Just a thought Harry Weedon never designed a Cinema Th person credited as assisting him Did it. Weedon designed Houses. He prepared budgets for the Shar Prospectus in that Odeon Company. The Weedon Practice never designed anything until Robert Bullivant became head designer for the Practice.
Showcase Refereed to it as Their Birmingham Showcase… as it was opened before their Birmingham Complex. Walsall’s Mayor had a go with Showcase over it. Fastest thing to get Walsall people annoyed are the words Birmingham and Wolverhampton I Live in Walsall and was in the Cinema Trade for 40 years.
Rivest266 The Showcase Walsall was Called Showcase Birmingham which P… Off the people of Walsall. Our Mayor gave them a talking too on the opening. Walsall Opened first Birmingham Later I lived near Walsall Showcase and My Birmingham Cinema The Capitol was near the Birmingham one. This wrecked a very good Independent (Capitol) that made the largest profit in Birmingham. So it was Kama when the Showcase closed down.
Clifton owned 10% of the company. whilst Onions had 90%. There were many disagreements Onions always thought he knew best. Then had to get Clifton to put it right. and there lies a number of stories…
Biffaskin.. I would like to see them re-open. But alas The Rates on these 3 screens was eyewatering. They paid far more rates then the Alexandra Theatre and The Rep. Some years ago I did a study for a City Councillor On the finances of Birmingham Theatres as against the Commercial operations Like for like The Birmingham Odeon Theatre (Live) as against The Hippodrome Now that was an education Hippodrome paid more then double the cleaning cost of the Odeon using the same contractor On the other The Hippodrome only paid 32% of the rates The Odeon New St was charged. I must add I did put the Cat amongst the Pigeons :)
They carried on for a number of Years Showing Asian Films on Sunday mornings Colmore Entertainments (The Oliver’s) did very little in the way of alterations for Bingo. It was a belt and braces operation but funnily enough It was the Black Country’s busiest Bingo Hall Whilst working for ABC Cinemas I was seconded to their Bingo division and had to go out to other Bingo Halls to see how their Bingo was doing I had to reports the Prize moneys being paid out. I even had to pay Bingo. Hmm During that time I never won any money..
It is important Never to take much notice of the Kine Year Book We found it to be unreliable as it was never really kept up to date by the publishers. Problem also arises when people right books on cinemas they take it as gospel. Apart from running cinemas I did trade in Cinema Equipment
Thanks Ian. Gordon Coombes. I had met Bill Carpenter at the same meeting. Over Coffee I had a private discussion with him in regards to the ABC (Palace)Erdington and the ABC Stourbridge (I later became the General manager of the company that owned Stourbridge before ABC) I had asked to lease these off ABC. I explained Why I wanted them. They then decided to keep Stourbridge and revamp it. The Shock of having it revamped gave the Manager a Heart attack and died.
An historical point. The Chief Projectionist During the War had done some Photography of fortifications and sent to London. He was later arrested by the Germans and sent to a concentration camp where he died
Just a thought. Before the Odeon Take over. The cinema was straddled by German Bombers. Buildings in the Front of the Theatre and the Futurist at the other end of New Street Station which got hit twice Totally missing the Paramount. I suspect it was this action that made Paramount sell its Cinemas in the Provence’s
From My Experience of the Kine Year Books It was not very accurate in the listings as they were not very good at maintaining the information in it They had in Cinemas as open. But had closed years previous
Odeon Colwyn Bay was the same style
Looking at the Wall treatment and the stage layout for scope This look like a Modernisation Ltd., interior design build.
The soundheads in the picture are Westar 2002’s
Just a thought Harry Weedon never designed a Cinema Th person credited as assisting him Did it. Weedon designed Houses. He prepared budgets for the Shar Prospectus in that Odeon Company. The Weedon Practice never designed anything until Robert Bullivant became head designer for the Practice.
