1935 Photo of Newport Pagnell’s ‘Electric Theatre’ as it was originally conceived. Billboards cover the bay windows of the original house. The main feature being advertised is ‘Car of Dreams’ starring John Mills and Grete Mosheim. The second feature is Claude Rains in ‘The Clairvoyant.’
The Electra sometimes also hosted stage performances. Here is a flyer advertising a performance of Handel’s Messiah, by the Newport Pagnell Choral Society, in May 1949.
The Electric Theatre conversion was carried out, and opened in 1912, by Joseph Salmons, the owner of Salmons & Sons Coachworks, (later to become Aston Martin) for the recreation of his employees and their families. Entering the Electra felt less like a cinema foyer, and more like passing through someone’s front room, which in essence it was.
It is recorded that part of the building was also used as the motor work’s trim-shop.
The only available photo of the building which once housed ‘The Ideal Cinema’ on Clive Street, Bolton. (As far as I know.) Seen here, ironically, through the skeleton of the new ‘Lido Cinema’ being built on Bradshawgate. This shows the building converted into the motor-trade premises of ‘Arnold Kay Garage Ltd.’ The building burnt down in 1980, and was demolished.
With the main house gone, and only the stage and Fly-Tower left, this is a closeup of the much vaunted ‘Venetian Frieze.’ Obviously, whoever painted it had never been to Venice or consulted any reference material! A nice touch, nonetheless.
The Lido in ABC trim, 1997, showing ‘Air Force One’ ‘Austin Powers, International Man of Mystery,’ (which wasn’t all going to fit on the marquee,) ‘Spawn’ and ‘Men in Black.’
Main entrance photo of The Carlton advertising a live-streaming of the upcoming 1952 Grand National, from Aintree.
The main feature being advertised is ‘A Place in the Sun,’ starring Montgomery Clift, Elizabeth Taylor and Shelley Winters.
As of 2025, following a major refurbishment, the building is returned to its original name. It now operates as The Palace Ballroom.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Au_god4GmFM
In recent years this premises has seen various changes.
Operating principally as a children’s play-zone, under the names:
Tumble Jungle, Funky Monkies Playhouse and Tiger Tumbles Playhouse, it has since 2020 become a dojo for the Gracie Barra, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu franchise.
Here is a more accurate version of this building’s history: The Empire Cinema was built by The Westhoughton Entertainment Company, and opened on ‘Empire Day’ May 24th 1915. It showed only silent films to begin with. The first manager, Jack Watkinson, was killed during WW1 and it was later run by the Clegg family. Edward (Ted) Clegg managed the house, his wife did Box Office and their son, Stanley, operated the shows. In August of 1930, Talking Pictures were introduced, using the Vitaphone Sound-on-Disc system. The premier feature was ‘The Desert Song.’ The main problem was that trams, negotiating the points outside the building, caused the needle to skip on the 33⅓ rpm discs, requiring the sound to be manually resynchronised each time. When optical-sound became available, the Vitaphone system was replaced by a British Thompson Houston Reproducer system.
Almost directly following the building closing as a cinema, the main entrance was bricked up and it reopened as The Casino Club. This, then became The Gaiety Theatre Club. The Gaiety’s main claim to fame was the one-week residency of Jayne Mansfield in cabaret. Eventually, the club scene waned and, during the UK’s second, big TV snooker revival, when both Tony Knowles and John Spencer had successful halls in the Bolton area, this ex-cinema found yet another use. Refurbished and rigged out with 15 modern tables, it was a reasonably successful Snooker Club until that fad also faded. The fixtures and fittings were then sold off, and the premises stood empty for several years. The small shops, either side of the facade, continued in business as a pizza/kebab shop and gent’s barber shop, respectively. In 2014 the building was purchased by Hindley based developers, Littler & Associates. It was then demolished and plans submitted for a small housing development. The application was refused. A modified plan was then submitted, which addressed the previous objections, but this application, too, was refused. During most of this time, the shop premises to the immediate right of the site had operated, under various names, as Westhoughton’s main Off Licence, drinks retailer. This closed, due to competition from nearby supermarkets, and then became a pet shop. The pet shop then gave way to a continental style bar; ‘The Beer School.’ This did good business until hit by the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic regulations. Being only a small premises, with little more than standing room, it faced closure for the duration, unless it could come up with a way around the regulations. So in the summer of 2020 the adjacent derelict cinema site was outfitted as a beer garden. With rough tables and benches, it is still used for this purpose during the summer months.
The Robert Shaw pub, operated by the Wetherspoons chain, is not across the road in a converted bank, as stated, but further along Market Street in a converted Co-op supermarket. A certain amount of TV and cinema memorabilia is on display inside. On 9th February 2025, The Robert Shaw pub was visited by the late actor’s son, Ian Shaw, whilst he was in Manchester appearing in a legacy version of ‘Jaws’ at The Lowry Theatre.
