According to the Randalstown Historical Society here are the milestones of the cinema:
1935 – Cinema erected
1962 – Closed after being condemned over fire safety precautions
1963 – Reopened under new management
1969 – Destroyed by fire
The building was demolished in the early 1970s and the site is now taken up by the pedestrian access to the viaduct footpath. The Elim Church is beside it.
The cinema initially closed in December 2013 but reopened in March 2014 showing classics like Dirty Dancing and E.T. of which there is more info on Facebook. This was for a limited period only as the cost of going digital wasn’t viable. It closed again in May 2014. Evidently it was run by one of the Rutherfords who own the Strand in Belfast.
The Unionist Hall stills screens films shown by the Fermanagh Film Society. The building is not actually on Town Hall Street as such but Shore Road according to Toy Town’s website.
Columbs was opened as a temperance hall in 1886 and was listed for film exhibition in the 1920s, although screenings have been somewhat on-and-off. Ian Dury & The Blockheads and Frank Carson are known to have appeared in the hall itself. The Magic Lantern Film Society set up by Alessandro Negrini started showing films in December 2007 starting with the Michael Moore documentary ‘Sicko’. The church sold off the building to the Garvan O'Doherty group in 2012 to overcome debts, and the main hall has become a banqueting centre and concert venue. There is nothing to suggest that films have been screened in the cinema since.
I have been advised by the local library that the cinema opened in 1932. On conversion, a cutting I have dated to April 1988 states the church was opening that week.
There are photos of the interior at this URL: http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/durham-palladium-theatre-cinema-14-10-07.t21496. With 30 years of dereliction it is debatable as to whether a church was actually using the cinema, perhaps the entrance hall if that.
The Regal reopened after tripling in Jan 1988 having spent IR£120,000 on the conversion. Pullman seating was for 290,175 and 79. Larry O’Keeffe bought the place from Ward Anderson in 1995 and turned it back into a theatre which closed in March 2001. It is now the Regal Centre and includes the Pet Planet store since October 2012 and Tangled Yarns. O'Keeffe’s furniture store is now at the back.
The cinema appears to have closed in summer 1984 after which it was Embassy Snooker. A fire occurred in the building in April 1991 although newspaper reports seem to suggest that the cinema or snooker were not affected. Maybe the hall lays back from the front.
Sad day! BTTF was voted for from a shortlist and shown at 1830. The regular films shown earlier in the day were Moana, Monster Trucks and Why Him? Full story at the following link with several photographs www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4084596/Curtain-comes-era-silver-screen-entertainment-89-years-giving-joy-millions-ABC-Cinema-killed-multiplex.html.
The Ormonde was originally run by Dan Crotty, a replacement for his earlier cinema, but was last in the hands of the Spurling family who closed it in 2005 and opened the SGC. It was refurbished in 1989 when it reopened with Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Licence to Kill. The site is understood to be now occupied by social housing. Architecture buffs can see more info about this building at www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=WA®no=22821080
The Palladium opened in 1932 but was destroyed by fire in September 1936. Rebuilt almost immediately and lasted until August 1990. Source: The Bann Disc, Coleraine Historical Society.
The Picture Palace opened in 1914 and was designed by J. S. Kennedy. Reconstructed in 1937, maybe as a result of the Palladium being rebuilt. Associated for some time with the Christie family.
In December 2016 the press reported that the cinema had temporarily closed due to asbestos. In 2013 council funding cuts meant it was taken over by a community group. There are plans for a 130-seat screen with digital projection and luxury chairs. The hall itself first opened on 28 February 1894.
Opened as White’s Palace in 1910 and became Barger’s Picture Palace four years later. It was enlarged in 1921 and a year later advertised for sale but failed to attract any buyers. It reopened as the Palace in 1923. The recent bingo operation closed in March 2013, along with the Milford Haven branch at the former Astoria, and it is unclear what the premises are being used for.
The Torch opened on 16 April 1977, although according to its website the first in-house production, Alan Ayckbourn’s Relatively Speaking, was not staged until that November. It was designed by Monty Minter and cost £500,000 to build. The redevelopment, which included the studio theatre, was completed in 2008 and appears to have cost ten times what the original had. The studio has a “moat” feature which when unused reduces the seating to 83.
