Regal Cinema
Long Street,
Atherstone,
CV9 1RP
Long Street,
Atherstone,
CV9 1RP
2 people
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Showing 13 comments
Many thanks for uploading the R Sankey Advert Super8man very interesting. Interesting phone numbers too the 2220 number was the Regal Atherstone and the 3210 number was the Picturedrome Cinema Atherstone number still in use as the Picturedrome closed in 1960.
I always wonder why these nice looking buildings are allowed to be demolished and such bland looking buildings replacing them.
I have uploaded an image from Movie Maker magazine for R Sankey advert.
Davegrendon could you contact me please , can you confirm the commissionaires name and do you no any of the others in the photo. I no 2 others be great to identify them all
regards
pete
Also Note* My Book “The Auditorium” is available and covers the Regal and Picturedrome cinemas of Atherstone and also the other cinemas of North Warwickshire including Nuneaton, Chapel End, Arley Bedworth Coleshill, Attleborough and Stockingford.
Great to see new photos of the Regal, the staff photo is great, I would love to no the name of the commissionaire, I seem to recall being told by Des Schofieled ( far left as poster boy) his name was Harry Ponchery but I would love to confirm this and also everyone else’s name in the photo.
There are only snipits in Youtube.. I had to open my wallet and buy it on ebay.. :o)
Rodney thats it wow I remember now ….. so is the last projectionist on utube ? Good to hear Les is still going he must be getting on now …. Anyway thanks for the information Mike
@ Peter. Les Castree is Still Alive and appears on the Vd called “The Last Projectionist” The Chap in the Van was Rodney Ballard..
Good to see the comments on the regal from Mike and Nick …. if you spot this new comment 2 questions 1st for Mike is Les Still alive ? he must be getting on now and what was his mates name who had the old Austin A7 van was it Brian ? He always used to bring his Mrs with him she always had curlers and a hair net and scalf on she used to sit in the stalls and wait for him to do his work …. and Nick I am writing a book which is complete and about to go to press on Atherstone cinemas along with surrounding area, if you have any old photos Id be greatful, there alwasy used to eb one of the usherettes with Neville Busman who played Ray Lancton in Coronation Street which was in the Pay Box but nobdy remembers where it went ahhhh good old memories
My late Nan Gladis Evans worked at this cinema for many many years as a usherette selling ice creams in the intervals and cleaner who polished the brass fittings. Mrs Sankey always spoiled me when ever I went into the cinema giving me chocolate & sweets and unlimited free entrance. The last films to show at the Regal were ‘THE GOONIES’ & FLIGHT OF THE NAVIGATOR' I’m lucky enough to own the Regal entrance door mat. The owner’s wife Mrs.Sankey also baked the most amazing cakes especially her date cake which I will always remember.
Up until Bob Sankey The Freehold of the Theatre was owned by Essoldo.. (as was the Savoy Statford ABC Purchased the Freehold as they owned the Headlease and sold the Freehold to Bob Sankey.. I remember on one of my visits to see Bob Sankey he was moaning having to pay more then he thought he should.. On one friday night Bingo session someone dared to win the Jackpot.. He used to put a scowl on his face when he handed the cheque over.. The Players enjoyed seing his Face.. But it was a sham.. It did not bother him :o) Peter Lea is right about the Simplex Projectors..
The Regal Atherstone was where I started In the business as a young man. The cinema had been kept imaculate until its last days by long serving manager Des Schofiled and his wife Vera both were very good friends of mine. The cinema in later years was run 3 days a week with bingo the rest of the week. The last owner of the cinema was L. H Jaffa owner of the Palce company from Northampton, upon closure the simplex projectors and alot of other equipment were sold to Les Castrey a cinema equipment dealer from Birmingham. The fibrus plaster mouldings and light fittings from the auditorium were purchased by Graham Whitehead and installed at his then new project at Ashorne Hall near Leamington Spa. The last film shown at the Regal was on 12th August 1987 and was a matinee performance of Flight Of The Navigator
The minor South Wales valley halls of the 1960s owed a great deal to Mr. Sankey who was known to all in the trade as “Sanks”. Most of these halls had antique projection equipment, long out of production but still in daily use.Spare parts were hard to come and it was Sanks who,from a warehouse in Atherstone,supplied the used parts that kept these ancient projectors going.Sanks himself was a lover of Ross equipment. Long after Ross had sunk into oblivion,Sanks was able to supply the odd sized mirrors that Ross’s diabolical Streamlight arcs were always quick to ruin with copper spatter. Without Sanks continuous supply of spare parts many of the small halls would never have lasted as long as they did. The cinema industry owed a lot to Mr. Sankey for the survival of the minor halls into the 1980s.