The Grand cinema was certainly in existence in1924 under the ownership of Mr James Williams and was twinned with the New Cinema, Neyland. Shows were initially on Thursdays only at 7.30pm at prices of 6d to 1/6d. By 1938 a Mr Dennis Rowlands had taken a lease on the premises and was showing films on Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays at the same prices. It is unknown what sound system was in use.
Mr Evans is mistaken, the overhanging projection box was , as stated at the front of the building “overhanging the street” not at the side of the building. If it was the latter it would be the only cinema where films were shown sideways to the audience.
Further to previous comment, the original owners had offices in Liverpool, where films were booked for the cinema. I seem to recall that this applied to several North Wales cinemas so it was probably part of a small chain
I am surprised to hear that the overhanging projection box was still in situ. It had definately gone in 2009 asnd when I passed the former cinema a month ago! Has Mr Evans rebuilt it?
This cinema was NOT opened by Paramount, but by a company called Crescent Cinemas (Penmaenmawr) Ltd. They had the cinema built in 1938, seating 600 people at prices of 6d to 1/6d.
Paramount took over just prior to 1951 and introduced saturday matinees. Prices were now 7d to 2/3. Paramount introduced cinemascope in the mid 1950’s. By 1966 prices ranged from 2/– to 3/6d. The cinema was closed following the death of Paramounts owner (as did all his theatres) and with no buyer found, closed for good.
Seems like the Colisseum in Porthmadog, this venue is in trouble as well! The council have suggested the venue if losing £150k per annum, which they cannot afford in the current financial climate and they are looking for a private organisation or person to take it over and run it. Any volunteers?
Although the cinema is currently closed, much is going on behind the scenes to try to preserve its future.They have already held a ghost hunters night featuring the stars of the TV programme to raise cash and are currently running a signature list for supporters to try to get grant aid to carry out the necessary repair work and are also seeking suggestions on how further cash can be raised. A meeting to be held in the next couple of weeks will tell if re-opening is viable. The cinemas most profitable period is fast approaching – the main holiday period!
In its early days the cinema sufferered from an invasion of the “Swamp Monsters”. It was well known for being partial to fog coming into the cinema due possibly to the open ground to the East of the venue, which would often obliterate the screen and render the shows uninteligble.
My records show that in 1928 the cinema in Knighton was known as the Electric Picture House and Capt. H.J. Bray D.S.C., was the propreitor showing film on Thursday, Friday and Saturdays only at prices of 6d to 1/3d. In the 1930’s Mr D.J. Madigan of Hay had taken over. twinned the cinema with the Plaza, Hay and renamed it “Picture House”. At this time the cinema held 220 patrons seated. Mr J.R. Brown took over in the late 1940’s, renaming it “Cinema” and seating was reduced to 200 patrons. In the 1960’s Mr W.H. Brown (not known if a relation of J.R.) was the propreitor and was showing one show per day with one change per week. Cinemascope had been installed and the sound changed to G.B. sound from the original Morrison sound system. All seats were 3/–. The proscenium was 30 feet wide with a 29 foot wide screen
The man who ran the early film shows was an englishman, Mr Greenwood, who moved to live in Nefyn, He was said to be a small man with a resemblance to Charlie Chaplin. He acted as projectionist, userette, and played the piano. To attribute him withj piano playing skills is perhaps an exageration, suffice to say he mainly made sound effects on the piano, smashing down on the keys to simulate explosions, hammering the bass notes for gunfire etc. He also patrolled the hall with a rolled up newspaper with which he handed out instant justice to anyone misbehaving. His wife ran the bax office.He ceased shows with the coming of sound.
It was a Mr David Sutcliffe who brought films back to Nefyn in 1963, showing films once nightly with matinees “when wet”. He worked mainly as a “stringer” for the B.B.C. and would ofter show his documentary films as part of the programme. He ran the hall as a “one man band”, acting as box office custodian, userette, Ice cream salesman and projectionist. Films were 16mm and programmes were of weekly duration. He also ran shows in the George Edward Hall, Cemaes Bay on Anglesey.
