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Beaufort Cinema Ward End / Washwood Heath

Many thanks for that. What a wonderful building it was - I remember as a boy looking down over the gallery.
 
The Beaufort Cinema after a major facelift and redecoration on re-opening night 15th Sept 1937
 
Yes, the thread starter described the cinema well and the picture is as I remember it in the forties and fifties. Unusual in it's design. I used it on occasion but The Rock was closer. The roundabout in front of it is more memorable to me for being the only place that I ever fell off a motorbike. Only injured pride and embarassment...oh and a bent footrest.
 
Here are a few details from a Beaufort Cinema Programme dated March 1968

Proprietors;Beaufort Cinema( B'ham) LTD TEL; ste 2307. Manager and Licensee; W Goring.
Continuous Monday,Wednesday,Saturday from 2p.m.
Tuesday,Thursday Friday from 5 p.m.
Sunday from 3.30 p.m.

Prices of Admission; Balcony 5/6d. Children 2/6d. Stalls 4/-. Children 2/-
Old Aged Pensioners 9d.

Thursday 29th Feb for 3 days Paul Newmnan in COOL HAND LUKE ( A)
Sunday 3rd.March for 7 days Michael Caine in BILLION DOLLAR BRAIN (A)
Sunday 10th March for 7 days Lee Marvin and Angie Dickinson in POINT BLANK(X)
Sunday 17th March for 7days Joan Crawford and Ty Hardin in BESERK (X)
Sunday 31st March for 4days Chris Martell in ADAM AND EVE (A) Also Jon Pertwee in HOW TO UNDRESS IN PUBLIC WITHOUT UNDUE EMBARRASSMENT.

A few advertising features including;
THE SEA QUEEN 21 Timberley Lane Faggots and Peas Tuesday night only. Beef burgers 1/- Spam fritters 1/- Hot peas 8d.
You could also get a cwt. of organic garden manure from 12/- from F.J.Bradley & son 174 Albert rd Stetchford.
 
Photographs of the Beaufort. Brings back old memories. What was the name of the toy shop on the other corner? I could 'drool' at their window for hours.

I can remember, as a kid, playing on the rough ground behind the Beaufort where there were some brick built underground chambers. I was always led to believe that they were the remains of gun emplacements built to protect the Drews Lane site.

And in the same area, does anyone remember the brick bridge in Cole Hall Lane that was washed away after a storm. Perhaps 1970 ish? To then be replaced by the, still present, Bailey Bridge. And further downstream, Packington Avenue, for many years had just a Bailey Bridge with timbers for the vehicles to cross. Not that there were that many (vehicles) in those days.
 
Chris your photo's are wonderful I had no idea the Baufort was so ornate. A few years ago I used to do a ladies hair who told me her husband was the manager in the 60's. She told me that she went often to the cinema. I wish now I had recorded her memories.

Rupert I think you will find the van in the first photo is a Reliant Robin. I remember the factory well in Tamworth there are still a few about here now. Made famous more recently in Only Fools And Horses as Del Boys transport. The Bug is a very different looking vehicle.
 
Wendy said:
Rupert I think you will find the van in the first photo is a Reliant Robin. I remember the factory well in Tamworth there are still a few about here now. Made famous more recently in Only Fools And Horses as Del Boys transport.
Click to expand...
Almost correct Wendy the Robin had more rounded bodywork than the Regal which is shown. I was once scared stiff by one of Reliant's development engineers in one that had a prototype engine in of their own design and bored out to (if memory is correct) 700 CC from 600. Very scary drive back to Gt King Street.

Footnote - The original Reliant had an Austin 7 Side valve engine later replaced by a Reliant own engine of 600CC with overhead valves. Then onto a 700 CC.

BTW I think Rupert was thinking pre Bug. Bond produced a motorcycle engined two seater with similar styling or rather lack of, to the Regal (albeit lower).
 
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Interesting your article on the beaufort david I remember as a young lad going to the beaufort mant times with my mom, If the picture was an "A"my mother would ofton take in any of the lads(never seemed to be any girls) that were standing by the door , they would then go and sit on there own once inside
 
Thought I'd re-post these 3 pics. I imagine they were on the original thread.


beaufort_cinema_1931.jpg



Beaufort_Cinema.JPG




Beaufort_Cinema_Interior_1975ish.jpg

I think this last one is supposed to be around 1975.
Incidentally, look at the advert on the left of the 1st pic. "Buffalow Puppy Cakes"! I imagine it wasn't some delicacy for humans to enjoy but some sort of food for dogs?
 
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The shop was Dawsons,Behind the Beaufort was a sandpit and those brick built buildings was where they use to generate their own electricity for the Beaufort,untill it was connected to the main power,these are the generators.
11777522823_8d4084f4ba_z.jpg
 
Hi Michael,

Not quite sure which shop you are referring to. If it is Pic 1 in DavidFowler's post above, with the dog food ad,
I seem to remember it was called Fred Perkins's, and was a general feed merchants.
Dawson's Corner was diagonally opposite to it.

Kind regards

Dave
 
Long story but i managed to contact Hazel Goring from the Beaufort Cinema spoke to her on the telephone first time in 50 years it was really so nice to hear her voice after so long,She and her husband Jim were The Beaufort,we talked about George the doorman and all the old staff among lots of things anyway anyone who remembers her she is still well.
 
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