There are photos of the interior at this URL: http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/durham-palladium-theatre-cinema-14-10-07.t21496. With 30 years of dereliction it is debatable as to whether a church was actually using the cinema, perhaps the entrance hall if that.
The Regal reopened after tripling in Jan 1988 having spent IR£120,000 on the conversion. Pullman seating was for 290,175 and 79. Larry O’Keeffe bought the place from Ward Anderson in 1995 and turned it back into a theatre which closed in March 2001. It is now the Regal Centre and includes the Pet Planet store since October 2012 and Tangled Yarns. O'Keeffe’s furniture store is now at the back.
The cinema appears to have closed in summer 1984 after which it was Embassy Snooker. A fire occurred in the building in April 1991 although newspaper reports seem to suggest that the cinema or snooker were not affected. Maybe the hall lays back from the front.
Sad day! BTTF was voted for from a shortlist and shown at 1830. The regular films shown earlier in the day were Moana, Monster Trucks and Why Him? Full story at the following link with several photographs www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4084596/Curtain-comes-era-silver-screen-entertainment-89-years-giving-joy-millions-ABC-Cinema-killed-multiplex.html.
The Ormonde was originally run by Dan Crotty, a replacement for his earlier cinema, but was last in the hands of the Spurling family who closed it in 2005 and opened the SGC. It was refurbished in 1989 when it reopened with Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Licence to Kill. The site is understood to be now occupied by social housing. Architecture buffs can see more info about this building at www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=WA®no=22821080
The Palladium opened in 1932 but was destroyed by fire in September 1936. Rebuilt almost immediately and lasted until August 1990. Source: The Bann Disc, Coleraine Historical Society.
The Picture Palace opened in 1914 and was designed by J. S. Kennedy. Reconstructed in 1937, maybe as a result of the Palladium being rebuilt. Associated for some time with the Christie family.
In December 2016 the press reported that the cinema had temporarily closed due to asbestos. In 2013 council funding cuts meant it was taken over by a community group. There are plans for a 130-seat screen with digital projection and luxury chairs. The hall itself first opened on 28 February 1894.
Opened as White’s Palace in 1910 and became Barger’s Picture Palace four years later. It was enlarged in 1921 and a year later advertised for sale but failed to attract any buyers. It reopened as the Palace in 1923. The recent bingo operation closed in March 2013, along with the Milford Haven branch at the former Astoria, and it is unclear what the premises are being used for.
The Torch opened on 16 April 1977, although according to its website the first in-house production, Alan Ayckbourn’s Relatively Speaking, was not staged until that November. It was designed by Monty Minter and cost £500,000 to build. The redevelopment, which included the studio theatre, was completed in 2008 and appears to have cost ten times what the original had. The studio has a “moat” feature which when unused reduces the seating to 83.
The Oscar reopened in October 1973 with admission prices advertised at 40p. More info here: http://www.kildare.ie/library/ehistory/2013/01/new_oscar_provides_newbridge_w.asp. One source states the 3 screens did not arrive until 1990. When it closed in 2006 the last films to show were King Kong, The Chronicles of Narnia and Just Like Heaven. Michael Roycroft had made the decision some time previously in anticipation of the new cinema opening at the Whitewater Shopping Centre. Films are also shown at the Riverdale Arts Centre in Main Street once a week.
Was due to be auctioned off on 5.11.15 but according to reports appeared to be unsold as of April 2016. Maybe the hefty €1.75 million price tag has put developers off! Pictures of how it looks inside these days are at: http://www.dailyedge.ie/rathmines-stella-cinema-2682126-Mar2016/
The Phoenix opened in 1912 and closed in 1958 and was reportedly the first purpose-built cinema in Dublin. Photos here:
http://www.dublincity.ie/image/libraries/cin004-phoenix
http://www.dublincity.ie/image/libraries/cin003-phoenix
http://archiseek.com/2010/1912-phoenix-cinema-ellis-quay-dublin/
The “new” Metropole opened on 16 March 1972 (not 1964) and was renamed the Screen in the early 1980s. One source says 1980 another 1984, but more likely to be 1982 when three screens were created. The sculpture “Mr Screen” was made in 1988 by Vincent Browne. Staff were transferred to the Savoy after closure.
