Albert Winstanley was born in Scotland in 1876. He was initially employed in a practice led by Arnold England but soon had his own company with offices at 49 Deansgate Manchester and in Lytham St Annes. From 1919 to 1928 Charles Hamilton Mackeith was his assisant. To the above list can be added a rebuild of the Art Picture Theatre New Mills(1921). He died in 1943.
The architect, Albert Winstanley, designed several cinema and theatre buildings, mainly in the North West of England, and few of which survive today. Amongst his projects were Grand Lancaster (1908); Queens Carlisle (1909); Empire Fleetwood (1909); Theatre Royal Whitehaven (1909); Queens Castleford (1909); Lyceum Crewe (1911); Art Bury (1911); Playhouse Wakefield (1913); Savoy Romiley (1934).
The official histories of this theatre state that it was converted from a 1908 hotel in 1914, which I find hard to believe. The structure in 2007 presents NO evidence that it was ever anything but a cinema. I would have expected to see blocked up windows and doors, but there is no trace of this in the external walls of the auditorium. If it was a hotel before, then it must have largely been demolished. Internally too, there is no evidence that this was ever anything but a purpose built cinema.
This used to be my local cinema in the 1970’s & 80’s and was always a favourite.
What is so lovely now is the “kick-in-the-teeth” to all those who said the cinema was unviable / an eyesore / past its sell-by date! Just look at the programme of films – and the majority of them are SOLD OUT! How many cinemas can say that?
More photos here.
Exterior:-
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Interior:-
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Here is a 2004 night view of the Odeon :–
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The Palace Theatre Malton was another backwards theatre as was the ABC / Regal Torquay.
/theaters/3195/
Albert Winstanley was born in Scotland in 1876. He was initially employed in a practice led by Arnold England but soon had his own company with offices at 49 Deansgate Manchester and in Lytham St Annes. From 1919 to 1928 Charles Hamilton Mackeith was his assisant. To the above list can be added a rebuild of the Art Picture Theatre New Mills(1921). He died in 1943.
The architect, Albert Winstanley, designed several cinema and theatre buildings, mainly in the North West of England, and few of which survive today. Amongst his projects were Grand Lancaster (1908); Queens Carlisle (1909); Empire Fleetwood (1909); Theatre Royal Whitehaven (1909); Queens Castleford (1909); Lyceum Crewe (1911); Art Bury (1911); Playhouse Wakefield (1913); Savoy Romiley (1934).
Photos, all from 1988 can be found here:
Exterior:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/375549826/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/375549828/
Upper foyer area:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/375553284/
Side boxes:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/375549823/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/375553292/
Stage and proscenium:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/375553294/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/375553297/
Auditorium from stage:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/375553289/
Here is a photo of the principal screen – former circle – taken in 1988:–
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/375591700/
Two interior photo’s – also from 1988 – here:
Upper foyer (inside the front windows):-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/375591704/
Auditorium:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/375591701/
Photo of the Odeon Kemp Town in use as a church in 1985/6, shortly before demolition:–
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/374513033/
Two photos of the (somewhat seedy) auditorium in 1988. It has been refurbished significantly since then!
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/374513027/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/374513028/
More photo’s of the Brighton ABC (under Cannon) here:
Exterior:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/374503284/
Screen 1:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/374503282/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/374503280/
Restaurant or Dance Hall:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/374503278/
More photos of the Astoria as a bingo hall and a rare image (scanned) of the original appearance here:–
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/374507660/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/374507655/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/374507654/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/374507651/
More exterior photos here:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/374330652/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/374330649/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/374330647/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/374330646/
Photograph of the Odeon in 2005, as a Mecca bingo hall:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/17995694/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/374326004/
and one of the Screen curtains and modernised (1960’s!) proscenium:–
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/371013990/
Photos taken in 1988 here:
Exterior:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/373370361/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/373370358/
Interior (fronts stalls area):-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/373370356/
Photographs taken in 1988 here
Exterior:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/373377987/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/373377986/
Interior:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/373377982/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/373377980/
Exterior photograph here:–
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/350405370/
Two internal pictures here from 1988 as a bingo hall-
Former screen end:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/373390842/
Circle area:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/373390839/
Two interior photographs of the Camberwell Regal/ABC taken in 1988, when it was operating as a bingo hall.
Proscenium:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/365981534/
Circle:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/365981532/
Up-to-date (2007) photographs of this lovely and historic cinema are here:
Exterior:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/369963591/
Foyer:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/369963589/
Auditorium:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/369963587/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/369963583/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/369963582/
The official histories of this theatre state that it was converted from a 1908 hotel in 1914, which I find hard to believe. The structure in 2007 presents NO evidence that it was ever anything but a cinema. I would have expected to see blocked up windows and doors, but there is no trace of this in the external walls of the auditorium. If it was a hotel before, then it must have largely been demolished. Internally too, there is no evidence that this was ever anything but a purpose built cinema.
Sad photo’s of the derelict Lounge in 2007 here:–
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/369952124/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/369952121/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/369952119/
Current (2007) photos of the Cottage road cinema here:
Foyer:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/369959173/
Auditorium:–
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/369959167/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/369959163/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/369959162/
This used to be my local cinema in the 1970’s & 80’s and was always a favourite.
What is so lovely now is the “kick-in-the-teeth” to all those who said the cinema was unviable / an eyesore / past its sell-by date! Just look at the programme of films – and the majority of them are SOLD OUT! How many cinemas can say that?
Pre-restoration pictures can be seen here:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/365799104/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/92192258/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/365799100/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/365799102/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/365799103/