It is a shame that the CTA are very quiet and seems not to be interested in Saving this Theatre
Showcase Refereed to it as Their Birmingham Showcase… as it was opened before their Birmingham Complex. Walsall’s Mayor had a go with Showcase over it. Fastest thing to get Walsall people annoyed are the words Birmingham and Wolverhampton I Live in Walsall and was in the Cinema Trade for 40 years.
Rivest266 The Showcase Walsall was Called Showcase Birmingham which P… Off the people of Walsall. Our Mayor gave them a talking too on the opening. Walsall Opened first Birmingham Later I lived near Walsall Showcase and My Birmingham Cinema The Capitol was near the Birmingham one. This wrecked a very good Independent (Capitol) that made the largest profit in Birmingham. So it was Kama when the Showcase closed down.
Clifton owned 10% of the company. whilst Onions had 90%. There were many disagreements Onions always thought he knew best. Then had to get Clifton to put it right. and there lies a number of stories…
Showcase P…. Off Walsall people by referring it as Showcase Birmingham.. before their Birmingham complex opened
Apparently It has been reported as being closed permanently
Biffaskin.. I would like to see them re-open. But alas The Rates on these 3 screens was eyewatering. They paid far more rates then the Alexandra Theatre and The Rep. Some years ago I did a study for a City Councillor On the finances of Birmingham Theatres as against the Commercial operations Like for like The Birmingham Odeon Theatre (Live) as against The Hippodrome Now that was an education Hippodrome paid more then double the cleaning cost of the Odeon using the same contractor On the other The Hippodrome only paid 32% of the rates The Odeon New St was charged. I must add I did put the Cat amongst the Pigeons :)
John There is a big Problem with the Kinematograph year book. it was very unreliable as we used it in business
Notice The Roundels in the ceiling These were used in the 1924 designs of The Capitol Alum Rock Birmingham. and a Bigger Version in “The Warley cinema
They carried on for a number of Years Showing Asian Films on Sunday mornings Colmore Entertainments (The Oliver’s) did very little in the way of alterations for Bingo. It was a belt and braces operation but funnily enough It was the Black Country’s busiest Bingo Hall Whilst working for ABC Cinemas I was seconded to their Bingo division and had to go out to other Bingo Halls to see how their Bingo was doing I had to reports the Prize moneys being paid out. I even had to pay Bingo. Hmm During that time I never won any money..
Those look like the original William Turner Ltd., of Birmingham Tabs
It is important Never to take much notice of the Kine Year Book We found it to be unreliable as it was never really kept up to date by the publishers. Problem also arises when people right books on cinemas they take it as gospel. Apart from running cinemas I did trade in Cinema Equipment
Thanks Ian. Gordon Coombes. I had met Bill Carpenter at the same meeting. Over Coffee I had a private discussion with him in regards to the ABC (Palace)Erdington and the ABC Stourbridge (I later became the General manager of the company that owned Stourbridge before ABC) I had asked to lease these off ABC. I explained Why I wanted them. They then decided to keep Stourbridge and revamp it. The Shock of having it revamped gave the Manager a Heart attack and died.
An historical point. The Chief Projectionist During the War had done some Photography of fortifications and sent to London. He was later arrested by the Germans and sent to a concentration camp where he died
Just a thought. Before the Odeon Take over. The cinema was straddled by German Bombers. Buildings in the Front of the Theatre and the Futurist at the other end of New Street Station which got hit twice Totally missing the Paramount. I suspect it was this action that made Paramount sell its Cinemas in the Provence’s
The Cinemascope picture was achieved by dropping the top masking
The Building was designed by Harold Seymour Scott Harry Weedon was a junior in the practice
The Brichfield had a major facelift for Cinemascope carried out by “Modernisation Ltd.,”
From My Experience of the Kine Year Books It was not very accurate in the listings as they were not very good at maintaining the information in it They had in Cinemas as open. But had closed years previous
Picture Taken By Earnest Welch of Walsall on the day of opening
This Picture was taken by Earnest Walsh of Walsall
This picture was Taken by Earnest Welsh. Wednesbury Road Walsall on the day the cinema opened.