The original cinema was built in 1918 by two brothers John and James Houlihan. It was rebuilt twice, once in 1921 when destroyed by fire and again in 1938 when it was probably renamed Phoenix. During the rebuild vats were discovered under the ground believed to have been used in the tanning of leather in days gone by. It was also used as a dance hall and had a DVD rental shop at the front in more recent times. It has been reported that the original Italian projectors were run on energy provided by burning turf, but these days it has digital projection and Dolby sound. It was run by John Moore from the 1950s until 1979 when Michael O’Sullivan took over. He is remembered for introducing the Art Film Nights which are still running but he passed away in 2011. It is still a family-run business and is one of the main venues in the Dingle Film Festival. It currently seats 150 in stalls and balcony.
The Ritz was designed by John Bride McNeill, one of his few projects in the Republic, and completed in 1946. The Balor Theatre converted the building for their own use in 1982. Owners the Butt Hall Committee recently submitted plans to have it demolished but the council rejected these in 2015 and listed the building. As of now it is probably still empty.
A 20-minute film describing the cinema’s operation is at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPmhL5IAHoA. The cinema was reportedly the last in Ireland to go digital in 2014.
The “new” Astor was named in memory of the “old” Astor cinema in Lower O’Connell Street. It was run by the same family, the McNallys, whose aim was primarily to present continental films.
The Grand Central opened in November 1922 and was based in former Wesleyan Methodist Church of 1821 previously known as the Independent Chapel and later the Central Hall. The owner Paul Bernard had a new façade added in front of the old one. It closed at the end of October 1973 and the downstairs became shops, but the cinema reopened on the first floor as the 200-seat Central Studio the following April screening Day of the Jackal. It closed in 1990 following the opening of the new five-screen Savoy complex, but was reopened in August 1992 by the Savoy who stated that it was their “sixth” screen being across the road from their own building. It eventually closed in 2004 and the frontage was knocked down in 2007 for a new shopping development revealing the old church façade behind, which has been retained. Architectural buffs can see more building information at: http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=LI®no=21512004
There are photos of the interior at this URL: http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/durham-palladium-theatre-cinema-14-10-07.t21496. With 30 years of dereliction it is debatable as to whether a church was actually using the cinema, perhaps the entrance hall if that.
The Regal reopened after tripling in Jan 1988 having spent IR£120,000 on the conversion. Pullman seating was for 290,175 and 79. Larry O’Keeffe bought the place from Ward Anderson in 1995 and turned it back into a theatre which closed in March 2001. It is now the Regal Centre and includes the Pet Planet store since October 2012 and Tangled Yarns. O'Keeffe’s furniture store is now at the back.
Was a cinema by 1930, proprietor Wyndham Lewis (West of England Cinemas) from 1950, full-time bingo from November 1983, church moved in 1986.
The cinema appears to have closed in summer 1984 after which it was Embassy Snooker. A fire occurred in the building in April 1991 although newspaper reports seem to suggest that the cinema or snooker were not affected. Maybe the hall lays back from the front.
Sad day! BTTF was voted for from a shortlist and shown at 1830. The regular films shown earlier in the day were Moana, Monster Trucks and Why Him? Full story at the following link with several photographs www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4084596/Curtain-comes-era-silver-screen-entertainment-89-years-giving-joy-millions-ABC-Cinema-killed-multiplex.html.
The Ormonde was originally run by Dan Crotty, a replacement for his earlier cinema, but was last in the hands of the Spurling family who closed it in 2005 and opened the SGC. It was refurbished in 1989 when it reopened with Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Licence to Kill. The site is understood to be now occupied by social housing. Architecture buffs can see more info about this building at www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=WA®no=22821080
The Palladium opened in 1932 but was destroyed by fire in September 1936. Rebuilt almost immediately and lasted until August 1990. Source: The Bann Disc, Coleraine Historical Society.
The Picture Palace opened in 1914 and was designed by J. S. Kennedy. Reconstructed in 1937, maybe as a result of the Palladium being rebuilt. Associated for some time with the Christie family.
In December 2016 the press reported that the cinema had temporarily closed due to asbestos. In 2013 council funding cuts meant it was taken over by a community group. There are plans for a 130-seat screen with digital projection and luxury chairs. The hall itself first opened on 28 February 1894.
The Pembroke Cinema opened about 1910 and was renamed Haggar’s after the outbreak of the Great War. Paddles appears to be still going.
Jayne Anderson and Sarah Kimpson opened the Astoria bar and restaurant in the former cinema on 2 October 2014.
