Gaumont Birmingham
Colmore Circus, Steelhouse Lane,
Birmingham,
B4 6AR
Colmore Circus, Steelhouse Lane,
Birmingham,
B4 6AR
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Showing 26 - 36 of 36 comments
I noticed your posting re: firstly the Odeon, Queensway. I was In Birmingham in September and was amazed the place has the ‘For Sale’ or ‘To Let’ signs still up. How long is it now since it closed – got to be 10 years? The book you mention, I would love any information you may have on the ‘King’s Norton Cinema'on the outskirts of Birmingham. A large cinema, now demolished, I think it was part of the Clifton Cinemas chain.
With ref to Paul Smith and Chris Perman’s enquiries re cinema’s in Birmingham, I have in my possession a copy of KINEMATOGRAPH YEAR BOOK 1946.
Besides other theatre information this book lists all cinema’s in the British Isles in operation that year with seating capacities,proprieters,address,ticket prices and type of projection system for most of them.(There were 100 in Brum).
If of any use please email me.
I worked part time as projectionist at the Queensway (then the Odeon Queensway) in 1972. Projection then was standard frontal using two 70mm Itallian Victoria projectors. The suite was state of art with a separate room with full controls to sit down and run a show.
A few doors away there was a risque cine club, under same ownership which used rear projection,three mirrors as I recall, two Victoria’s, 35mm.
With reference to rear projection, as mentioned by JdEspiney. The Queensway at Holloway Head also had rear projection. I’m not sure if that was when it was the Scala, but it certainly did at some time.
A 1970 exterior photograph of the Gaumont, Birmingham here:
View link
The Opera House in Coventry had rear projection!
Michael Healy, Melbourne, Australia
I have posted some information I have about the reopening of the Electra cinema in Station Street as I was 2nd operator there in 1940-1941 when it was The Tatler but I also was at The News Theatre High Street ( the only cinema in the Midlands with a scintillating sign) and also worked as relief at the Bristol Cinema,Luxor Balsall Heath,Moseley Picture House, The Bordesley Palace and the Waldorf. Incidently the only cinema in the Midlands with rear projection was the Astoria in Aston. I knew many of the staff at various cinemas, I suppose now dead and gone but if anyone has any questions I would be glad to try and help
Hi Chris,
Thanks for your response. Please contact me on .uk and perhaps we can swap notes. I have spent some time checking out all the maps that I have of Birmingham [from c1900 – 1950] to see which buildings have been identified as theatres and cinemas. I have contacted Carl Chinn about this Encyclopaedia project but have not received a reply, however Dr Chris Upton at Newman College has been very supportive and he may have a reference source.
Many thanks,
Paul Smith
Paul, I’ve been trying to gather information on Birmingham’s Cinemas and Theatres for some time past. It’s a tough job. There’s virtually no net information, yet once Birmingham was possessed of some 70 city centre and surburban cinemas. The Birmingham Evening Mail issued a soft cover booklet some years ago called ‘Entertainment in Birmingham’ which contained a small amount of cinema and theatre history. As an alternative you could try to contact Professor Carl Chinn who writes a column recalling ‘old’ Birmingham in the Evening Mail each week. Through this site, I’ve requested information and possibly a photograph of the King’s Norton
cinema in Birmingham – a haunt in earlier days. Anything I can do to help, drop me a message.
I am trying to compile an Encyclopaedia of Birmingham England and I am looking for someone who can help me with Cinemas and Theatres in this city
The Gaumont Palace was designed by architect William T.Benslyn.It opened on 9 February 1931 and had 2034 seats.It was renamed Gaumont in 1937 and was modernized in the early sixties for Cinerama,re-opening on 14 October 1963.The theatre was repaired and redecorated in August 1973 with the number of seats reduced to 1212.It closed on 29 October 1983 and was demolished.