Sorry, just received some updated information. This cinema opened on the 20th March 1954 and closed in October 1967. Showings were on four nights a week with two changes of programme per week, one running from Tuesday to Wednesday, the other on Friday and Saturday evenings. Programmes started at 7.30pm. BY October 1966 there were two shows perweek on Wednesday and Saturday evenings only, still with different films each night.
Film shows started at this venue in 1925, the year the Memorial Hall was opened, by Captain Pritchard (Real name Elias)After his death the lease on the venue was sold in 1945 to Paramount Picture Theatres Ltd who continued film shows initially with one show per night during the summer months and two shows per night during the winter. However in the mid 1950’s this had changed to one show per night in the summer only. The rent paid was minute – only £150 for the whole summer during 1964 – and it may have been a proposed increase in this that led to Paramount closing the venue in 1970.
A man from Barmouth tried to continue film shows with 16mm equipment, but these proved unsuccessful and the venue reverted to Community based events.
It was Capt. W.E. Pritchard who leased the Memorial Hall from its opening. The first projectionist was Mr. Robert Gwilm. An A.W.H. sound system was installed to take the era. Fil shows were nightly from 1st July to 30th September and twice nightly the remainder of the year. The relatives of Capt. Pritchard sold the rights to show films to Paramount Picture Theatres in 1945, following Capt. Pritchards death and films ceased in 1983 following the death of Guy Baker, although a gentleman from Harlech tried to resurrect film shows using 16mm unsuccessfully following this.
The venue is now used as a community hall with Bingo, Amateur dramatics and the Criccieth Festival all happening there.
Captain Pritchard was in fact born an ‘Elias’, quite a well known name around the area I live. The story goes that his brother moved to South London and founded a small chain of shops. Because of anti-semitic feeling at the time, although not Jewish, the brother adopted the name Pritchard to prevent any of this feeling affecting his stores. Captain Pritchard ( a Merchant navy title, not an army one) changed his name also, although there no record of anti-semiticism in North Wales. He retired from the sea in 1909 and lived in a house he purchased in Criccieth.
I knew Soloman Andrews Grandson, John Andrews, who wrote ahistory of the Company Soloman Andrews & co. and he told me that Andrews had no connection with Neuadd Dwyfor. He was at loggerheads with the council over their refusal to let him start his tramway from the Railway station and in any case as Andrews had his own hall behind the West End hotel, The Assembly Rooms, why would he seek to lease another hall?
I too had heard of his possible involvement with Neuadd Dwyfor and asked him to clear up this matter. I think he would have known best.
I think Mr Evans is wrong in atributing Soloman Andrews with the running of the cinema. If he had continued until 1917 he would have been miraculous as he died circa 1907!
Soloman Andrews was certainly involved in the first showing of films in Pwllheli, but at the Assembly Rooms,at the rear of his hotel, where Fred Young, his entertainments Manager put on shows between 1901 and 1910, including films he shot himself around the town.
Thomas was NOT the owner at opening, this was a Mr. T. Foy. When it opened it was not solely films, but had occasional variety shows on its tiny 7 feet deep stage, 2 dressing rooms were provided for the performers. The proscenium was 18 feet wide. Films when shown were on a three changes of programme per week basis with one show per night with matinees on Saturday. The venue could seat just 230 patrons and prices were 7d to 1/–. Sound was provided by a British Acoustic sound system.
Mr A.R. Thomas had acquired ownership by 1951, and retained it until closure, having the BA system stripped out and replaced by an RCA Photophone sound system. He continued the policy of one show per night with matinees on Saturdays and three changes of programme per week and dropped the stage entertainment. Prices were now 1/6d to 2/1d.
The owners were Deeside Enterprise Cinemas Ltd who equipped it with a British Acoustic sound system. The cinema could seat 450 patrons at prices of 6d to 1/3d in 1938. By 1951 seating had been decreased to 400 seats and shows were twice nightly with matinees monday, thursday and saturday with prices now 9d to 1/9d. An Imperial sound system had replaced the original British Acoustic one by now.
In 1966 the venue was taken over by the Wedgewood Cinema Ltd group who changed the name to the Wedgewood and changed the sound system yet again to a British Thompson-Houston system. Strangely the Kinema Weekly Yearbook lists both the Scal;a and the Wedgewood that year.