Following the closure of this building as a leisure venue, both the ‘Forum’ name, along with the theatre and cinema facilities, were transplanted to The Forum Theatre at Wythenshawe Civic Centre, Leningrad Square, Simonsway. It opened on 3rd November 1971 and became, amongst other things, an extension for Manchester’s Library Theatre. As part of a major refurbishment, in the mid 2000s, the theatre was later ripped out and replaced by a dance studio and gym. The following photos are copyright: Ian Grundy.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/49551727776/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/49551727811/in/photostream/
July 1960, showing the main feature ‘13 Ghosts’ starring Charles Herbert & Jo Morrow. B support is the 1958 film noir ‘Screaming Mimi’ starring Anita Ekberg & Gypsy Rose Lee.
‘New Deansgate House’ was originally built by The Co-operative movement, as overflow accomodation for its growing presence in the city. It replaced The Deansgate Arcade. Built in the Co-op’s house style, of the time, the name continued their policy for naming many of their new-builds, across the country, as ‘New ****** House.’ The closest example, at the time, being New Century House. The ground floor, front, included a Co-op store. The letting off, of the ‘lower-ground floor’ helped finance the build. The following url is to a Manchester Libraries photo.
https://images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=4393&reftable=ecatalogue&refirn=4821
When the Co-op vacated the building it was renamed International House and the store became occupied by Fine Art Developments, of Holmes Chapel, trading as FADS. Since that company’s demise, the frontage has been split into various catering establishments.
Whilst the cinema existed there was also access at the rear, onto Parsonage Gardens.
A much more detailed history of the building, along with some wonderful photos, is available here: https://www.visitmanchester.com/ideas-and-inspiration/blog/read/2019/10/delving-into-the-history-of-the-dancehouse-manchester-discover-more-about-the-past-of-this-impressive-building-on-oxford-road-b996
1935 Photo of Newport Pagnell’s ‘Electric Theatre’ as it was originally conceived. Billboards cover the bay windows of the original house. The main feature being advertised is ‘Car of Dreams’ starring John Mills and Grete Mosheim. The second feature is Claude Rains in ‘The Clairvoyant.’
The Electra sometimes also hosted stage performances. Here is a flyer advertising a performance of Handel’s Messiah, by the Newport Pagnell Choral Society, in May 1949.
1982 photo of the cinema’s owner, Miss Salmons, cutting the cake at the 70 year celebration party.
The Electric Theatre conversion was carried out, and opened in 1912, by Joseph Salmons, the owner of Salmons & Sons Coachworks, (later to become Aston Martin) for the recreation of his employees and their families. Entering the Electra felt less like a cinema foyer, and more like passing through someone’s front room, which in essence it was. It is recorded that part of the building was also used as the motor work’s trim-shop.
The only available photo of the building which once housed ‘The Ideal Cinema’ on Clive Street, Bolton. (As far as I know.) Seen here, ironically, through the skeleton of the new ‘Lido Cinema’ being built on Bradshawgate. This shows the building converted into the motor-trade premises of ‘Arnold Kay Garage Ltd.’ The building burnt down in 1980, and was demolished.
2006 photo, from the same POV as the scaffolding shot, showing the fully cleared site in preparation for the new build apartment block.
A wide-shot of the proscenium, with the stage fully stripped out in preparation for the dropping of the Fly-tower.
With the main house gone, and only the stage and Fly-Tower left, this is a closeup of the much vaunted ‘Venetian Frieze.’ Obviously, whoever painted it had never been to Venice or consulted any reference material! A nice touch, nonetheless.
2006 photo of The Lido looking in a sorry state. The building is fully scaffolded and the ‘soft strip’ is well under way.
The Lido in ABC trim, 1997, showing ‘Air Force One’ ‘Austin Powers, International Man of Mystery,’ (which wasn’t all going to fit on the marquee,) ‘Spawn’ and ‘Men in Black.’
The Lido in its Cannon 1-2-3 trim. Photo taken 1996, showing ‘Loch Ness’ ‘Babe’ and ‘Father of the Bride 2.
This is a reproduction of a poster and flyer, advertising the live-streaming of the 1952 Grand National, from Aintree.
Main entrance photo of The Carlton advertising a live-streaming of the upcoming 1952 Grand National, from Aintree. The main feature being advertised is ‘A Place in the Sun,’ starring Montgomery Clift, Elizabeth Taylor and Shelley Winters.
This photo shows the cinema in June 1953, dressed for the coronation of HM Queen Elizabeth II.
As of 2025, following a major refurbishment, the building is returned to its original name. It now operates as The Palace Ballroom. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Au_god4GmFM
In recent years this premises has seen various changes. Operating principally as a children’s play-zone, under the names: Tumble Jungle, Funky Monkies Playhouse and Tiger Tumbles Playhouse, it has since 2020 become a dojo for the Gracie Barra, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu franchise.
