On the Trafalgar Road in 1968 …….. Austen’s ….. that record shop and a slew of ancient memories

This is Trafalgar Road in the spring of 1968.

It was taken by John King, and I am grateful that he has given me permission to use it, because it has set the memories going.

Two years earlier I knew this stretch well because I worked at Austen’s camping shop, which was a job at which  I didn’t crown myself with glory.

But then I was only 16, had big issues with adding up, dispensing the correct change and could never remember which tent was best for a back packing couple.

Even now the smell of canvas, and assorted plastic macs brings back the shop and the summer of 1966 on Trafalgar Road.

The shop has gone, and I think judging by the geography of this bit of the road, it is now an Iceland, but then the building that was the cinema no longer shows films and the old record shop just on from the church offers up all things plumbing instead of all things vinyl.

Not that I suspected any of these haunts of my youth would still exist.

It is after all 60 years since I spent my dinner hours in that record shop, but I still remember the collection of early Bob Dylan LPs I bought there, which are still in the collection.

And when I bring them out flashes of the Woolwich and Trafalgar Roads jump back.

All of which will bore some readers, provoke others to bring out their own memories, and yet more to take a wander down the two roads to do their own "then and now" comparisons.

I cant remember when the hospital was opened, but vaguely think it was being built in that summer I sold camping knives, and in turn bought the record Bob Dylan.

Incidentally that LP had been issued four years earlier, cost me £2.99 and retails now on some sites for £50.

So, all in all nostalgia was a lot cheaper then than now.

Leaving me just to add John’s comment to his picture, “People complain about traffic, but just remember if you are stuck in traffic you are part of the problem.

Ah the golden days of the 60s when traffic jams had not been invented. Think again, Woolwich Road, Greenwich seen in 1968. 

Something had happened in the Blackwall Tunnel, although the second tunnel opened a year earlier the approach road had not been completed.

The vehicles of a couple of old SE London firms can be seen. RACS and soft drinks firm Macintosh.

May 1968”.

To which I will add that L.P. Hartley quote  “The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there,” from his 1953 novel “The Go-Between.”

And as John’s picture shows we did transport, and lorries very differently.

As we did cinemas, and here is the postscript, just a few hours after the original story was published.  Both John and I spent a bit of the morning pondering on that cinema.

I thought it was an ABC but john correctly identified it from an old map as the Granada, which led me to that wonderful site for cinema history which is cinema Treasures, and the entry for the Granada Greenwich at 234 Trafalgar Road.

"It was was opened by film star Gracie Fields on 30th September 1937 with Sabu in 'Elephant Boy' and Brian Donlevy in “Midnight Taxi”. Designed by noted American theatre architect C. Howard Crane, with interior decoration by Theodore Komisarjevsky. 

It had 1,924 seats in stalls and balcony and a rather plain auditorium, quite unlike the style of the opulent Woolwich / Tooting / Clapham Junction Granada Theatre’s. 

It was equipped with a Wurlitzer 3Manual/8Ranks organ which was opened by organist Donald Thorne. The Granada Theatre also had a fully equipped stage".

That said according to the 1947 Kinematic Yearbook it had by that year increased its number of seats to 2,772 seats.

But if you want more you will have to go to the site and find out for yourself, because I make it a policy of not lifting other people's research.

The added bonus is a picture of the cinema, pretty much as I remember it.

Location; Greenwich

Picture; Trafalgar Road, 1968, from the collection of John King

*cinema Treasures http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/3781

OK …. you can come in now …. stories of the “Flicks” in Northwich

It is as they say … all in the detail, and it was the detail that drew me to the former Plaza Cinema on Witton Street in Northwich.

My cinema Treasure tell me that “The Plaza Cinema was opened by Cheshire County Cinemas Ltd. in December 1929. It was designed by local architects William & Seager Owen, and is a typical late-1920’s style cinema. There is a particulary good ornamentation of two cherubs supporting an early film camera which are set into an arch over the main entrance”.*

It continued to show films to Northwich audience’s until it closed around 1965 and was converted into a bingo club it finally closing in March 2011.

