Comments from surf_digby

Showing 26 - 35 of 35 comments

surf_digby
surf_digby commented about ABC Mansfield on Apr 2, 2013 at 6:35 pm

There is one photo on Flickr of Screen 2, seemingly taken just after the 1978 tripling. http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldcinemaphotos/3334701547/

Other than that one – and a photo of the staff taken in the foyer – I’ve not seen any other photo’s of the interior that were taken when the cinema was still alive.

Regarding the removal of the cladding, the architectural plans relating to the metal covering reads “Profile of projecting cornices and band courses to be cut back to line of pies(?) faces”. From poking my head through the windows, the stonework does not appear to be in particularly good shape. The balustrade on top of the curved section has been removed and replaced with brick. If the metal cladding were to be removed, the front of the building probably wouldn’t look too pretty. The bricking up of windows and cementing was not done with much consideration of asthetics.

surf_digby
surf_digby commented about Princess Cinema on Dec 4, 2012 at 3:32 pm

Is the whole building in use? Seems a little large for a fish and chip shop.

surf_digby
surf_digby commented about Odeon Nottingham on Sep 23, 2012 at 9:07 am

The bulldozers have started. The Odeon Nottingham shall shortly be no more.

surf_digby
surf_digby commented about Cavendish Cinema on Sep 21, 2012 at 6:35 pm

I’ve got some recent ones, that I’ll upload for reference.

surf_digby
surf_digby commented about Rock Cinema on Sep 21, 2012 at 6:25 pm

A particular shame that this was demolished, as the ceiling and proscenium were in pristine condition, and the building had no signs of damp.

surf_digby
surf_digby commented about Ritz Luxury Cinema on Sep 21, 2012 at 6:08 pm

This was not just a cinema. It was the Ritz Super Cinema, allegedly the “most luxurious cinema in the district”, with concealed lighting capable of complex combinations. It was the only cinema in Mansfield (until the building of the Odeon multiplex) to have its own car park.

Nowadays it’s a shell. The auditorium has been stripped out, although you can still see traces of the proscenium and where the concealed lighting in the ceiling once was.

surf_digby
surf_digby commented about Empire Cinema on Sep 21, 2012 at 6:04 pm

The rear wall of the Empire still stands behind the billboards.

surf_digby
surf_digby commented about Empire Cinema, Mansfield on Sep 21, 2012 at 6:03 pm

Some of the older residents of Mansfield still refer to this junction as “Empire corner”.

surf_digby
surf_digby commented about ABC Cinema Mansfield on Sep 21, 2012 at 5:43 pm

This photo was taken in 1964 and shows the front after it was rebuilt in 1923. Photo’s of the original original frontage have been uploaded.

surf_digby
surf_digby commented about ABC Mansfield on Sep 21, 2012 at 5:39 pm

I have an extensive collection of photographs “mapping” the interior, taken in 2012. Downstairs, there’s not much left, but the circle, offices and staircases, and backstage are still there.