Going to see “When Knights were Bold” at the Longford Cinema on Chester Road in 1936

Now I am looking at a picture of  the Longford Cinema on Chester Road in 1936.

It was ready for business on October 12th 1936 and as befitting a special occasion launched with the film ‘Tudor Rose’ starring Nova Pilbeam, Cedric Hardwicke and John Mills.

This was the story of Lady Jane Grey and her nine days as queen after the death of Henry V111 in 1547, and given that it was only released in the September of 1936 our cinema audiences on Chester Road were getting a brand new film.

And this picture house with its striking entrance on Chester Road was not only new but state of the art.

It had soundproofing, under seat heating and air conditioning.

“The foyer was floored in Venetian Marble and the Auditorium was decorated in tangerine and silver-blue art-deco designs. 

The room also contained a stage, which could be used for theatrical performances by various groups including the Streford Amateur Operatic Society and the building was the first in Britain to be illuminated by neon tube lighting. 

The arrangement of the business was that the Longford would be used as a Cinema for three weeks of the month and as a theatre for the fourth week. Cinema attendants were forbidden from accepting gratuities. 

The Longford Bar & Café occupied part of the first floor, with windows looking out across Chester Road, with comfortable sofas and furniture.

The stalls sat 1400, the balcony sat 600 and the café sat 146.”*

So this was a real cinema experience which brings me to the film showing when our photograph was taken.

“When Knights were Bold” had only been out on the circuits since February and I guess would have been a must to show.

 It was a musical comedy staring Jack Buchanan as Sir Guy de Vere who returns from a commission in India to claim his family inheritance.

But his relatives are none too friendly, except the lovely Lady Rowena.

After a drunken evening spent with a passing tramp, a bump on the head sends Sir Guy back to the 1400s and the golden age of chivalry.

And as the plot unfolds there are battle scenes along with a series of songs including "Let's Put the People To Work" "Onward We Go," and "I'm Still Dreaming".**




Pictures; The Longford Cinema in 1936 from the collection of Sally Dervan

* Longford and Essoldo Cinema Stretford, http://longfordcinema.co.uk/history/

**plot of When Knights were Bold, from Grahame N's Web Pages http://www.pathefilm.freeserve.co.uk/95flmcat/95flmcatt9101.htm

Dolly and her Zebra ................. at the Longford in Stretford this January 78 years ago

Now when you spend your time writing about the past sometimes you know pretty much when to let the story tell itself.

So here we are at the Longford in Stretford with Dolly & her Zebra.

It was billed as a stage show for the family with “Stars of Radio and Circus” and in the January of 1940 who could compete with that?

And the fact that it is 1940 means that it was the stars of the wireless who were the attraction including Less Allen who was  a Canadian saxophonist and vocalist popular in Britain during the 1930s, Dominic Roche and my own favourites Clapham and Dwyer who were a comedy duo through out the 1920s in to the 40s and were once banned by the BBC for six months from the Light Programme for a risque joke.

According to one source after a page of their script went missing the two ad-libbed with

"What’s the difference between a champagne cork and a baby?” asked Clapham. When Dwyer replied that he didn’t know Clapham retorted: “A champagne cork has the name of the maker on it”*

All of which was a long way in the future when Dolly and her Zebra took to the stage of the Longford.

And that is about all I have to say unless of course someone volunteers a memory of the event.

Pictures;advert for the Longford, January 1940, from the collection of Sally Dervan

* Clapham and Dwyer, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clapham_and_Dwyer

The lost cinemas of Stretford, ...... the Picturedrome

Now this is the Stretford cinema that I bet most people have forgotten.

That said I am prepared for a deluge of comments from those who have fond memories of seeing films there, and going on that all important first date.

It is the Picturedrome on King Street by the Post Office.

It was opened in 1911 and over its half century was owned by a variety of cinema chains, including the Northern Combines in the 1920s, the Lancashire chain of Jackson & Newport in the late 1930s, and Essoldo Theatres in 1950.*

Despite its white terracotta facade and ornate upper storey, I doubt that it cut a sway with cinema goers once the new Longford Cinema just across the road opened in 1936.

This picture house with its striking entrance on Chester Road was something new.  It had soundproofing, under seat heating and air conditioning.

“The foyer was floored in Venetian Marble. 

The Auditorium was decorated in tangerine and silver-blue art-deco designs. 

The room also contained a stage, which could be used for theatrical performances by various groups including the Streford Amateur Operatic Society.

The building was the first in Britain to be illuminated by neon tube lighting. 

The arrangement of the business was that the Longford would be used as a Cinema for three weeks of the month and as a theatre for the fourth week. Cinema attendants were forbidden from accepting gratuities. 

The stalls sat 1400, the balcony sat 600 and the café sat 146.”**

It was built by the same company which already owned our Picturedrome, and I realize I have wandered away from that more modest cinema and so I shall return to the picture.

I think we may be sometime in the late 1920s.  The film currently showing was Lady of the Night which came out in 1925 and featured the story of two women both played by Norma Shearer.

They came from different social classes but their paths cross when they both fall for the same man.

In the course of the film both are transformed into more caring responsible individuals and as you would expect there is more than a dash of sentimentality and drama. ***

I rather think we might just be able to refine the date by following up on the career of Tom F Moss who “was a tenor and pioneer of cine-variety, who had been billed as ‘The Caruso of the Halls,’ a description he pinched from an earlier performer, Harry Fragson, conveniently murdered in 1913.”

His career ran from the 1920s through to 1951 and has been documented by Stephen Dixon. ****

So we may get a little further along finding out more on the Picturedrome and I bet there will be people out there who remember it.

After all it only went in 1961 and that opens up a shed full of possible memories.

Lawrence remembers going there but it wasn't his favourite place.

"It was full of some pretty rough sorts so we preferred the Essoldo"

And then as an after thought remembered that Paul Robeson had sung at the Essoldo which of course drew me and set the scene for a whole new story

Pictures; the Picturedrome, Stretford, circa 1925, JBS, and the Essoldo in 1961, m09199, courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council, http://images.manchester.gov.uk/index.php?session=pass
* Picturedrome, Stretford, Cinema treasures, http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/42393
** Longford and Essoldo Cinema Stretford, http://longfordcinema.co.uk/history/
***Lady of the Night Plot Summary, IMBd, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0016005/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl
****Brinsworth House, Stephen Dixon, http://voices-of-variety.com/brinsworth-house/