Grand Cinema
16 Church Street,
Frodsham,
WA6 6QL
16 Church Street,
Frodsham,
WA6 6QL
1 person
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The Grand Cinema was built by the railway bridge in Frodsham, Cheshire. It was opened on 2nd April 1923. It belonged from the 1940’s to Byrom Pictures based in Liverpool.
Five steps led to a small entrance hall with the paybox on the right. Opposite was a staircase that led to a small balcony, there was no balcony waiting room. Next to the paybox was the manager’s office. Off the balcony staircase there was a door that led to the projection room. It was equipped with Kalee 8 machines and a Vernox sound system. The proscenium width was 24 feet and the stage 13 feet deep. Under the stage were two dressing rooms. The last manager was a Mr James Turner.
The Grand Cinema usually showed films for three days, Mon Tues Wed, Thurs Fri Sat, there was no Sunday opening. Shows were presented in the evening only apart from a Wednesday matinee and a children’s matinee on a Saturday afternoon. The last film screened was Sydney James in “Carry on Regardless” on Saturday 5th August 1961. It briefly converted into a bingo club, which was not successful, and it was demolished later that year.
A new building on the site was first occupied by a Mark Down supermarket. It later became a branch of W.H. Smith.
Contributed by
David A Ellis
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Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
Frodsham Cinema Company Ltd first owned the Grand. By the early 1940s it was run by Byrom Picture Houses Ltd based at 51a Rodney Street, Liverpool. A Mr Philip M. Hamner, who also booked the films ran this.
In the summer, entrance doors to the auditorium would be left open and a curtain would be pulled across to block out light. Some seats at the rear of the auditorium were reserved for staff only.
At the top of the building was a red neon sign spelling GRAND. Back in the 1940s, the cinema staged occasional live amateur shows. The screen was pushed back for these. A Mr Tom Fyall, who was the manager had his own dance troupe called Tom Fyall’s Dainty Dots. Other entertainers included the Josy Taylor accordian band from Wales, comedian Archie Warren and singer Lorna Plummer. The hall was coloured red and gold. The curtains (tabs) were red with a gold fringe. Seating was red tip-up. The last manager was a Mr James Turner, who was known locally as Jimmy Pictures.
The neon was just above the windows at the top. The entrance doors were in red. I went to the cinema on a number of occasions and remember sitting through twice to see the Kubrick film Paths of Glory. Occasionally I would visit the balcony and if you sat near the back, you could faintly hear the projector. Also, as the cinema was built by the railway station, a vibration could be felt when a train passed over the bridge, which led to the station.
The site was later occupied by the Mark Down supermarket which has now become a branch of W.H.Smith.
“Was there a fire in the Grand Cinema in the above photo?”
Not as I know of. This, I think, is when it was being demolished to make way for other uses.
According to the Chester Cinemas website entry for this cinema, upon closure, the Grand tried bingo unsuccessfully.
Opening night has been confirmed as being 2nd April, 1923, an Easter Monday. In the newspaper article reporting the opening night to three well attended houses, the architects are given as Hamlyn & Wright, built by Messrs. J.G. Davies & Co. An inauguration ceremony had taken place two days before on the Saturday 31st March in the afternoon, but this was not the first Public performance, it was for invited guests and dignitaries only.