And for a while it remained “dark” and unused until a group of enthusiasts set about restoring what is a art deco Grade 2 listed building.**

And for those who want more on just what it was originally like I suggest you follow the link to the Historic England’s site which offers up a detailed description and a reference to Andrew Richardson, `Cheshire County Cinemas', in Picture House, no.11, Cinema Theatre Association, winter 1987-8, pp.15-16.***

I could say more but that would be to steal the research of others, but I will add that the owner,  “Will Godfrey, whose grandfather opened the cinema, said:

'It is such a beautiful building. We are trying our best to restore it. Our aim is to provide a hub for the arts, music and community of Northwich. It will be a great asset for the town.'"**

And in conversation with a local shop keeper it appears the Plaza continues to put on live shows, which the observant will spot from the posters in the glass fronted noticeboards, which both also advertise Pzaza Bingo, which is a nice restoration feature.

Leaving me just reflect that in 1947 according the Kinematograph Yearbook Northwich had a population of 18, 728, who had a choice three picture houses.  

These were the Pavilion on Hayhurst Street which could seat 717, the Regal on London Road, with a capacity of 1,059 and the Plaza which offered up 1,213 seats.  The Plazza offered continuous showings during the week and two shows on a Saturday charging between 9d and 2s 3d.

And as they say those were the days.

Location; Northwich

Pictures; The Plaza, 2023, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

* cinema Treasures, The Plaza Cinema, https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/22410

** Iconic landmark The Plaza transformed into new music venue, Northwich & Winsford Guardian, Barbara Jordan, May 12th, 2021  https://www.northwichguardian.co.uk/news/19294445.iconic-landmark-plaza-transformed-new-music-venue/

*** PLAZA BINGO CLUB, 151, WITTON STREET, https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1385195

Looking for cinema glory ……. in Atherton

Now, when Andy went to Atherton I knew among the pictures he took there would be stories.

Palace Cinema, 2023

And so today from his photographic jaunt across Atherton here is the first, which with that wonderful cinema resource, cinema TREASURES, and the Kinematograph Year Book for 1928 is an account of the town’s picture houses.

Back in the late 1920s, the place had a population of just under 20,000, and supported three cinemas, which were the Gem Theatre on Bullough Street, the Palace on Market Street and the Savoy.

All were owned by Eagle Picturedromes Ltd who were based in Wigan.

The Gem offered one nightly show with “Two changes weekly” and prices ranged from 5d to 9d.

Gem Electric

For those who wanted to choose when they saw the fil, The Palace provided two shows a night, with “two changes a week” and charged the same as the Gem.*

Alas the Kinematograph Year Book has little to say about the Savoy.

But turning to cinema TREASURES, Dave Simpson fills in the gaps on these and a further two picture houses for which you will have to follow the link, because as ever I don’t lift other people’s research.**

And that is it.  

 Kinematograph Year Book for 1928

Of the three pictures Andy identified the Gem and the Place, leaving the third to be named by someone from AthertonLocation; Atherton

Pictures, Atherton’s former cinemas. 2023, from the collection of Andy Robertson

* Kinematograph Year Book for 1928

**Atherton cinemas, cinema TREASURES, http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/united-kingdom/england/atherton?status=closed 

The mystery Picture house

At the Aaben in Hulme .......... with heaps of interesting movies

 I have fond memories of the Aaben Cinema in Hulme.

Although I have to say my time there was pretty much limited to the late 1970s.

By the mid 1980s the kids were coming along and trips out were pretty much limited to the pub and the odd theatre trip.

But back in the day it was a grand place to go where you could see films you had missed first time around and a whole clutch of interesting movies which would never make it on to the main circuits as well as heaps of “arts” productions from around the world.

A full 45 years on and I am hard pressed to remember what I saw although I have memories of accompanying Jenn and Tricia to silly, bizarre, and earnest films.

The history of the place is equally interesting, and for its story I fell back on cinema TREASURES which is a cornucopia of accounts about our lost picture houses.

And the entry on the Aaben has the added authenticity that it was co written by John Wojowski who ran it in the 1980s until 1990.  He writes it was “opened in 1928 as the York Cinema, it was located on York Street, Hulme, an inner-city district of Manchester. 