Taken over by Peter Moores in 1996 after it had been closed for a number of years (He also had interests in the Empire, Holyhead and Empire Picture Palace, Blaenau Festiniog, it is doubtful whether he actually re-opened the cinema, but had just finished renovating it when he was arrested and charged. As stated it is currently for sale with permission to turn it into apartments. At the price it would seem an ideal project for a restoration Society!
The venue was built in 1900 for the Co-Operative Society as a hall and it is said that the first films shown in Port Talbot were shown in the hall in its early days. Later it went to become a Dance Academy and Billiards hall. Purchased (or Leased) in 1936, after some rebuilding work it re-opened as the Regent Cinema. It seems to have closed again in Spring 1937 asnd re-opened once more in May of that year (reason not known). It is said to have had quite a nice facade but internally was rather plain and functional with 700 seats. Sound was provided by Western Electric sound.
Odeon pictures became involved (Perhaps on a management basis) but it only became an Odeon Associated Theatre in 1943. The only sign of this was a large letter ‘O’ outside, apparently because the lease prevented the name ‘Odeon’ from appearing.
In June 1945 control passed to Circuits Management Ltd, as did all Odeons. Prices were 9d to 2/3d in 1937 and rose to 1/– to 2/4d in 1951. Cinemascope was never fitted so with the decline in films for the normal format it was inevitable that it would close, which it did on the 27th October 1956. It was taken over by the Co-Operative Society, which poses the question was it always on lease from them?
The Twon Hall was built in 1898 but opening did not take place until Whitsun 1902, when an Eistedffod was herld there to celebrate the coronation of King Edward VII. “Aladdin” was the first show put on on the 5th to 7th August 1902. Other uses included Roller Skating and a scheme by which visitors could pay 1d to gain access to the roof to enjoy panaramic views across the bay and around the town.
Film shows commjenced in March 1911 with prices of 3d to 6d for adults and 1d to 2d for children.
In 1920 C. Lloyd Roberts got a lease on the building to show films, but had to fit film shows around the other uses of the hall -concerts, pantomimes, amateur dramatics, etc -but these were successful.
An inferior sound system was installed to take the venue into the sound era andf this had to be replaced with a British Thompson-Houston system in 1934. Prices were now 6d to 1/6d.
In 1974, Local Government changes caused the hall to be passed to the control of Dwyfor Distric Council and it was then that the change of name from Town Hall Cinema to Neuadd Dwyfor (Dwyfor Hall) was made. In 1993 the hall was comprehensively upgraded and Dolby Digital sound installed. Capacity is now 354 patrons – the arms of the U shaped balcony not being used for film shows.
A visit is recommended as in the foyer two of the earlier projectors are displayed in glass cages for public viewing.
Opened circa 1932 by Messrs R. Jervisor & E. Jones, the venue could seat only 275 patrons and had a Morisson sound system. It was built with the Cafe attached. By 1951 the Morrison system had been replaced by a Gyratone system. Admission was 6d to 2/–. By 1966 the venue had gone over to Bingo two night per week on Tuesdays and Thursdays with one show per night on the other days at 8/00pm and two shows on saturdays at 5.30pm and 8.00pm. Cinemascope was now fitted and prices ranged from 1/6d to 2/6d.
In 1938 the propreitor was Mr. D.J. Madigan and sound was produced by a Morrison sound system. The cinema could seat 300 patrons at admission prices ranging from 6d to 1/3d. It was twinned with the Plaza, Hay.
By 1951 the venue was controlled by E. Taylor (Cinemas) Ltd who had changed the name to the Castle Cinema, reduced seating to 230 patrons and peformances were Tuesday, thursday and saturday at 7.30pm with a matinee on saturdays. Prices were now 6d to 2/4d.
By 1965 seating had been reduced to 220 seats to allow for new lines of sight that Cinemascope needed and the screen was now 18 feet 6 inchs by 9 feet 6 inches in the 20 foot wide proscenium. A new B.A.F. sound system had been installed – something of a waste of money when the end was so near. Kinema Weekly Yearbook also notes that a Cafe and Dance Hall were now attached to the cinema. Could they have been there all the time but not mentioned? Programmes had also increased to one show per night with 2 changes of programme each week.
For those tryiing to find the cinema using the moving photograph may I point out that this shows the wrong end os the high street!
