The 1500-seater was built on the site of a flour and grain store and opened on 19 December 1935 by Irish Cinemas with the ceremony performed by the local Mayor Mr J. Casey. The auditorium was in Moorish style and designed on the stadium principle. From the mid-1960s it became predominantly a live music venue with the likes of Roy Orbison, Tom Jones and Val Doonican appearing there. Eamonn Andrews also presented a quiz show at the venue. It closed briefly in February 1975 but was reopened in October that year by Tony O’Mara and P.J. Hayes. The last show to take place was the Tops of the Town final on 26 March 1988. It was replaced with a new five-screen Savoy complex which itself was demolished in 2005.
The Picture House opened in 1924 and was run by J. Finney. The opening film was The Hunchback of Notre Dame with Lon Chaney. It closed in 1956 and was demolished in 1974 for a new road link. This was Finney’s replacement for an earlier cinema on Kenlis Street which he converted from a roller-skating rink. Finney, who was a director of Irish Theatres died in the late 1930s.
The Astor opened in October 1939 and according to newspaper reports was very palatial although it did not appear to be a purpose-built cinema. It was later run in tandem with the Castle by Supreme Cinemas and although damaged by a bomb in the 1970s was reopened by someone called Hopkins. I am still trying to ascertain the date of closure but it was later opened as a children’s play centre, by a former social worker, with what appears to be a modified frontage.
I think the film was actually the Greatest Question. The nightclub has now closed and the store is Golden Discs. Some ceiling work of the cinema can be seen in Delia’s flower shop down the side passage.
Definitely the same building although the inside has been stripped and has nothing of cinematic interest. Scaffolding was up on the outside just recently so maybe a facelift is imminent. It opened on 9 September 1913 with 700 seats in stadium plan. Closed with the Man in the Iron Mask on 4 April 1964. Used as a sorting office after closure but now as stated is a bowling alley and amusement centre.
Opened on 1 November 1920 and closed by a fire started by the Black & Tans a month later. Reopened 22 September 1921. Run by Madge O’Regan and Mrs Julia Scraggs and had 450 seats. Talkies arrived in December 1929. Sold to Abbey Films 1950s run by Leo Ward & Kevin Anderson. Closed 8 April 1972. Relaunched in the upstairs after downsizing showing Cabaret on 19 November 1972, but closed again in August 1989. Ground floor now amusements centre called Casino with newsagent at the front. Upstairs said to be empty.
The Everyman was originally Dan Lowery’s Music Hall but a permanent cinema from 1930. It screened its last film Planes Trains and Automobiles on 4 June 1988. It is now a theatre.
The Coliseum opened on 15 February 1940 with Batchelor Mother and closed with Lust for a Vampire on 8 August 1972. The 750-seater was owned by the Kelly Family who sold it to Modern Irish Theatres and it reopened on 1 September 1972 with the Dirty Dozen. It was remodelled in the early 1980s to incorporate a shopping mall and eventually closed on 8 February 2007 with Goal 2 and Infamous. The cinema is now occupied by the Church on Main Street who have been there since 2008. Films are still shown once a month in the 168-seat screen. Information from an article by James Durney. More history at http://www.kildare.ie/ehistory/index.php/naas-cinemas-the-coliseum/ and http://www.kildare.ie/library/ehistory/2012/08/naas_cinemas_the_dara.asp
The cinema was opened in 1946 by Henry Dinnage who was already in his 70s. The first film was Intermezzo. It closed in 1974 with From Bangkok with Orders to Kill. Henry’s grandson John Dinnage introduced Casablanca in 2012 at the Rathkeale Arts Centre, where films are occasionally shown.
The building was more recently the Third Space bar and lounge with a chill-out bar downstairs and a funky dance bar upstairs. As of July 2016 the ground floor is an African bar and restaurant called Lucy 1st.
The local authority announced in May 2015 that it had purchased the site with a view to demolishing it for offices. There are few bars around this stretch as the drinking culture is now centred around Wind Street.
The 1500-seater was built on the site of a flour and grain store and opened on 19 December 1935 by Irish Cinemas with the ceremony performed by the local Mayor Mr J. Casey. The auditorium was in Moorish style and designed on the stadium principle. From the mid-1960s it became predominantly a live music venue with the likes of Roy Orbison, Tom Jones and Val Doonican appearing there. Eamonn Andrews also presented a quiz show at the venue. It closed briefly in February 1975 but was reopened in October that year by Tony O’Mara and P.J. Hayes. The last show to take place was the Tops of the Town final on 26 March 1988. It was replaced with a new five-screen Savoy complex which itself was demolished in 2005.