Seating was provided for 1,414 and in 1937 the operators were given as Thomas and Norman Royle, who operated it into the late-1940’s. By 1954 it was operated by York Cinema (Manchester) Ltd. and the seating capacity was given as 1,300.

In 1967 it was closed and converted into a bingo club, but this was short lived as in 1969 it was taken over by the Unit Four Cinemas Ltd. of Burnley who made one of their first conversions of a former single screen cinema here, when they converted the building into four screens, re-opening as the Unit 4 Cinemas. 

Seating capacities in the screens were 210, 101, 102 and 102. There was a bar and a snack bar for patrons. It was a 4-screen independent arts cinema from the mid-1970’s through to when it closed finally in 1991”.*

Now never one to steal other people’s research, I won’t quote anymore but instead direct you to Mr. Wojowski’s account by following the link.

In its way the cinema walks with the history of Hulme, having offered entertainment when Hulme was still a densely packed area of terraced housing and closing as the clearances swept away the original housing and its population.

Only to reopen as an “arts” cinema in the mid-1970s catering for a mix of students and young professionals who had begun to make Hulme their home.

The programme dates from 1988 and is a bit of a mystery given that by then I was no longer a patron, but maybe I picked it up somewhere with the vague intention of popping along, and as so often happens it went from the coffee table to a cupboard before being filed as a future bit of history, which of course it now is.

Location; Hulme

Pictures, Aaben Cinetheque, February/March ’88, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

* Aaben Cinema, Jackson Crescent, Manchester M15, John Wojowski, & Ken Roe,  cinema TREASURES, http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/22901

Who now remembers Tom Mix and Lillian Gish at the Roxy in Carnforth?

I suppose there will be few who now remember Tom Mix, Lillian Gish and a host of other silent movie stars.

Few also, who will be able to talk about regular visits to the Roxy Cinema in Carnforth.

It opened in 1923, as the Kinema, and could seat 780.

And with clever business sense it was positioned close to the railway station, making it a perfect venue for anyone who missed their train and had a few hours to kill.

In 1940 it changed its name to the Roxy and for reasons I haven’t discovered, reduced its seating capacity to 465.

It continued to operate until 1963, but had gone by 1966.*

It wasn’t a picture palace I knew, but Andy Robertson fell across it on Sunday, telling me, that “On Sunday night stayed over at Arnside Youth Hostel. On the way there I stopped off at a few places, and when I saw this in Carnforth I immediately thought of you!”  

And I instantly knew it had to be a story for the blog.

Alas while the ghost of Tom Mix and Ms Lillian Gish may wander the auditorium in the dead of night, they will encounter nothing more exciting than a shelf of baked beans, some fresh veg and a fine bottle of wine.

Along with their excellent range of pastries which we indulge in on a Sunday morning.

Location; Carnforth

Pictures; the Roxy Cinema, Carnforth, 2018, from the collection of Andy Robertson

*Cinema Treasures, http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/37416

Faded glory in Conway ………….. the Palace Cinema

Now I  like it when you get a chance to get a look inside a cinema which closed its doors ages ago.

It’s that mix of getting to see what has been hidden from view, with the chance of discovering a cinematic gem.

I have never been to the Palace Cinema in Conway, but lots of people will have, and will remember with fondness sitting in the darkened auditorium watching a film or playing Bingo.

So, this is for all those who on a wet Monday afternoon in Conway spent a few hours in the company of Ginger Rogers, and James Bond or despaired as Mrs. Trellis got a full bingo card for the third time, before anyone else.

The place has featured on the blog, which included one of Any Robertson’s pictures, and a bit of its history.*

It opened in 1936, closed in the 1980s and for a while doubled as a Bingo Hall before going dark in 2012.

And yesterday Andy sent over a collection of new pictures, this time of the interior, taken by his sister in law.

I await the full story of how she got in and what if any plans there are for the cinema.