The Grand cinema was certainly in existence in1924 under the ownership of Mr James Williams and was twinned with the New Cinema, Neyland. Shows were initially on Thursdays only at 7.30pm at prices of 6d to 1/6d. By 1938 a Mr Dennis Rowlands had taken a lease on the premises and was showing films on Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays at the same prices. It is unknown what sound system was in use.
Mr Evans is mistaken, the overhanging projection box was , as stated at the front of the building “overhanging the street” not at the side of the building. If it was the latter it would be the only cinema where films were shown sideways to the audience.
Further to previous comment, the original owners had offices in Liverpool, where films were booked for the cinema. I seem to recall that this applied to several North Wales cinemas so it was probably part of a small chain
I am surprised to hear that the overhanging projection box was still in situ. It had definately gone in 2009 asnd when I passed the former cinema a month ago! Has Mr Evans rebuilt it?
This cinema was NOT opened by Paramount, but by a company called Crescent Cinemas (Penmaenmawr) Ltd. They had the cinema built in 1938, seating 600 people at prices of 6d to 1/6d. Paramount took over just prior to 1951 and introduced saturday matinees. Prices were now 7d to 2/3. Paramount introduced cinemascope in the mid 1950’s. By 1966 prices ranged from 2/– to 3/6d. The cinema was closed following the death of Paramounts owner (as did all his theatres) and with no buyer found, closed for good.
Seems like the Colisseum in Porthmadog, this venue is in trouble as well! The council have suggested the venue if losing £150k per annum, which they cannot afford in the current financial climate and they are looking for a private organisation or person to take it over and run it. Any volunteers?
Although the cinema is currently closed, much is going on behind the scenes to try to preserve its future.They have already held a ghost hunters night featuring the stars of the TV programme to raise cash and are currently running a signature list for supporters to try to get grant aid to carry out the necessary repair work and are also seeking suggestions on how further cash can be raised. A meeting to be held in the next couple of weeks will tell if re-opening is viable. The cinemas most profitable period is fast approaching – the main holiday period!
In its early days the cinema sufferered from an invasion of the “Swamp Monsters”. It was well known for being partial to fog coming into the cinema due possibly to the open ground to the East of the venue, which would often obliterate the screen and render the shows uninteligble.
My records show that in 1928 the cinema in Knighton was known as the Electric Picture House and Capt. H.J. Bray D.S.C., was the propreitor showing film on Thursday, Friday and Saturdays only at prices of 6d to 1/3d. In the 1930’s Mr D.J. Madigan of Hay had taken over. twinned the cinema with the Plaza, Hay and renamed it “Picture House”. At this time the cinema held 220 patrons seated. Mr J.R. Brown took over in the late 1940’s, renaming it “Cinema” and seating was reduced to 200 patrons. In the 1960’s Mr W.H. Brown (not known if a relation of J.R.) was the propreitor and was showing one show per day with one change per week. Cinemascope had been installed and the sound changed to G.B. sound from the original Morrison sound system. All seats were 3/–. The proscenium was 30 feet wide with a 29 foot wide screen
The man who ran the early film shows was an englishman, Mr Greenwood, who moved to live in Nefyn, He was said to be a small man with a resemblance to Charlie Chaplin. He acted as projectionist, userette, and played the piano. To attribute him withj piano playing skills is perhaps an exageration, suffice to say he mainly made sound effects on the piano, smashing down on the keys to simulate explosions, hammering the bass notes for gunfire etc. He also patrolled the hall with a rolled up newspaper with which he handed out instant justice to anyone misbehaving. His wife ran the bax office.He ceased shows with the coming of sound.
It was a Mr David Sutcliffe who brought films back to Nefyn in 1963, showing films once nightly with matinees “when wet”. He worked mainly as a “stringer” for the B.B.C. and would ofter show his documentary films as part of the programme. He ran the hall as a “one man band”, acting as box office custodian, userette, Ice cream salesman and projectionist. Films were 16mm and programmes were of weekly duration. He also ran shows in the George Edward Hall, Cemaes Bay on Anglesey.
Sorry, just received some updated information. This cinema opened on the 20th March 1954 and closed in October 1967. Showings were on four nights a week with two changes of programme per week, one running from Tuesday to Wednesday, the other on Friday and Saturday evenings. Programmes started at 7.30pm. BY October 1966 there were two shows perweek on Wednesday and Saturday evenings only, still with different films each night.
