Since the split between the Ward and Anderson families (which has its origins in 1997 but was not finalised until January 2013) the Ward family have taken sole control of Irish Multiplex Cinemas (IMC), of which (at November 2013) this is their only cinema in Northern Ireland. My photographs were taken in September 2000.
My photograph of this cinema as the Armagh City Film House was taken in November 1998. Since then, this central Market Square area has been pedestrianised.
Happily, the Savoy reopened in June 2013 as a luxury, 284 seat, single screen cinema specialising in English language films in their original version, with no subtitles. Since September 2013 the programme has also included ‘English Theatre on Screen’, satellite transmissions of live theatre productions.
The three scanned photos, uploaded on 27 August, were taken during my first visit, in July 1999. The photo of the former projection box shows Dave Gold, then the projectionist at the Metro, Derby, explaining the purpose of the metal fire shutters to the building’s owner (who had said he had wondered what they were for!).
On 19 February 2013 J D Wetherspoon opened one of their pubs in the former (unrecognisable) stalls area. The company reinstated the roof top sign, adding “THE” to “REGENT” – compare with the archive photograph showing only “REGENT”. Presumably this was partly for advertising reasons, as the kebab shop has remained in the former cinema foyer and its signage takes up the most prominent position. The entrance to the pub is on the right hand side, not far from the entrance used for the Cineplex.
I don’t know whether the two additional screens were ever constructed (regrettably I didn’t think to ask) but they were not being advertised when I visited in July 2013.
This was a Reel Cinemas development, acquired by Odeon and opened under that brand. Which explains why the auditoriums are so small, and do not have full stadium seating!
J D Wetherspoon did, indeed, take over the building, opening it on 9 July 2013 as The Avion. Nothing, of course, remains of the cinema interior, but there are many photographs and other mementos from its days as a picture house on display, and the exterior has, perhaps, never looked better!
On a visit in July 2013, to see a stage show, I was interested to note that films will be screened, on an occasional basis, under the brand name Windsor Picturehouse, from Sunday 6 October 2013.
My photographs don’t do this splendid cinema any justice at all! Externally much the same as any other modern city centre multiplex, inside it betrays its US origins with a real ‘Hollywood’ feel to the décor, as I hope my photographs will show. This is a really interesting UK multiplex; one of two (the other being at Scunthorpe) built by Cinemark, but opened as UCI and now owned by Vue.
In July 2013 (when, despite the camera data, my photographs were taken) the Poly was showing an excellent range of limited release/art house films (I saw ‘A Hijacking’), generally on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Unfortunately, funds have yet to be obtained to fully convert to cinema-quality digital – the film I saw was projected from Blu-ray. Live shows also feature in the Poly’s wide-ranging programme.
My photographs (which, despite the date in the camera data, were taken in June 2013) show the building currently on the site and also the Royal Coat of Arms, most likely displayed above the theatre’s proscenium, which is now attached to the outside of the rear of the building. (It can just be seen, on the ‘blank’ rear side wall.)
Since the split between the Ward and Anderson families (which has its origins in 1997 but was not finalised until January 2013) the Ward family have taken sole control of Irish Multiplex Cinemas (IMC), of which (at November 2013) this is their only cinema in Northern Ireland. My photographs were taken in September 2000.
My photograph of this cinema as the Armagh City Film House was taken in November 1998. Since then, this central Market Square area has been pedestrianised.
My photographs were taken in November 1998.
The CinemaxX Dammtor opened on 2 October 1996.
The photographs I uploaded today were taken in September 2013.
Happily, the Savoy reopened in June 2013 as a luxury, 284 seat, single screen cinema specialising in English language films in their original version, with no subtitles. Since September 2013 the programme has also included ‘English Theatre on Screen’, satellite transmissions of live theatre productions.
By the time of my visit to Hamburg in September 2013 this cinema had closed. It is believed closure came mid-2013.
This photograph was taken in April 1999.
The former Astor in September 2013.
This shows the site of the Royal Palast and Europa Studio in September 2013.
This photograph shows the Regenbogen in April 1999.
The three scanned photos, uploaded on 27 August, were taken during my first visit, in July 1999. The photo of the former projection box shows Dave Gold, then the projectionist at the Metro, Derby, explaining the purpose of the metal fire shutters to the building’s owner (who had said he had wondered what they were for!).
In August 2013 it was occupied by a club called Redemption.
The Quad has a third auditorium, known as The Box, which is a fully flexible space. In my photographs, it’s the auditorium with Daleks on the screen!
On 19 February 2013 J D Wetherspoon opened one of their pubs in the former (unrecognisable) stalls area. The company reinstated the roof top sign, adding “THE” to “REGENT” – compare with the archive photograph showing only “REGENT”. Presumably this was partly for advertising reasons, as the kebab shop has remained in the former cinema foyer and its signage takes up the most prominent position. The entrance to the pub is on the right hand side, not far from the entrance used for the Cineplex.
I don’t know whether the two additional screens were ever constructed (regrettably I didn’t think to ask) but they were not being advertised when I visited in July 2013.
This was a Reel Cinemas development, acquired by Odeon and opened under that brand. Which explains why the auditoriums are so small, and do not have full stadium seating!
J D Wetherspoon did, indeed, take over the building, opening it on 9 July 2013 as The Avion. Nothing, of course, remains of the cinema interior, but there are many photographs and other mementos from its days as a picture house on display, and the exterior has, perhaps, never looked better!
On a visit in July 2013, to see a stage show, I was interested to note that films will be screened, on an occasional basis, under the brand name Windsor Picturehouse, from Sunday 6 October 2013.
My photographs don’t do this splendid cinema any justice at all! Externally much the same as any other modern city centre multiplex, inside it betrays its US origins with a real ‘Hollywood’ feel to the décor, as I hope my photographs will show. This is a really interesting UK multiplex; one of two (the other being at Scunthorpe) built by Cinemark, but opened as UCI and now owned by Vue.
Despite the date in the camera data, my photographs were taken in June 2013.
In July 2013 (when, despite the camera data, my photographs were taken) the Poly was showing an excellent range of limited release/art house films (I saw ‘A Hijacking’), generally on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Unfortunately, funds have yet to be obtained to fully convert to cinema-quality digital – the film I saw was projected from Blu-ray. Live shows also feature in the Poly’s wide-ranging programme.
My photographs (which, despite the date in the camera data, were taken in June 2013) show the building currently on the site and also the Royal Coat of Arms, most likely displayed above the theatre’s proscenium, which is now attached to the outside of the rear of the building. (It can just be seen, on the ‘blank’ rear side wall.)
Despite the date in the camera data, my photographs were taken in June 2013.
Despite the date in the camera data, my photographs were taken in June 2013.