Comments from MappMan

Showing 1 - 25 of 45 comments

MappMan
MappMan commented about Wirksworth Cinema on Sep 3, 2024 at 5:28 pm

Plans to convert it into apartments rejected by local council.

MappMan
MappMan commented about Queens Cinema on Aug 22, 2024 at 12:15 pm

Planning permission given to new developers to demolish the building and replace it with student accomodation.

MappMan
MappMan commented about Grand Theatre on Jul 1, 2024 at 4:51 pm

Due to be auctioned in July 2024.

MappMan
MappMan commented about Picture House on Jun 22, 2023 at 3:41 pm

Planning permission has been given to convert part of the building into apartments.

MappMan
MappMan commented about St. George's Cinema on Jun 22, 2023 at 3:34 pm

No-Match has moved out and Kendal Vapes is about to move in.

MappMan
MappMan commented about Dreamland Cinema on Jan 10, 2023 at 9:26 pm

“Empire of Light” has just opened in the UK and features some stunning photography of the interior, foyer and exterior. Also the projection box, but this may be a studio set. Looks genuine, though. Sadly the plot is pretty banal but if you can take your mind off it the visuals are very rewarding.

MappMan
MappMan commented about Cosy Cinema on Sep 13, 2022 at 1:13 pm

Plans submitted August 2022 to convert building into apartments.

MappMan
MappMan commented about Palace Cinema on Aug 5, 2022 at 2:44 pm

The building now has a plaque giving a brief history of the Cinema.

MappMan
MappMan commented about St. George's Cinema on Aug 4, 2022 at 11:58 am

No-Match still occupies the ground floor but the entrance on the left now houses a barber shop.

MappMan
MappMan commented about Cinema on Aug 4, 2022 at 11:52 am

Jim Watson in his books “Lakeland towns” (1992) and “My lakeland” (2022) mentions the Embassy Cinema occupying the former Acme House at the northern junction of Crescent Road and Main Street. The building now houses Brown Sugar, a restaurant and bar.

MappMan
MappMan commented about Alhambra Cinema on Aug 3, 2022 at 4:39 pm

There’s a detailed history of the cinema on the Alhambra’s website https://www.keswickalhambra.co.uk/history

MappMan
MappMan commented about Highbury Cinema on Apr 9, 2022 at 2:38 pm

Now a branch of McColl’s convenience stores - April 2022.

MappMan
MappMan commented about Odeon Temple Fortune on Mar 8, 2022 at 10:06 pm

It can be seen in the background of a couple of scenes in an episode of “Dial 999” (“Mechanical watchman”, 1958) with Odeon Temple Fortune clearly visible on the side wall.

MappMan
MappMan commented about Pullman Cinema on Dec 13, 2021 at 8:09 pm

The exterior can be seen in a 1959 episode of the “Scotland Yard” tv series (“The Dover Road Mystery”) when one of the criminals leaves the cinema. There’s also a shot of the foyer as the cashier signals to waiting police that the suspected criminal has left the building.

MappMan
MappMan commented about Savoy Cinematograph Hall on Oct 7, 2021 at 3:49 pm

Opened as the Darncombe Kinema in 1910 by Harold E Buxton and Fred Hargeaves.

MappMan
MappMan commented about Odeon Lewisham on Feb 6, 2021 at 2:43 pm

Exterior of the then Gaumont Palace is visible in the background as Annette Whiteley wanders aimlessly along Lewisham High Street at night in “Girl on approval” (1962).

MappMan
MappMan commented about Cannon Lewisham on Feb 6, 2021 at 2:35 pm

In “Girl on approval” (1962)James Maxwell and Annette Whiteley pay a visit to the Cannon when it was known as the Rex and was showing a double bill of “Watch it, sailor” (1961) and “Treasure of Monte Cristo” (1949). Shots of exterior, foyer and box office (including uniformed commissionaire and ticket prices). Also includes shots of cinema cafe. Exterior also appears later when the double bill has changed to “The absent-minded professor” (1961) and “The horsemasters” (1961).