Here is a more accurate version of this building’s history: The Empire Cinema was built by The Westhoughton Entertainment Company, and opened on ‘Empire Day’ May 24th 1915. It showed only silent films to begin with. The first manager, Jack Watkinson, was killed during WW1 and it was later run by the Clegg family. Edward (Ted) Clegg managed the house, his wife did Box Office and their son, Stanley, operated the shows. In August of 1930, Talking Pictures were introduced, using the Vitaphone Sound-on-Disc system. The premier feature was ‘The Desert Song.’ The main problem was that trams, negotiating the points outside the building, caused the needle to skip on the 33⅓ rpm discs, requiring the sound to be manually resynchronised each time. When optical-sound became available, the Vitaphone system was replaced by a British Thompson Houston Reproducer system. Almost directly following the building closing as a cinema, the main entrance was bricked up and it reopened as The Casino Club. This, then became The Gaiety Theatre Club. The Gaiety’s main claim to fame was the one-week residency of Jayne Mansfield in cabaret. Eventually, the club scene waned and, during the UK’s second, big TV snooker revival, when both Tony Knowles and John Spencer had successful halls in the Bolton area, this ex-cinema found yet another use. Refurbished and rigged out with 15 modern tables, it was a reasonably successful Snooker Club until that fad also faded. The fixtures and fittings were then sold off, and the premises stood empty for several years. The small shops, either side of the facade, continued in business as a pizza/kebab shop and gent’s barber shop, respectively. In 2014 the building was purchased by Hindley based developers, Littler & Associates. It was then demolished and plans submitted for a small housing development. The application was refused. A modified plan was then submitted, which addressed the previous objections, but this application, too, was refused. During most of this time, the shop premises to the immediate right of the site had operated, under various names, as Westhoughton’s main Off Licence, drinks retailer. This closed, due to competition from nearby supermarkets, and then became a pet shop. The pet shop then gave way to a continental style bar; ‘The Beer School.’ This did good business until hit by the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic regulations. Being only a small premises, with little more than standing room, it faced closure for the duration, unless it could come up with a way around the regulations. So in the summer of 2020 the adjacent derelict cinema site was outfitted as a beer garden. With rough tables and benches, it is still used for this purpose during the summer months.
The Robert Shaw pub, operated by the Wetherspoons chain, is not across the road in a converted bank, as stated, but further along Market Street in a converted Co-op supermarket. A certain amount of TV and cinema memorabilia is on display inside. On 9th February 2025, The Robert Shaw pub was visited by the late actor’s son, Ian Shaw, whilst he was in Manchester appearing in a legacy version of ‘Jaws’ at The Lowry Theatre.
Following the closure of this building as a leisure venue, both the ‘Forum’ name, along with the theatre and cinema facilities, were transplanted to The Forum Theatre at Wythenshawe Civic Centre, Leningrad Square, Simonsway. It opened on 3rd November 1971 and became, amongst other things, an extension for Manchester’s Library Theatre. As part of a major refurbishment, in the mid 2000s, the theatre was later ripped out and replaced by a dance studio and gym. The following photos are copyright: Ian Grundy. https://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/49551727776/in/photostream/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/49551727811/in/photostream/
The site is now a used car lot which incorporates the closed and converted, adjacent Eagle Hotel.
On November 2020, the main entrance and right frontage became a Co-op food store.
Co-op Funeralcare moved out of the building 2019/2020. It has since stood empty.
July 1960, showing the main feature ‘13 Ghosts’ starring Charles Herbert & Jo Morrow. B support is the 1958 film noir ‘Screaming Mimi’ starring Anita Ekberg & Gypsy Rose Lee.
‘New Deansgate House’ was originally built by The Co-operative movement, as overflow accomodation for its growing presence in the city. It replaced The Deansgate Arcade. Built in the Co-op’s house style, of the time, the name continued their policy for naming many of their new-builds, across the country, as ‘New ****** House.’ The closest example, at the time, being New Century House. The ground floor, front, included a Co-op store. The letting off, of the ‘lower-ground floor’ helped finance the build. The following url is to a Manchester Libraries photo. https://images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=4393&reftable=ecatalogue&refirn=4821
When the Co-op vacated the building it was renamed International House and the store became occupied by Fine Art Developments, of Holmes Chapel, trading as FADS. Since that company’s demise, the frontage has been split into various catering establishments. Whilst the cinema existed there was also access at the rear, onto Parsonage Gardens.
A much more detailed history of the building, along with some wonderful photos, is available here: https://www.visitmanchester.com/ideas-and-inspiration/blog/read/2019/10/delving-into-the-history-of-the-dancehouse-manchester-discover-more-about-the-past-of-this-impressive-building-on-oxford-road-b996
The above photo is of The Electric Theatre, on Deansgate, Bolton, not Manchester!