Film shows started at this venue in 1925, the year the Memorial Hall was opened, by Captain Pritchard (Real name Elias)After his death the lease on the venue was sold in 1945 to Paramount Picture Theatres Ltd who continued film shows initially with one show per night during the summer months and two shows per night during the winter. However in the mid 1950’s this had changed to one show per night in the summer only. The rent paid was minute – only £150 for the whole summer during 1964 – and it may have been a proposed increase in this that led to Paramount closing the venue in 1970.
A man from Barmouth tried to continue film shows with 16mm equipment, but these proved unsuccessful and the venue reverted to Community based events.
It was Capt. W.E. Pritchard who leased the Memorial Hall from its opening. The first projectionist was Mr. Robert Gwilm. An A.W.H. sound system was installed to take the era. Fil shows were nightly from 1st July to 30th September and twice nightly the remainder of the year. The relatives of Capt. Pritchard sold the rights to show films to Paramount Picture Theatres in 1945, following Capt. Pritchards death and films ceased in 1983 following the death of Guy Baker, although a gentleman from Harlech tried to resurrect film shows using 16mm unsuccessfully following this.
The venue is now used as a community hall with Bingo, Amateur dramatics and the Criccieth Festival all happening there.
Captain Pritchard was in fact born an ‘Elias’, quite a well known name around the area I live. The story goes that his brother moved to South London and founded a small chain of shops. Because of anti-semitic feeling at the time, although not Jewish, the brother adopted the name Pritchard to prevent any of this feeling affecting his stores. Captain Pritchard ( a Merchant navy title, not an army one) changed his name also, although there no record of anti-semiticism in North Wales. He retired from the sea in 1909 and lived in a house he purchased in Criccieth.
Have tried to e mail harhin several times but have not got a reply. Perhaps he would e mail me?
I knew Soloman Andrews Grandson, John Andrews, who wrote ahistory of the Company Soloman Andrews & co. and he told me that Andrews had no connection with Neuadd Dwyfor. He was at loggerheads with the council over their refusal to let him start his tramway from the Railway station and in any case as Andrews had his own hall behind the West End hotel, The Assembly Rooms, why would he seek to lease another hall?
I too had heard of his possible involvement with Neuadd Dwyfor and asked him to clear up this matter. I think he would have known best.
I think Mr Evans is wrong in atributing Soloman Andrews with the running of the cinema. If he had continued until 1917 he would have been miraculous as he died circa 1907!
Soloman Andrews was certainly involved in the first showing of films in Pwllheli, but at the Assembly Rooms,at the rear of his hotel, where Fred Young, his entertainments Manager put on shows between 1901 and 1910, including films he shot himself around the town.
What does your correspondent mean “barred by the Odeon Llanelli”? This does not make sense.
Thomas was NOT the owner at opening, this was a Mr. T. Foy. When it opened it was not solely films, but had occasional variety shows on its tiny 7 feet deep stage, 2 dressing rooms were provided for the performers. The proscenium was 18 feet wide. Films when shown were on a three changes of programme per week basis with one show per night with matinees on Saturday. The venue could seat just 230 patrons and prices were 7d to 1/–. Sound was provided by a British Acoustic sound system.
Mr A.R. Thomas had acquired ownership by 1951, and retained it until closure, having the BA system stripped out and replaced by an RCA Photophone sound system. He continued the policy of one show per night with matinees on Saturdays and three changes of programme per week and dropped the stage entertainment. Prices were now 1/6d to 2/1d.
The owners were Deeside Enterprise Cinemas Ltd who equipped it with a British Acoustic sound system. The cinema could seat 450 patrons at prices of 6d to 1/3d in 1938. By 1951 seating had been decreased to 400 seats and shows were twice nightly with matinees monday, thursday and saturday with prices now 9d to 1/9d. An Imperial sound system had replaced the original British Acoustic one by now.
In 1966 the venue was taken over by the Wedgewood Cinema Ltd group who changed the name to the Wedgewood and changed the sound system yet again to a British Thompson-Houston system. Strangely the Kinema Weekly Yearbook lists both the Scal;a and the Wedgewood that year.