MappMan
MappMan commented about Clifton Cinema on Feb 4, 2021 at 4:33 pm

Clifton Picture House (York) Ltd was registered in 1936 to acquire property at Town Street, Clifton, from Jack Prendergast for the purpose of erecting a kinematograph theatre. He and William Tomlinson Mawson (a corporate accountant) were named as directors. It was opened in November 1937 by the Clifton Cinema Company Ltd, with Jack Prendergast “in control”. Percy Bedford was the manager, R M Morsley the assistant manager and Mawson the company chairman. Prendergast and Mawson were both listed as proprietors in 1944. It closed as a cinema in October 1964, reopening as the Clifton Bingo Club. Jack Prendergast’s son, Patrick (Lancaster 1924-1985 Grimston, York), a “trainee cinema operator” in 1939, became manager, while his own son, Jonathan, managed the adjacent Clifton Club. Now known as Clifton Bingo and owned by Clifton Bingo Club Ltd, whose directors are Jonathan and his brother, Jeremy.

MappMan
MappMan commented about Rialto Cinema on Feb 4, 2021 at 4:30 pm

Built in 1909 as the New City Skating Rink, it was later renamed the Palace Skating Rink. In 1911 - now the City Roller Skating Rink - it was offered fo sale or rent, the owners claiming it would make a fine Picture Show [sic] or Billiard Saloon or both. It was described as having a fine frontage and being substantially built - the building’s dimensions were 227ft by 98ft. In 1924 it was known as the City Cinema and by 1927, the Casino. The proprietor was Lloyd Forsyth, a Folkestone based entrepreneur who had earlier advertised that he wanted to rent “a large skating rink, dance hall or very large kinema preferably in the north.” Renamed the Rialto Cinema, it was gutted by fire on 6 April 1935 with only the shell of the building left standing. Films in a fireproof box were untouched, however. It was speedily rebuilt and reopened on 25 November 1935. The proprietors during this period were Jack Prendergast (John Barry’s father) and J E Winder. In 1961 the cinema (which incorporated a large ballroom) was sold to Mecca (Dancing) Ltd who ran it as a Mecca Bingo and Social Club.

MappMan
MappMan commented about Regent Cinema on Jan 22, 2021 at 4:09 pm

Building started in 1928 but wasn’t completed until 1934.

MappMan
MappMan commented about Gaiety Cinema on Jan 19, 2021 at 2:58 pm

Managing Director at one time was Pentland Hick who bought the Central Cinema, Pickering, from Jack Prendergast in 1960.

MappMan
MappMan commented about Central Cinema on Jan 19, 2021 at 2:51 pm

Owned by Jack Prendergast (father of film composer John Barry) and sold to Pentland Hick (managing director of Gaiety Cinema, Scarborough) in 1960.

MappMan
MappMan commented about Bonington Theatre on Nov 28, 2020 at 4:05 pm

Originally a theatre and performance space forming part of Arnold Leisure Centre (other components include a swimming pool and library) which was built in 1963-64 and remodelled in 1983. A digital projection system with 5:1 surround sound was installed in 2015 and feature films are now shown on a regular basis. 178 seats (in pre-Covid days) - reduced to 24. Operated by Gedling Borough Council and referred to on its publicity leaflets as the Bonington Cinema.

MappMan
MappMan commented about Roscoe Picture House on Sep 30, 2020 at 11:25 am

Hall and Fenton was the architectural practice commissioned to design the New Roscoe.

MappMan
MappMan commented about Adelphi Picture Theatre on Sep 30, 2020 at 11:22 am

The architect was William Carter Fenton (1861-1959). Alderman and Lord Mayor of Sheffield. Former Corporation Chief Building and Architectural Surveyor before establishing the architectural practice of Hall and Fenton.