This cinema is believed to have closed on 31 December 2011 with Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. It was built of coral stone in 1948 and opened in July 1956 with ‘A Man Called Peter’ by the Ali family from Trinidad. I suspect owing to the gap of 8 years this referred to the reopening. It was described as an 1100-seater.
One source states that the Ritz was built on the site of Tynan’s Hotel and that the ballroom had been part of the hotel. The same source states it was the “Cinema” in Burrin Street that burned down on 26 December 1937. At the opening Diana Wynyard received bookends in Connemara marble for her appearance and the evening also included a dress parade by Brennan’s of Dublin. The opening night’s proceeds went to the Bishop Foley Memorial Schools. There was also a restaurant in the basement called The Buttery. More info here: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~irlcar2/The_Ritz_1.htm
The story goes that Saint Colmcille, the prophet, foretold that a building would collapse into the Shannon. On the opening night patrons allegedly sat on the left hand side of cinema as the right hand section overlooked the Shannon. The double-bill for the opening was Deanna Durbin in Three Smart Girls Grow Up and Walt Disney’s Brave Little Tailor. Nearby theatres states nothing within 30 miles but the Adelphi in the town is also on here.
The hall began showing films in 1924 and ceased on 18 February 1961 when Battle Inferno and The Beatniks were screened. Towards the end its rep had become double bills.
More info on the second screen here: www.hackneycitizen.co.uk/2016/12/23/rio-second-third-screen-expansion-plans/. There may even be a chance of a third one later on.
The cinema is being converted into a church by the new owners the Windsor Baptist Church which has outgrown its current home. It was purchased in June 2015 but not expected to be ready until November 2018. More info on the conversion here: http://www.wbcometogether.org/
Films were shown as recently as 2013, but the parish priest Fr Aiden Mullan announced in 2015 that the he intended selling off the hall as it was losing money.
It reopened as a municipal theatre on 1 February 1996 after extensive renovations, and includes a main auditorium of 400 seats and a studio theatre of 52 seats, along with a bar and café. The opening performance was ‘The Beauty Queen of Leenane’ by Martin McDonagh. It hosts the Galway International Arts Festival and the Galway Film Fleadh. Films are screened three or four times a month usually by the Galway Film Society.
According to the Randalstown Historical Society here are the milestones of the cinema:
1935 – Cinema erected
1962 – Closed after being condemned over fire safety precautions
1963 – Reopened under new management
1969 – Destroyed by fire
The building was demolished in the early 1970s and the site is now taken up by the pedestrian access to the viaduct footpath. The Elim Church is beside it.
The cinema initially closed in December 2013 but reopened in March 2014 showing classics like Dirty Dancing and E.T. of which there is more info on Facebook. This was for a limited period only as the cost of going digital wasn’t viable. It closed again in May 2014. Evidently it was run by one of the Rutherfords who own the Strand in Belfast.
The Unionist Hall stills screens films shown by the Fermanagh Film Society. The building is not actually on Town Hall Street as such but Shore Road according to Toy Town’s website.
Columbs was opened as a temperance hall in 1886 and was listed for film exhibition in the 1920s, although screenings have been somewhat on-and-off. Ian Dury & The Blockheads and Frank Carson are known to have appeared in the hall itself. The Magic Lantern Film Society set up by Alessandro Negrini started showing films in December 2007 starting with the Michael Moore documentary ‘Sicko’. The church sold off the building to the Garvan O'Doherty group in 2012 to overcome debts, and the main hall has become a banqueting centre and concert venue. There is nothing to suggest that films have been screened in the cinema since.
I have been advised by the local library that the cinema opened in 1932. On conversion, a cutting I have dated to April 1988 states the church was opening that week.
This cinema is believed to have closed on 31 December 2011 with Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. It was built of coral stone in 1948 and opened in July 1956 with ‘A Man Called Peter’ by the Ali family from Trinidad. I suspect owing to the gap of 8 years this referred to the reopening. It was described as an 1100-seater.
The site was later occupied by the Mark Down supermarket which has now become a branch of W.H.Smith.
Appears to be in use as a launderette as of September 2011.
It is now Gorton Superstore, a cash-and-carry place, see Google Street View.
