Comments from Derick Moss

Showing 23 comments

Derick Moss
Derick Moss commented about Caley Picture House on Apr 7, 2024 at 8:42 am

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.

Derick Moss
Derick Moss commented about O2 Apollo Manchester on Jan 4, 2024 at 11:40 am

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.

Derick Moss
Derick Moss commented about Curzon Cinema on Apr 11, 2020 at 2:32 pm

Hi, Peter, Good to hear from you again. Just seen your comments. Are you still in the business?

Derick Moss
Derick Moss commented about ABC Eccles on Jul 4, 2018 at 8:42 am

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.

Derick Moss
Derick Moss commented about ABC Eccles on Nov 23, 2016 at 4:14 am

Ray, correction, it’s 17 posts down.

Derick Moss
Derick Moss commented about ABC Eccles on Nov 23, 2016 at 4:11 am

Ray, about a dozen posts down you’ll see my email address. Send me yours and I’ll send some photos across.

Derick Moss
Derick Moss commented about ABC Eccles on Nov 21, 2016 at 2:47 pm

Ray (Millington) Can you recall when, roughly, you worked at the Apollo and the Ritz Stockport?

Derick Moss
Derick Moss commented about ABC Eccles on Oct 31, 2016 at 4:09 pm

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!

Derick Moss
Derick Moss commented about ABC Eccles on Sep 28, 2016 at 12:04 pm

Wish I’d known about that ploy in those days Terry, he used to terrify us poor assistant managers.

Derick Moss
Derick Moss commented about ABC Eccles on Sep 28, 2016 at 3:38 am

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.

Derick Moss
Derick Moss commented about Essoldo Collyhurst on Aug 29, 2016 at 4:11 pm

I did relief projectionist duties here in 1964. Zulu was screening.

Derick Moss
Derick Moss commented about ABC Eccles on Jul 9, 2016 at 3:36 pm

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?

Derick Moss
Derick Moss commented about ABC Eccles on May 31, 2015 at 8:55 am

Cheers Don, I will email you.

Derick Moss
Derick Moss commented about Tameside Hippodrome Theatre on Mar 29, 2015 at 12:33 pm

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!

Derick Moss
Derick Moss commented about O2 Apollo Manchester on Jul 23, 2014 at 7:08 pm

I remember that Wimpy Bar, food was awful, and it was run by some female dragon whose name escapes me.

Derick Moss
Derick Moss commented about Ardwick Picture Theatre on Jul 23, 2014 at 7:02 pm

I remember that Wimpy Bar, food was awful, and it was run by some female dragon whose name escapes me.

Derick Moss
Derick Moss commented about ABC Eccles on Jun 28, 2014 at 5:56 am

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)

Derick Moss
Derick Moss commented about Curzon Cinema on May 28, 2013 at 7:24 pm

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

Derick Moss
Derick Moss commented about Ritz Cinema on Apr 23, 2013 at 7:12 pm

Spent a couple of very happy years at this cinema, initially as third projectionist and later as assistant manager to the manager Mike Ronan.

Derick Moss
Derick Moss commented about Cannon Deansgate on Apr 23, 2013 at 6:50 pm

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

Derick Moss
Derick Moss commented about ABC Broughton on Apr 23, 2013 at 6:24 pm

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.

Derick Moss
Derick Moss commented about O2 Apollo Manchester on Apr 23, 2013 at 5:56 pm

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!

Derick Moss
Derick Moss commented about ABC Eccles on Apr 23, 2013 at 5:38 pm

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