Opened as White’s Palace in 1910 and became Barger’s Picture Palace four years later. It was enlarged in 1921 and a year later advertised for sale but failed to attract any buyers. It reopened as the Palace in 1923. The recent bingo operation closed in March 2013, along with the Milford Haven branch at the former Astoria, and it is unclear what the premises are being used for.
The Torch opened on 16 April 1977, although according to its website the first in-house production, Alan Ayckbourn’s Relatively Speaking, was not staged until that November. It was designed by Monty Minter and cost £500,000 to build. The redevelopment, which included the studio theatre, was completed in 2008 and appears to have cost ten times what the original had. The studio has a “moat” feature which when unused reduces the seating to 83.
The Oscar reopened in October 1973 with admission prices advertised at 40p. More info here: http://www.kildare.ie/library/ehistory/2013/01/new_oscar_provides_newbridge_w.asp. One source states the 3 screens did not arrive until 1990. When it closed in 2006 the last films to show were King Kong, The Chronicles of Narnia and Just Like Heaven. Michael Roycroft had made the decision some time previously in anticipation of the new cinema opening at the Whitewater Shopping Centre. Films are also shown at the Riverdale Arts Centre in Main Street once a week.
Was due to be auctioned off on 5.11.15 but according to reports appeared to be unsold as of April 2016. Maybe the hefty €1.75 million price tag has put developers off! Pictures of how it looks inside these days are at: http://www.dailyedge.ie/rathmines-stella-cinema-2682126-Mar2016/
The Phoenix opened in 1912 and closed in 1958 and was reportedly the first purpose-built cinema in Dublin. Photos here: http://www.dublincity.ie/image/libraries/cin004-phoenix http://www.dublincity.ie/image/libraries/cin003-phoenix http://archiseek.com/2010/1912-phoenix-cinema-ellis-quay-dublin/
According to Google Street View the property lies abandoned as of July 2014. The original frontage is no longer there.
The “new” Metropole opened on 16 March 1972 (not 1964) and was renamed the Screen in the early 1980s. One source says 1980 another 1984, but more likely to be 1982 when three screens were created. The sculpture “Mr Screen” was made in 1988 by Vincent Browne. Staff were transferred to the Savoy after closure.
The original cinema was built in 1918 by two brothers John and James Houlihan. It was rebuilt twice, once in 1921 when destroyed by fire and again in 1938 when it was probably renamed Phoenix. During the rebuild vats were discovered under the ground believed to have been used in the tanning of leather in days gone by. It was also used as a dance hall and had a DVD rental shop at the front in more recent times. It has been reported that the original Italian projectors were run on energy provided by burning turf, but these days it has digital projection and Dolby sound. It was run by John Moore from the 1950s until 1979 when Michael O’Sullivan took over. He is remembered for introducing the Art Film Nights which are still running but he passed away in 2011. It is still a family-run business and is one of the main venues in the Dingle Film Festival. It currently seats 150 in stalls and balcony.
Forgot to mention that McNeill’s client was William Barry.
The Ritz was designed by John Bride McNeill, one of his few projects in the Republic, and completed in 1946. The Balor Theatre converted the building for their own use in 1982. Owners the Butt Hall Committee recently submitted plans to have it demolished but the council rejected these in 2015 and listed the building. As of now it is probably still empty.
A 20-minute film describing the cinema’s operation is at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPmhL5IAHoA. The cinema was reportedly the last in Ireland to go digital in 2014.
The “new” Astor was named in memory of the “old” Astor cinema in Lower O’Connell Street. It was run by the same family, the McNallys, whose aim was primarily to present continental films.
The Tivoli opened with the comedy film The Cockeyed Cavaliers, the opening ceremony was carried out by Alderman P.J. Medlar.
The Grand Central opened in November 1922 and was based in former Wesleyan Methodist Church of 1821 previously known as the Independent Chapel and later the Central Hall. The owner Paul Bernard had a new façade added in front of the old one. It closed at the end of October 1973 and the downstairs became shops, but the cinema reopened on the first floor as the 200-seat Central Studio the following April screening Day of the Jackal. It closed in 1990 following the opening of the new five-screen Savoy complex, but was reopened in August 1992 by the Savoy who stated that it was their “sixth” screen being across the road from their own building. It eventually closed in 2004 and the frontage was knocked down in 2007 for a new shopping development revealing the old church façade behind, which has been retained. Architectural buffs can see more building information at: http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=LI®no=21512004