Commodore Cinema
2 Star Street,
Ryde,
PO33 2HX
2 Star Street,
Ryde,
PO33 2HX
2 people
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The website proudly states “All Tickets, Everyday all day £3.50” which is unbelieveably cheap for 2015.
When the Commodore originally closed on December the 3rd 1987, the final films to be shown were, Surrender, A nightmare on Elm street part 3 and Ishtar.
Does anyone know the previous history of the cinema… I see it was opened in 1936… My parents played there in a dance band in the early 1940s and my mother (who is now 91) has fond memories of the dances at the Commodore at that time…
I saw a film here (Spy Kids[2001]?) some years ago. For some reason the staff were all dressed as cowboys. I cannot remember which screen we were in, the walls were a rather bright pinky red and the projector could be heard even during the not so quiet parts of the film.
It was good to be in an almost proper cinema!
I’ve a fond memory of visiting this cinema back in 1969/1970 while on a family holiday in Ryde. My Sister and I went along to the Saturday morning picture show, we sat through a CFF programme with a packed auditorium, presumably a mixture of local children alongside us holidaymakers.
There was no bingo then the entire cinema was a single screen operation. It is hard to imagine it as a three screen cinema with bingo in the original stalls.
If my memory serves me right KES was the movie playing during the main performances for that week, which would have been August. The cinema itself offered a moderate size auditorium, the facade I’m sure was brilliant white and the cinema name was featured in large letter signage above the entrance. Stills from the main feature were displayed outside as was common back then.
During a visit to Ryde a couple of years ago I walked past the Commodore cinema, it looked so much smaller to how I remember it. I think Peter Walker had recently acquired it and had tidied the facade. I would love to see a photograph of the venue interior and exterior as it would have been back then.
Reading here that the venue is under threat I do hope it can continue to operate as a cinema.
Thanks James2003.
The Commodore has a website;
www.leoleisurecommodore.co.uk
Leo Leisure Ltd a family owned business who run the Bingo club in the former stalls area of the cinema are to take on the running of the Commodore’s three screens.
The operating company who owned the Commodore has gone into administration and the future of this cinema is now in question. At present it continues to trade as the administrators have been keeping it open and according to a local press report, a sale has been agreed but let’s hope it is somebody stepping in to keep the cinema open.
The Commodore Cinema/Bingo club in 1974 when it was under the control of Star Cinemas:
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/2235157968/