The Lyric closed on 28 August 1976 with Operation daybreak. The site remained vacant for over 25 years.
New photo added today.
Site is now Bellini’s Bar and Restaurant. Worth mentioning that the cinema was bombed in 1953 having shown a film about the Coronation.
Durham Advertiser at http://www.durhamadvertiser.co.uk/news/2292956.display/gives closing date as 4 December 1961. Perhaps this is THE David Simpson!
The Palace opened in 1912 and was a conversion of Black’s grocery shop.
The Picture House opened in 1924 and was run by J. Finney. The opening film was The Hunchback of Notre Dame with Lon Chaney. It closed in 1956 and was demolished in 1974 for a new road link. This was Finney’s replacement for an earlier cinema on Kenlis Street which he converted from a roller-skating rink. Finney, who was a director of Irish Theatres died in the late 1930s.
The Astor opened in October 1939 and according to newspaper reports was very palatial although it did not appear to be a purpose-built cinema. It was later run in tandem with the Castle by Supreme Cinemas and although damaged by a bomb in the 1970s was reopened by someone called Hopkins. I am still trying to ascertain the date of closure but it was later opened as a children’s play centre, by a former social worker, with what appears to be a modified frontage.
The Regina opened on 1 April 1957 with High Society. New photos as the Omniplex posted today.
I think the film was actually the Greatest Question. The nightclub has now closed and the store is Golden Discs. Some ceiling work of the cinema can be seen in Delia’s flower shop down the side passage.
Definitely the same building although the inside has been stripped and has nothing of cinematic interest. Scaffolding was up on the outside just recently so maybe a facelift is imminent. It opened on 9 September 1913 with 700 seats in stadium plan. Closed with the Man in the Iron Mask on 4 April 1964. Used as a sorting office after closure but now as stated is a bowling alley and amusement centre.
Opened on 1 November 1920 and closed by a fire started by the Black & Tans a month later. Reopened 22 September 1921. Run by Madge O’Regan and Mrs Julia Scraggs and had 450 seats. Talkies arrived in December 1929. Sold to Abbey Films 1950s run by Leo Ward & Kevin Anderson. Closed 8 April 1972. Relaunched in the upstairs after downsizing showing Cabaret on 19 November 1972, but closed again in August 1989. Ground floor now amusements centre called Casino with newsagent at the front. Upstairs said to be empty.
Building is at Washington Street West, 21 Washington Street is a bar.
New photo added today of the mall.
The Savoy closed on 1 February 1975 with the Towering Inferno, with guests from the cast of Upstairs Downstairs in attendance for some reason.
The Everyman was originally Dan Lowery’s Music Hall but a permanent cinema from 1930. It screened its last film Planes Trains and Automobiles on 4 June 1988. It is now a theatre.
The former auditorium has been embraced rather than covered over. New photo of proscenium uploaded.
The live venue appears to have closed and bingo is back again. The foyer is now a Chinese restaurant. New photo uploaded.
The Coliseum opened on 15 February 1940 with Batchelor Mother and closed with Lust for a Vampire on 8 August 1972. The 750-seater was owned by the Kelly Family who sold it to Modern Irish Theatres and it reopened on 1 September 1972 with the Dirty Dozen. It was remodelled in the early 1980s to incorporate a shopping mall and eventually closed on 8 February 2007 with Goal 2 and Infamous. The cinema is now occupied by the Church on Main Street who have been there since 2008. Films are still shown once a month in the 168-seat screen. Information from an article by James Durney. More history at http://www.kildare.ie/ehistory/index.php/naas-cinemas-the-coliseum/ and http://www.kildare.ie/library/ehistory/2012/08/naas_cinemas_the_dara.asp
The cinema was opened in 1946 by Henry Dinnage who was already in his 70s. The first film was Intermezzo. It closed in 1974 with From Bangkok with Orders to Kill. Henry’s grandson John Dinnage introduced Casablanca in 2012 at the Rathkeale Arts Centre, where films are occasionally shown.
Closed for a short period in April 2016 to allow for the installation of luxury VIP seating
Following a change of ownership in 2011 it is now the City Spices Costcutter catering for a broad range of ethnicities.
The building was more recently the Third Space bar and lounge with a chill-out bar downstairs and a funky dance bar upstairs. As of July 2016 the ground floor is an African bar and restaurant called Lucy 1st.
The local authority announced in May 2015 that it had purchased the site with a view to demolishing it for offices. There are few bars around this stretch as the drinking culture is now centred around Wind Street.
According to the Ross-shire Journal the Picture House opened on 31 August 1931 and the opening attraction was Eddie Cantor in ‘Whoopee’.