‘The Ranch’ closed on 26 March 1966. It was also a supermarket for a spell in the 1970s.
The"Shank" opened on 19 December 1910 and closed in October 1958.
One source states that the Ritz was built on the site of Tynan’s Hotel and that the ballroom had been part of the hotel. The same source states it was the “Cinema” in Burrin Street that burned down on 26 December 1937. At the opening Diana Wynyard received bookends in Connemara marble for her appearance and the evening also included a dress parade by Brennan’s of Dublin. The opening night’s proceeds went to the Bishop Foley Memorial Schools. There was also a restaurant in the basement called The Buttery. More info here: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~irlcar2/The_Ritz_1.htm
A nostalgia page on Facebook cites the dates active for the Adelphi were 1946-1979.
The story goes that Saint Colmcille, the prophet, foretold that a building would collapse into the Shannon. On the opening night patrons allegedly sat on the left hand side of cinema as the right hand section overlooked the Shannon. The double-bill for the opening was Deanna Durbin in Three Smart Girls Grow Up and Walt Disney’s Brave Little Tailor. Nearby theatres states nothing within 30 miles but the Adelphi in the town is also on here.
The Irish Companies website states that the business, the Burren Cinema Co Ltd, was registered on 10 March 1972 and dissolved on 9 May 1989.
More information on the New: the exact opening date was 30 September 1957 and the opening film was Anastasia. It was an 800 seater.
The hall began showing films in 1924 and ceased on 18 February 1961 when Battle Inferno and The Beatniks were screened. Towards the end its rep had become double bills.
More info on the second screen here: www.hackneycitizen.co.uk/2016/12/23/rio-second-third-screen-expansion-plans/. There may even be a chance of a third one later on.
Opening films Jackie, La La Land, Manchester by the Sea and Goodfellas.
The cinema is being converted into a church by the new owners the Windsor Baptist Church which has outgrown its current home. It was purchased in June 2015 but not expected to be ready until November 2018. More info on the conversion here: http://www.wbcometogether.org/
Films were shown as recently as 2013, but the parish priest Fr Aiden Mullan announced in 2015 that the he intended selling off the hall as it was losing money.
New image added today.
When Omniplex reopened the Oscar it became a four-screen cinema.
It reopened as a municipal theatre on 1 February 1996 after extensive renovations, and includes a main auditorium of 400 seats and a studio theatre of 52 seats, along with a bar and café. The opening performance was ‘The Beauty Queen of Leenane’ by Martin McDonagh. It hosts the Galway International Arts Festival and the Galway Film Fleadh. Films are screened three or four times a month usually by the Galway Film Society.
According to the Randalstown Historical Society here are the milestones of the cinema: 1935 – Cinema erected 1962 – Closed after being condemned over fire safety precautions 1963 – Reopened under new management 1969 – Destroyed by fire The building was demolished in the early 1970s and the site is now taken up by the pedestrian access to the viaduct footpath. The Elim Church is beside it.
The cinema initially closed in December 2013 but reopened in March 2014 showing classics like Dirty Dancing and E.T. of which there is more info on Facebook. This was for a limited period only as the cost of going digital wasn’t viable. It closed again in May 2014. Evidently it was run by one of the Rutherfords who own the Strand in Belfast.
The Unionist Hall stills screens films shown by the Fermanagh Film Society. The building is not actually on Town Hall Street as such but Shore Road according to Toy Town’s website.
Columbs was opened as a temperance hall in 1886 and was listed for film exhibition in the 1920s, although screenings have been somewhat on-and-off. Ian Dury & The Blockheads and Frank Carson are known to have appeared in the hall itself. The Magic Lantern Film Society set up by Alessandro Negrini started showing films in December 2007 starting with the Michael Moore documentary ‘Sicko’. The church sold off the building to the Garvan O'Doherty group in 2012 to overcome debts, and the main hall has become a banqueting centre and concert venue. There is nothing to suggest that films have been screened in the cinema since.
This now a 10-screen cinema. According to staff the extra screen was added about three years ago.
I have been advised by the local library that the cinema opened in 1932. On conversion, a cutting I have dated to April 1988 states the church was opening that week.