Here’s a nice video with some lovely exterior and interior shots of the cinema. Sadly, since merging with UCI (and a UCI general manager taking over) the screen tabs are no longer used as he deemes them “old fashioned”. Sigh. No taste some people!
Here are some video shots of the cinema in 1999, showing the circle in use under the Plaza operators on closing day in March 1999. The video clips are in two parts.
There was a big war which erupted between Plaza and Picturedrome in 1987 on who would have the main films for Port Talbot. It made all the front pages and Screen International (the trade press). There were London hearings and appeals, but in the end Plaza won the right to have “first pickings” or all new releases and after Plaza added extra screens in 1988, this finished of Picturedrome.
The difference being that Plaza was run by cinema people, Picturedrome was run by people that wanted to make a fast buck on the back of Plaza’s success. They also ran bingo as well as films, whereas Plaza was solely a film operation at the time.
I have a 2003 Wales This week 25 minute special on the Monico closing (it’s all in English). It’s similar to the one aired for years earlier about Plaza closing, but more solely about the Monico.
I’ll try and post it to my YouTube channel in the next few weeks and send a link here too.
The circle actually was restored and re-opened by Plaza Film Theatres for its' 85th birthday on July 28th 1998. I understand that the current operators no longer use the Circle, whcih is a shame and the sight lines from here are excellent.
Such an amazing cinema. Despite the lack of tabs and ornamental decor, it just seemed to have the right “feel”. The Empire Strikes Back was a highlight of my life here!
Ironically, the UCI at Parc Tawe was a HORRIBLE place but since rebranding as Odeon it’s so much nicer with decor and colour schemes that remind you of and Odeon, even if there are still no tabs. I find Vue very much sterile and horrible (pretty much like the old UCI) but for some reason the ODEON on Kingsway was magnificent – although being designed in the 1960s, it shouldn’t have been!
It was never called The Ritz cinema. It was sold to the group Nudge Leisure who intended to cease film operation and just have bingo (it was run as a dual bingo/cinema operation anyway).
the closure date had been announced as “sometime in the Summer of 1997” but after a furore in the local press they just decided to shut the doors suddenly one Saturday night after the showing of Castaway with Oliver Reed. The giant marquee poster saying “CAST AWAY” was very ominious and appropriate after that.
The theatre never was renowned for good on-screen presentation or management. In fact, it was very poorly run despite being enormously well patronised, right up to the end. They refused to follow the industry standards of changing films on Fridays, and continued with a Sunday to Saturday operation right to the end.
After the modification to bingo, the theatre then looked lovely. But no films anymore, sadly.
Here’s some scenes of the cinema from the film Coming Up Roses
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiaU3OrUf68
Here’s a nice video with some lovely exterior and interior shots of the cinema. Sadly, since merging with UCI (and a UCI general manager taking over) the screen tabs are no longer used as he deemes them “old fashioned”. Sigh. No taste some people!
View link
Here are some video shots of the cinema in 1999, showing the circle in use under the Plaza operators on closing day in March 1999. The video clips are in two parts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKfGsxiipYc
View link
Here are some video links of Plaza.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5KJl_FsP9k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlL64d3kypo
View link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz2R60oXgaE
There was a big war which erupted between Plaza and Picturedrome in 1987 on who would have the main films for Port Talbot. It made all the front pages and Screen International (the trade press). There were London hearings and appeals, but in the end Plaza won the right to have “first pickings” or all new releases and after Plaza added extra screens in 1988, this finished of Picturedrome.
The difference being that Plaza was run by cinema people, Picturedrome was run by people that wanted to make a fast buck on the back of Plaza’s success. They also ran bingo as well as films, whereas Plaza was solely a film operation at the time.
Hi Sean,
I have a 2003 Wales This week 25 minute special on the Monico closing (it’s all in English). It’s similar to the one aired for years earlier about Plaza closing, but more solely about the Monico.
I’ll try and post it to my YouTube channel in the next few weeks and send a link here too.
Alex
The circle actually was restored and re-opened by Plaza Film Theatres for its' 85th birthday on July 28th 1998. I understand that the current operators no longer use the Circle, whcih is a shame and the sight lines from here are excellent.
Such an amazing cinema. Despite the lack of tabs and ornamental decor, it just seemed to have the right “feel”. The Empire Strikes Back was a highlight of my life here!
Ironically, the UCI at Parc Tawe was a HORRIBLE place but since rebranding as Odeon it’s so much nicer with decor and colour schemes that remind you of and Odeon, even if there are still no tabs. I find Vue very much sterile and horrible (pretty much like the old UCI) but for some reason the ODEON on Kingsway was magnificent – although being designed in the 1960s, it shouldn’t have been!
It was never called The Ritz cinema. It was sold to the group Nudge Leisure who intended to cease film operation and just have bingo (it was run as a dual bingo/cinema operation anyway).
the closure date had been announced as “sometime in the Summer of 1997” but after a furore in the local press they just decided to shut the doors suddenly one Saturday night after the showing of Castaway with Oliver Reed. The giant marquee poster saying “CAST AWAY” was very ominious and appropriate after that.
The theatre never was renowned for good on-screen presentation or management. In fact, it was very poorly run despite being enormously well patronised, right up to the end. They refused to follow the industry standards of changing films on Fridays, and continued with a Sunday to Saturday operation right to the end.
After the modification to bingo, the theatre then looked lovely. But no films anymore, sadly.