Comments from Ian

Showing 1 - 25 of 1,764 comments

Ian
Ian commented about Guildhall Arts Centre on Feb 29, 2024 at 9:47 am

Film shows ceased when the Savoy Cinema opened.

Ian
Ian commented about Grand Theatre on Jan 6, 2024 at 6:41 am

The Grand was demolished in 2018, and has been replaced with shops and apartments. After Chicago Rock Cafe closed (when the group went into administration), it became a nightclub called Wonder Lounge which also closed suddenly in 2013.

Ian
Ian commented about Glenroyal Cinema on Dec 19, 2023 at 7:11 am

Hi Biffaskin,

I believe it is correct. All sources seem to agree on the date of opening (for example - in some detail):- Bradford Timeline

and Dawson does not seem to have started work until around 1922:- Manchester Architects

Perhaps it replaced an earlier cinema?

Ian
Ian commented about Odeon Halifax on Dec 15, 2023 at 4:04 am

An unlisted building on a large island site - the former Odeon must surely be at severe risk now.

Ian
Ian commented about Odeon London Covent Garden on Dec 12, 2023 at 3:09 am

Current views of the Odeon Covent Garden (December 2023) here:-

SCREEN 1

SCREEN 2

SCREEN 4

Ian
Ian commented about Grosvenor Cinema on Sep 27, 2023 at 4:14 am

Some photos, taken in September 2023 at the Open City event, of the cinema as the Zoroastrian Centre

EXTERIOR

FOYER

AUDITORIUM

CEILING

Ian
Ian commented about Piazza Cinema on Sep 4, 2023 at 6:21 am

The Summerland Complex was badly affected by RAAC (concrete cancer) and was scheduled to close at the end of 2003 - an ABBA tribute concert was the closing event on New Year’s Eve. Earlier, in October 2002, concrete blocks from the original complex were dislodged, and the Piazza Level was closed immediately as a safety precaution - a preview and subsequent run of “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” suddenly cancelled. After monitoring and movement indicators were put in place, the Piazza reopened for the final season in May 2003 (some other parts of Summerland had opened in December 2002). A delay in the refurbishment of Villa Marina, meant that Summerland was briefly put back into use in the February 2004 half-term for transferred events - I have not found any evidence, and think it’s unlikely, that the cinema was reused during this week. Internal stripping was started in 2005, but actual demolition (a few rear parts remain) took place January-March 2006.

Summerland ruins 2023

Ian
Ian commented about Olympia Variety Theatre on Aug 13, 2023 at 3:39 am

I came across the remains of the Olympia Theatre recently, and this should not be recorded as “demolished”. Woolworths converted the store with minimal alteration, later they demolished (circa 1970) the facade and foyer to put a modern entrance onto the store, as can be seen in the CT photos.

However, the auditorium, stage and dressing rooms survive, which can be seen by looking at google earth and my images here:-

side wall - old brickwork, former exit, upto stage

former dressing rooms and stage (altered to accommodate goods lift)

Talking to the manager - I was not allowed up - the warehouse at former balcony level retains the theatre ceiling and “some statues”, and what might be the balcony stepping.

Ian
Ian commented about Royal Cinema on Jul 7, 2023 at 1:47 pm

Empire Cinemas went into administration on 6th July 2023, so the prospect of this cinema reopening any time soon are now remote

Ian
Ian commented about Tivoli Theatre on Jul 4, 2023 at 2:09 am

The ‘last ever pantomime at the Tivoli’ (Snow White) took place in January 2019, and the theatre was demolished very soon after. It has been replaced by Tivoli Square, a mixed housing / retail development, but there does not appear to be a replacement theatre.

Ian
Ian commented about Palace Picture House on Jun 27, 2023 at 9:53 am

The 1954 Kinematograph Yearbook, shows the Palace (renamed Mayfair Junior) operating with 600 seats and a 28ft wide screen. I believe that the new Mayfair, designed by Joseph Gomersall, opened in June 1956, and this is when the ‘Junior’ - ex Palace - would have closed.

Ian
Ian commented about Mayfair Cinema on Jun 27, 2023 at 9:48 am

The cinema did not open in 1947, I have recently learned, but on the 5th June 1956 according to a newspaper report, supported by the 1954 Kinematograph Yearbook which lists as open, the Mayfair Junior (former Palace Cinema) which had been reopened following the original Mayfair’s destruction by fire in 1941. Rebuilding under wartime restrictions would probably not have been achievable by 1947. It closed (according to the same report) on 29th September 1994, having been twinned seemingly between 1974 and 1976.