Taken over by Peter Moores in 1996 after it had been closed for a number of years (He also had interests in the Empire, Holyhead and Empire Picture Palace, Blaenau Festiniog, it is doubtful whether he actually re-opened the cinema, but had just finished renovating it when he was arrested and charged. As stated it is currently for sale with permission to turn it into apartments. At the price it would seem an ideal project for a restoration Society!
The venue was built in 1900 for the Co-Operative Society as a hall and it is said that the first films shown in Port Talbot were shown in the hall in its early days. Later it went to become a Dance Academy and Billiards hall. Purchased (or Leased) in 1936, after some rebuilding work it re-opened as the Regent Cinema. It seems to have closed again in Spring 1937 asnd re-opened once more in May of that year (reason not known). It is said to have had quite a nice facade but internally was rather plain and functional with 700 seats. Sound was provided by Western Electric sound.
Odeon pictures became involved (Perhaps on a management basis) but it only became an Odeon Associated Theatre in 1943. The only sign of this was a large letter ‘O’ outside, apparently because the lease prevented the name ‘Odeon’ from appearing.
In June 1945 control passed to Circuits Management Ltd, as did all Odeons. Prices were 9d to 2/3d in 1937 and rose to 1/– to 2/4d in 1951. Cinemascope was never fitted so with the decline in films for the normal format it was inevitable that it would close, which it did on the 27th October 1956. It was taken over by the Co-Operative Society, which poses the question was it always on lease from them?
The Twon Hall was built in 1898 but opening did not take place until Whitsun 1902, when an Eistedffod was herld there to celebrate the coronation of King Edward VII. “Aladdin” was the first show put on on the 5th to 7th August 1902. Other uses included Roller Skating and a scheme by which visitors could pay 1d to gain access to the roof to enjoy panaramic views across the bay and around the town.
Film shows commjenced in March 1911 with prices of 3d to 6d for adults and 1d to 2d for children.
In 1920 C. Lloyd Roberts got a lease on the building to show films, but had to fit film shows around the other uses of the hall -concerts, pantomimes, amateur dramatics, etc -but these were successful.
An inferior sound system was installed to take the venue into the sound era andf this had to be replaced with a British Thompson-Houston system in 1934. Prices were now 6d to 1/6d.
In 1974, Local Government changes caused the hall to be passed to the control of Dwyfor Distric Council and it was then that the change of name from Town Hall Cinema to Neuadd Dwyfor (Dwyfor Hall) was made. In 1993 the hall was comprehensively upgraded and Dolby Digital sound installed. Capacity is now 354 patrons – the arms of the U shaped balcony not being used for film shows.
A visit is recommended as in the foyer two of the earlier projectors are displayed in glass cages for public viewing.
Opened circa 1932 by Messrs R. Jervisor & E. Jones, the venue could seat only 275 patrons and had a Morisson sound system. It was built with the Cafe attached. By 1951 the Morrison system had been replaced by a Gyratone system. Admission was 6d to 2/–. By 1966 the venue had gone over to Bingo two night per week on Tuesdays and Thursdays with one show per night on the other days at 8/00pm and two shows on saturdays at 5.30pm and 8.00pm. Cinemascope was now fitted and prices ranged from 1/6d to 2/6d.
In 1938 the propreitor was Mr. D.J. Madigan and sound was produced by a Morrison sound system. The cinema could seat 300 patrons at admission prices ranging from 6d to 1/3d. It was twinned with the Plaza, Hay.
By 1951 the venue was controlled by E. Taylor (Cinemas) Ltd who had changed the name to the Castle Cinema, reduced seating to 230 patrons and peformances were Tuesday, thursday and saturday at 7.30pm with a matinee on saturdays. Prices were now 6d to 2/4d.
By 1965 seating had been reduced to 220 seats to allow for new lines of sight that Cinemascope needed and the screen was now 18 feet 6 inchs by 9 feet 6 inches in the 20 foot wide proscenium. A new B.A.F. sound system had been installed – something of a waste of money when the end was so near. Kinema Weekly Yearbook also notes that a Cafe and Dance Hall were now attached to the cinema. Could they have been there all the time but not mentioned? Programmes had also increased to one show per night with 2 changes of programme each week.