Leaving me just to reflect on the faded glory of the Palace, and a link to another short history of the place, which offers up some snippets on the buildings which wee lost wen the picture house was built.**

Location; Conway,

Pictures; inside the Palace Cinema, Conway, courtesy of  Gwen Roberts and Eunice Long

*A little bit of cinema history …….. in Conway, where they do it well, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/2019/11/a-little-bit-of-cinema-history-in.html

**Former Palace Cinema, Conwy, https://historypoints.org/index.php?page=former-palace-cinema-conwy

A little bit of cinema history …….. in Conway, where they do it well

One of the great bonuses of my friendship with Andy Robertson is the wonderful collection of pictures he has stored away in the collection.

Yesterday we were having a conversation about his love affair with Stockport, and then out of the blue he remembered the Palace cinema in Conway, and with an hour of him leaving he sent over this image of the place, with the comment that it had opened in 1936 and closed in the 1980s.

And not wanting to shortchange the picture I went looking in that wonderful cinema resource which is cinema Treasures.*

It is a site I often go to for information and which I have never been disappointed.

Nor was I this time, because according to Ken Roe, the picture palace of dreams and adventures, opened in 1936 with Hugh Williams in "Lieutenant Daring R.N.".

And “of all the cinemas that were built in the U.K. in 1936, the Palace Cinema received the title ‘Cinema of the Year’ and the architect was given a special design award.”

And I can see why because “inside the auditorium was rather plain, but there was a reason for this. The lighting was by Holophane, which was able bathe the auditorium in over 400 tints and hues of colour. There are six silvered columns on each side of the proscenium opening which reflected the lighting. Across the top of the proscenium were panels in silver, which showed the faces of leading film stars of the 1930’s. The ceiling was a plain ‘dome’ which had the Holophane lighting ‘played’ onto it”.  

Now I could go on, but that would be to snaffle Mr. Roe’s research, so instead I shall just leave you with the link and advise you to go and look up the full story of the Palace for yourself.**

Leaving me as ever just to thank Andy, who I notice has now inspired over 500 stories which have used his images.***

Location; High Street, Conway, LL32 8DB

Picture; the Palace cinema, Conway, 2019, from the collection of Andy Robertson

* cinema Treasures, http://cinematreasures.org/

**Palace Cinema, Conway, Ken Roe, cinema Treasures, http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/22947

***Andy Robertson, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/search?q=Andy+Robertson&max-results=20&by-date=true

Gone in Gatley ……. The Tatton Kinema which became the Major and Minor and then the Apollo

I never went to the cinema in Gatley.

I wasn’t born when it opened its doors as the Tatton Kinema, on October 14, 1937, with Dorothy Lamour in “Jungle Princess”.

It had seating for 900 in the stalls and 300 in the circle, and included an 18 foot stage, six dressing rooms, and a restaurant.

I could just have visited in 1971, when the restaurant was converted to a 111-seat cinema known as Tatton Minor, opening on February 4th of that year 1971.

“The original cinema became Tatton Major which closed four years later, when it was twined with the larger stalls area becoming the 647 seat Tatton Major, the former circle the 247 seat Tatton Minor, and the restaurant cinema the Tatton Mini.

It was an extremely successful cinema – one of the most profitable in the North West and was eventually bought by Apollo who renamed it Apollo Cinema 1,2,&3.

A multiplex opened about a mile away and the Apollo Cinema closed around 2000. The cinema has recently been demolished except for its facade, which flats have been constructed behind”.*

And now as Andy’s pictures show it is about to go through another change.
According to the MEN, "the Housing association Stockport Homes has bought the site. 

Planning permission for the Gatley Road site was granted in 2017 - two years after the application was actually submitted. The iconic cinema facade will be kept.

Stockport Homes, which manages the town hall’s housing stock, bought the building last month from previous owner Dickens Property Group”.

The new development is for 7 apartments for shared ownership and 26 apartments for rent for the over 55 age group.

And that is all I have to say.

Location; Gatley

Pictures; The Tatton, 2018, from the collection of Andy Robertson

*cinema treasures, http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/2536

** Tatton Cinema finally to be transformed - after closing its doors in 2001
Work is set to begin next month, Alex Scapens, April 10, 2018, https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/tatton-cinema-finally-transformed-after-14511240