Ian
Ian commented about Palace Cinema on Jun 24, 2023 at 4:19 am

The exterior still looks good - online images of the interior would seem to indicate that nothing remains from its cinema days

Portsmouth Astoria (former Palace)

Ian
Ian commented about Odeon Portsmouth on Jun 24, 2023 at 4:16 am

Sainsbury’s have gone, and it is now Minutka - a Polish deli - the building is in a very sorry state

former Odeon North End

Ian
Ian commented about New Classic Cinema on Jun 24, 2023 at 4:13 am

Appears in 2023 to have been disused for several years. The facade is covered by scaffolding, with some restoration (?) work done, but nothing looks recent.

former Majestic facade

Ian
Ian commented about Shaftesbury Cinema on Jun 24, 2023 at 4:09 am

It would appear in 2023 that the majority of the auditorium has been demolished and the residential / retail plans for the remainder are well advanced.

former Shaftesbury Cinema facade

Ian
Ian commented about Robert Burns Centre Film Theatre on May 12, 2023 at 2:35 am

Since the closure of the Odeon, The RBC Film Theatre has been the only regular cinema in the town, although the Loreburn Hall (a former drill hall, now an adaptable arts centre) sometimes screens films. Live transmissions also feature in the programming. It is often styled ‘Scotland’s smallest cinema’, and is an intimate & welcoming venue.

Some photos from 2023-:

RBC FILM THEATRE - Exterior (Mill Street)

RBC FILM THEATRE - Exterior (Riverside)

RBC FILM THEATRE - Auditorium to rear

RBC FILM THEATRE - Auditorium to screen

Ian
Ian commented about Everyman Broadgate on Apr 25, 2023 at 8:37 am

It is somewhat surprising to learn that the cinema is contained in a grade 2 listed building. 1 Finsbury Avenue was built as Speculative offices in 1982-4 by Arup Associates, Group 2 (Peter Foggo) for Rosehaugh Greycoat Estates Ltd. They were amongst the first of the post war development of this area and were listed in 2015. Unusually, there are areas specifically excluded, including:- * Aside from the essential structure, all internal fixtures and fittings are excluded from the listing. * Basement levels (where the cinemas are located), including the garage are excluded from the listing.

Photos from 2023:-

EVERYMAN CINEMA - Exterior

EVERYMAN CINEMA - Foyer

Ian
Ian commented about Phoenix Film & Digital Media Centre on Apr 24, 2023 at 2:33 am

In January 2023 a large extension opened, increasing the size of the café, adding a gallery interlinked with the screening room, a large roof terrace, and two addition cinema auditoria, each seating 65 and numbered 3 & 4. This gives the complex 4 permanent cinemas plus an adaptable multi-use screening room. The two original cinemas remain as built.

Photographs from April 2023:- EXTENSION EXTERIOR

SCREEN 3

CAFE

REVAMPED ENTRANCE

Ian
Ian commented about Embassy Cinema on Apr 21, 2023 at 3:03 am

No this one was definitely by Leslie H Kemp - there are records of him talking about the process of working with Shipman & King. Plasterwork and interior design were by Mollo & Egan.

Ian
Ian commented about Globe Theatre on Oct 19, 2022 at 9:21 am

Is this the theater used for the Veterans Reunion scene in the 2022 film “Amsterdam”?

Ian
Ian commented about Alhambra Palace Theatre on Oct 15, 2022 at 3:14 am

The Alhambra reopened in 2016 as a live music venue, hosting festivals and community events. Only the former stalls floor was restored after the 1970 fire, the upper levels have been abandoned, though the stage and tower were largely undamaged in the fire. There are no flat conversion plans at present.

Some photos from September 2022:-

ALHAMBRA THEATRE - Exterior

ALHAMBRA THEATRE - Main bar

ALHAMBRA THEATRE - former balcony

ALHAMBRA THEATRE - former stalls floor / nightclub

Ian
Ian commented about Regal Cinema on Sep 29, 2022 at 2:38 am

Some photos taken in September 2022 :-

REGAL GRIMSBY - foyer

REGAL GRIMSBY - auditorium

REGAL GRIMSBY - foyer

REGAL GRIMSBY - exterior