which would be on the right and would be clearly visible on the above photo you posted(it was built in 1920).

Great find and nice to see how Bard’s 8th Street Theatre originally looked.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Coronet Theatre on Nov 30, 2005 at 8:38 am

Hi sharkbytes; Thanks for posting your reminicences of your time at the Coronet and more about its history. I don’t know if you were still there when I was Manager of the nearby Classic Cinema (now Gate Picture House) in 1968 to 1970ish and we may know each other? Can you remember Martin Lamb who was chief projectionist at the Coronet at that period of time? I am still in touch with him. E-mail me if you would like further information.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about UNITED Theater on Broadway on Nov 29, 2005 at 12:41 pm

I assume the original projection box was in the normal postion in the rear of the balcony. Unfortunately I don’t have any photos looking back from the stage and can’t remember if I saw any portholes in the back wall of the balcony on my last visit there.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about UNITED Theater on Broadway on Nov 29, 2005 at 6:14 am

stevebob; When a new wide-screen process was installed in the 1950’s, the new screen was installed forward of the proscenium. Although little damage was done to the proscenium arch, the mezzanine balcony was totally removed to accomodate a new projection booth at the rear of the stalls which gave a straight throw onto the screen.

As far as I am aware, another theatre on Broadway that had two balconies is the Arcade Theatre (former Pantages).

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Empire Theatre on Nov 22, 2005 at 2:47 am

The Empire first opened in May 1915. It is listed in the Kinematograph Yearbook;1937 edition as having a seating capacity of 450 and down to 362 in the 1947 edition of Kine Yearbook.

In 2000 the seating capacity was 280.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Regal Cinema on Nov 21, 2005 at 3:29 am

OOOPPS, Sorry, here are the correct links to the two I posted above:
View link
View link

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Regal Cinema on Nov 21, 2005 at 3:19 am

Two more vintage exterior photographs of the Regal:

The main entrance in Autumn 1949 playing the Gaumont release for 6 days. Note the man up the ladder putting up the poster for the Sunday for 1 day only presentation (the older 1946 film “Abelene Town”). The part of the building where his ladder leans against contains shops and offices. It is still there today and is the only part of the building to survive:
View link

The secondary entrance around the corner in Autumn 1949. Note the small seperate entrance to the restaurant and the “Abelene Town” poster already placed in position:
View link

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about ABC Brighton on Nov 17, 2005 at 5:21 am

Here is a 2005 photograph by woody; It shows the secondary entrance that gave prominence to the building on the sea front Promenade:
View link

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Granada Tooting on Nov 17, 2005 at 4:58 am

An exterior photograph from woody showing the building in its current use as a Gala Bingo Club in September 2003:
View link

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Grand Opera House on Nov 17, 2005 at 4:24 am

A recent exterior photograph of the Grand Opera House here:
View link

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about London Coliseum on Nov 17, 2005 at 4:07 am

A recent photograph of the Baroque styled tower over the entrance to the Coliseum. Note the name on top that revolves:
View link

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on Nov 16, 2005 at 2:41 am

This is already listed as the Bijou Theatre /theaters/8371

Lost Memory; can you post the link there please? Thanks

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Edinburgh Cameo Under Threat on Nov 14, 2005 at 10:22 am

The Cameo Cinema has its own listing here on Cinema Treasures:
/theaters/2972/