Ritz Cinema
Duke Street,
Stockport,
SK1 3AA
Duke Street,
Stockport,
SK1 3AA
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It was refurbished as a ‘circle only’ operation initially (as opposed to ABC Birkenhead which was done at around the same time but with stalls only) and the downstairs seats were removed. There were then considerable problems with the sound as a result and the stalls seats were replaced and the two seating areas were both again open to the public.
Sorry Ken, but your not quite right on a few things. Once the site of the Ritz was cleared after demolition, it became a car park, which it is to this day (I should know, I parked my car in what was the stalls!) Regal House stands opposite where this cinema was. Also, due to the ABC take-over, the Ritz never had a fly-tower, in spite of having a large stage and dressing rooms as you say. The Wurlitzer Organ also had no piano attachment, however a ‘visiting’ piano was brought in on occasion when the organ was featured. There was also no restaurant ever installed, again, cut-backs due to to the ABC take-over. It would appear that the Ritz/ABC was scaled back quite considerably due to the take-over by the ABC chain. It wasn’t demolished until several years after it had closed, I think, 1986/7.
Spent a couple of very happy years at this cinema, initially as third projectionist and later as assistant manager to the manager Mike Ronan.
Vintage photographs of the Ritz Cinema/ABC, and its Wurlitzer organ console:
http://www.ukwurlitzer.co.cc/2213.html