The Oscar reopened in October 1973 with admission prices advertised at 40p. More info here: http://www.kildare.ie/library/ehistory/2013/01/new_oscar_provides_newbridge_w.asp. One source states the 3 screens did not arrive until 1990. When it closed in 2006 the last films to show were King Kong, The Chronicles of Narnia and Just Like Heaven. Michael Roycroft had made the decision some time previously in anticipation of the new cinema opening at the Whitewater Shopping Centre. Films are also shown at the Riverdale Arts Centre in Main Street once a week.
Was due to be auctioned off on 5.11.15 but according to reports appeared to be unsold as of April 2016. Maybe the hefty €1.75 million price tag has put developers off! Pictures of how it looks inside these days are at: http://www.dailyedge.ie/rathmines-stella-cinema-2682126-Mar2016/
The Phoenix opened in 1912 and closed in 1958 and was reportedly the first purpose-built cinema in Dublin. Photos here:
http://www.dublincity.ie/image/libraries/cin004-phoenix
http://www.dublincity.ie/image/libraries/cin003-phoenix
http://archiseek.com/2010/1912-phoenix-cinema-ellis-quay-dublin/
The “new” Metropole opened on 16 March 1972 (not 1964) and was renamed the Screen in the early 1980s. One source says 1980 another 1984, but more likely to be 1982 when three screens were created. The sculpture “Mr Screen” was made in 1988 by Vincent Browne. Staff were transferred to the Savoy after closure.
The original cinema was built in 1918 by two brothers John and James Houlihan. It was rebuilt twice, once in 1921 when destroyed by fire and again in 1938 when it was probably renamed Phoenix. During the rebuild vats were discovered under the ground believed to have been used in the tanning of leather in days gone by. It was also used as a dance hall and had a DVD rental shop at the front in more recent times. It has been reported that the original Italian projectors were run on energy provided by burning turf, but these days it has digital projection and Dolby sound. It was run by John Moore from the 1950s until 1979 when Michael O’Sullivan took over. He is remembered for introducing the Art Film Nights which are still running but he passed away in 2011. It is still a family-run business and is one of the main venues in the Dingle Film Festival. It currently seats 150 in stalls and balcony.
According to the Randalstown Historical Society here are the milestones of the cinema: 1935 – Cinema erected 1962 – Closed after being condemned over fire safety precautions 1963 – Reopened under new management 1969 – Destroyed by fire The building was demolished in the early 1970s and the site is now taken up by the pedestrian access to the viaduct footpath. The Elim Church is beside it.
The cinema initially closed in December 2013 but reopened in March 2014 showing classics like Dirty Dancing and E.T. of which there is more info on Facebook. This was for a limited period only as the cost of going digital wasn’t viable. It closed again in May 2014. Evidently it was run by one of the Rutherfords who own the Strand in Belfast.
The Unionist Hall stills screens films shown by the Fermanagh Film Society. The building is not actually on Town Hall Street as such but Shore Road according to Toy Town’s website.
Columbs was opened as a temperance hall in 1886 and was listed for film exhibition in the 1920s, although screenings have been somewhat on-and-off. Ian Dury & The Blockheads and Frank Carson are known to have appeared in the hall itself. The Magic Lantern Film Society set up by Alessandro Negrini started showing films in December 2007 starting with the Michael Moore documentary ‘Sicko’. The church sold off the building to the Garvan O'Doherty group in 2012 to overcome debts, and the main hall has become a banqueting centre and concert venue. There is nothing to suggest that films have been screened in the cinema since.
This now a 10-screen cinema. According to staff the extra screen was added about three years ago.
I have been advised by the local library that the cinema opened in 1932. On conversion, a cutting I have dated to April 1988 states the church was opening that week.
There are photos of the interior at this URL: http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/durham-palladium-theatre-cinema-14-10-07.t21496. With 30 years of dereliction it is debatable as to whether a church was actually using the cinema, perhaps the entrance hall if that.
The Regal reopened after tripling in Jan 1988 having spent IR£120,000 on the conversion. Pullman seating was for 290,175 and 79. Larry O’Keeffe bought the place from Ward Anderson in 1995 and turned it back into a theatre which closed in March 2001. It is now the Regal Centre and includes the Pet Planet store since October 2012 and Tangled Yarns. O'Keeffe’s furniture store is now at the back.
Was a cinema by 1930, proprietor Wyndham Lewis (West of England Cinemas) from 1950, full-time bingo from November 1983, church moved in 1986.
The cinema appears to have closed in summer 1984 after which it was Embassy Snooker. A fire occurred in the building in April 1991 although newspaper reports seem to suggest that the cinema or snooker were not affected. Maybe the hall lays back from the front.
