Was up in Edinburgh this weekend, and took time out to visit the former Caley Picture House. What a fabulous and stunning conversion by JD Wetherspoon in retaining a nod to it’s past cinema status.
We had the press screening for ‘On The Buses’ at the Apollo. I was the assistant manager at the time and spent that afternoon chauffeuring Reg Varney around Manchester City centre.
Hi Mike (Blakemore)
You missed the bit off about having responsibility for making the brews. I always made sure mine tasted terrible, so I got off lightly most of the time.
Lol.
Hello triac505
What a scary character that Mancini chap was, always seemed to be in a bad temper, and had no patience whatsoever.
Can you recall the rough date of that re-fit? and where you around when I was there?
Worked here as relief manager for a number of months in 1969. Broke the house box office record (like a lot did) with ‘Till Death Us Do Part’ and still have the congratulatory letter from the MD. R.A.Webster. Happy Days!
Hi Doug, (dgcarter63) Long time no speak! David and I met up last year for a chinwag. Whats this about a photo of you coming out of the circle foyer LADIES toilet!…erm. Let me have your email address for a one to one. You will find mine a couple of posts along. Derick (not Derek)
I owned (Leasehold) and ran this twin screen cinema from 1995 to Nov 2004. Just prior to the Trafford Centre opening we invested £20k in new carpet, seats, decor, foyer upgrade/repaint and a new FOH signbox with new logo’s. We also extended the programme to 4 shows daily per screen at weekends, school and bank hols. We maintained first run product and, due to sensible pricing levels at the box office and kiosk, retained a loyal family audience. The building fabric (and 14 separate flat roofs) was a concern when I took over and was costing a fortune to maintain, making the business somewhat unprofitable and eventually non-viable.
abcman – I worked there also as a T/A/M under Ken Pickering around that time. We also had Dennis Davidson as A/M. At that time we were playing ‘Where Eagles Dare’ which ran for 26 weeks. Perhaps we crossed paths? my contact email is
I was the last ever Manager of this cinema when it closed in 1973. We held an after the show staff party in the foyer area on the last night. It was a sad night but a great party. I spent the next two weeks clearing and transfering stocks etc to other sites before the final boarding-up process. Following this I went on relief duties to other ABC Cinemas in the area.
I worked at the Apollo as Assistant Manager under Ken Cooper, someone I will always consider my mentor, in the 70’s. It was by far my favourite cinema and I loved the proscenium arch with it’s changing colours. Those changing rooms below stage could tell a few stories!
Hi all, Just found this site this evening and recognise a lot of the names from various posts. DELBOY, please reveal yourself, you seem to know a lot about my past!. The story about the Savoy Sale ice cream girl is entirely accurate, and thank you for calling me a ‘splendid bloke’
I would love to hear from anyone who may remember me from either Eccles, Sale, Stockport, Ardwick, Broughton or Deansgate during the 60’s.
I have emailed David Stirzaker and sent him a photo of our days at Eccles, as well as David and me the photo also shows Kevin Utley, who was the Manager, D.Carter A/M and a Ken (surname escapes me)T/M.
Was up in Edinburgh this weekend, and took time out to visit the former Caley Picture House. What a fabulous and stunning conversion by JD Wetherspoon in retaining a nod to it’s past cinema status.
We had the press screening for ‘On The Buses’ at the Apollo. I was the assistant manager at the time and spent that afternoon chauffeuring Reg Varney around Manchester City centre.
Hi, Peter, Good to hear from you again. Just seen your comments. Are you still in the business?
Hi Mike (Blakemore) You missed the bit off about having responsibility for making the brews. I always made sure mine tasted terrible, so I got off lightly most of the time. Lol.
Ray, correction, it’s 17 posts down.
Ray, about a dozen posts down you’ll see my email address. Send me yours and I’ll send some photos across.
Ray (Millington) Can you recall when, roughly, you worked at the Apollo and the Ritz Stockport?
Welcome to Cinema Treasures Ray.Apologies, but my memory is a little vague ref the Projection personnel.
Hi David, about time we had another meet up!
Wish I’d known about that ploy in those days Terry, he used to terrify us poor assistant managers.
Hi again triac505. I was there in 1968, Kevin Utley was the manager. After that I moved on to the ABC Deansgate. email me at and I will send a photo.
I did relief projectionist duties here in 1964. Zulu was screening.
Hello triac505 What a scary character that Mancini chap was, always seemed to be in a bad temper, and had no patience whatsoever. Can you recall the rough date of that re-fit? and where you around when I was there?
Cheers Don, I will email you.
Worked here as relief manager for a number of months in 1969. Broke the house box office record (like a lot did) with ‘Till Death Us Do Part’ and still have the congratulatory letter from the MD. R.A.Webster. Happy Days!
I remember that Wimpy Bar, food was awful, and it was run by some female dragon whose name escapes me.
I remember that Wimpy Bar, food was awful, and it was run by some female dragon whose name escapes me.
Hi Doug, (dgcarter63) Long time no speak! David and I met up last year for a chinwag. Whats this about a photo of you coming out of the circle foyer LADIES toilet!…erm. Let me have your email address for a one to one. You will find mine a couple of posts along. Derick (not Derek)
I owned (Leasehold) and ran this twin screen cinema from 1995 to Nov 2004. Just prior to the Trafford Centre opening we invested £20k in new carpet, seats, decor, foyer upgrade/repaint and a new FOH signbox with new logo’s. We also extended the programme to 4 shows daily per screen at weekends, school and bank hols. We maintained first run product and, due to sensible pricing levels at the box office and kiosk, retained a loyal family audience. The building fabric (and 14 separate flat roofs) was a concern when I took over and was costing a fortune to maintain, making the business somewhat unprofitable and eventually non-viable.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/business-news/curzon-keeps-on-reeling-the-cinema-fans-1119243
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/show-goes-on-in-shadow-of-multiplex-1137912
Spent a couple of very happy years at this cinema, initially as third projectionist and later as assistant manager to the manager Mike Ronan.
abcman – I worked there also as a T/A/M under Ken Pickering around that time. We also had Dennis Davidson as A/M. At that time we were playing ‘Where Eagles Dare’ which ran for 26 weeks. Perhaps we crossed paths? my contact email is
I was the last ever Manager of this cinema when it closed in 1973. We held an after the show staff party in the foyer area on the last night. It was a sad night but a great party. I spent the next two weeks clearing and transfering stocks etc to other sites before the final boarding-up process. Following this I went on relief duties to other ABC Cinemas in the area.
I worked at the Apollo as Assistant Manager under Ken Cooper, someone I will always consider my mentor, in the 70’s. It was by far my favourite cinema and I loved the proscenium arch with it’s changing colours. Those changing rooms below stage could tell a few stories!
Hi all, Just found this site this evening and recognise a lot of the names from various posts. DELBOY, please reveal yourself, you seem to know a lot about my past!. The story about the Savoy Sale ice cream girl is entirely accurate, and thank you for calling me a ‘splendid bloke’
I would love to hear from anyone who may remember me from either Eccles, Sale, Stockport, Ardwick, Broughton or Deansgate during the 60’s.
I have emailed David Stirzaker and sent him a photo of our days at Eccles, as well as David and me the photo also shows Kevin Utley, who was the Manager, D.Carter A/M and a Ken (surname escapes me)T/M.
My personal email is