Sad day! BTTF was voted for from a shortlist and shown at 1830. The regular films shown earlier in the day were Moana, Monster Trucks and Why Him? Full story at the following link with several photographs www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4084596/Curtain-comes-era-silver-screen-entertainment-89-years-giving-joy-millions-ABC-Cinema-killed-multiplex.html.
The Ormonde was originally run by Dan Crotty, a replacement for his earlier cinema, but was last in the hands of the Spurling family who closed it in 2005 and opened the SGC. It was refurbished in 1989 when it reopened with Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Licence to Kill. The site is understood to be now occupied by social housing. Architecture buffs can see more info about this building at www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=WA®no=22821080
The Palladium opened in 1932 but was destroyed by fire in September 1936. Rebuilt almost immediately and lasted until August 1990. Source: The Bann Disc, Coleraine Historical Society.
The Picture Palace opened in 1914 and was designed by J. S. Kennedy. Reconstructed in 1937, maybe as a result of the Palladium being rebuilt. Associated for some time with the Christie family.
In December 2016 the press reported that the cinema had temporarily closed due to asbestos. In 2013 council funding cuts meant it was taken over by a community group. There are plans for a 130-seat screen with digital projection and luxury chairs. The hall itself first opened on 28 February 1894.
The Pembroke Cinema opened about 1910 and was renamed Haggar’s after the outbreak of the Great War. Paddles appears to be still going.
Jayne Anderson and Sarah Kimpson opened the Astoria bar and restaurant in the former cinema on 2 October 2014.
Opened as White’s Palace in 1910 and became Barger’s Picture Palace four years later. It was enlarged in 1921 and a year later advertised for sale but failed to attract any buyers. It reopened as the Palace in 1923. The recent bingo operation closed in March 2013, along with the Milford Haven branch at the former Astoria, and it is unclear what the premises are being used for.
The Torch opened on 16 April 1977, although according to its website the first in-house production, Alan Ayckbourn’s Relatively Speaking, was not staged until that November. It was designed by Monty Minter and cost £500,000 to build. The redevelopment, which included the studio theatre, was completed in 2008 and appears to have cost ten times what the original had. The studio has a “moat” feature which when unused reduces the seating to 83.
The Oscar reopened in October 1973 with admission prices advertised at 40p. More info here: http://www.kildare.ie/library/ehistory/2013/01/new_oscar_provides_newbridge_w.asp. One source states the 3 screens did not arrive until 1990. When it closed in 2006 the last films to show were King Kong, The Chronicles of Narnia and Just Like Heaven. Michael Roycroft had made the decision some time previously in anticipation of the new cinema opening at the Whitewater Shopping Centre. Films are also shown at the Riverdale Arts Centre in Main Street once a week.
Was due to be auctioned off on 5.11.15 but according to reports appeared to be unsold as of April 2016. Maybe the hefty €1.75 million price tag has put developers off! Pictures of how it looks inside these days are at: http://www.dailyedge.ie/rathmines-stella-cinema-2682126-Mar2016/
The Phoenix opened in 1912 and closed in 1958 and was reportedly the first purpose-built cinema in Dublin. Photos here: http://www.dublincity.ie/image/libraries/cin004-phoenix http://www.dublincity.ie/image/libraries/cin003-phoenix http://archiseek.com/2010/1912-phoenix-cinema-ellis-quay-dublin/
According to Google Street View the property lies abandoned as of July 2014. The original frontage is no longer there.
The “new” Metropole opened on 16 March 1972 (not 1964) and was renamed the Screen in the early 1980s. One source says 1980 another 1984, but more likely to be 1982 when three screens were created. The sculpture “Mr Screen” was made in 1988 by Vincent Browne. Staff were transferred to the Savoy after closure.
The original cinema was built in 1918 by two brothers John and James Houlihan. It was rebuilt twice, once in 1921 when destroyed by fire and again in 1938 when it was probably renamed Phoenix. During the rebuild vats were discovered under the ground believed to have been used in the tanning of leather in days gone by. It was also used as a dance hall and had a DVD rental shop at the front in more recent times. It has been reported that the original Italian projectors were run on energy provided by burning turf, but these days it has digital projection and Dolby sound. It was run by John Moore from the 1950s until 1979 when Michael O’Sullivan took over. He is remembered for introducing the Art Film Nights which are still running but he passed away in 2011. It is still a family-run business and is one of the main venues in the Dingle Film Festival. It currently seats 150 in stalls and balcony.