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Birmingham Cinemas

(CONTINUED) THE "CINEBOWL" IN STIRCHLEY had the idea of adding a bowling alley but it was well liked because it had double back seats and was pitch black so popular with "courting couples" you i did not go to watch the film. The Cinephone on the edge of town made its money by showing early porn films from Sweden to the "dirty mac brigade"Then they could show really good Italian and French films too like Carne, Visconti and even russian greats like Alexander Nevskyand other Eistenstein greats at a loss.
The Futurist was a huge place in Town with cheap admission often used by tramps for a sleep.
The Odeon in New Street is still going I think.It had a great ARt deco dome which could be seen all over brum.....There was a good place at Shirley too but forgst the name and a flea pit on the `Mosely road which was a wonderfull deco palace that had seen better days by the sixties when TV was taking the trade,
 
Here is some extra information on the shops that were part of the Beacon Cinema which have been frequently mentioned.

The shops in the "upper tier" were (at least for some time) a betting shop, a hairdresser, and the fondly remembered chip shop and cafe.

In the lower tier was Lloyds chemist, Barratts Butchers, Westminster bank and an Insurance company.

The cafe (called just "The Cafe" I think) which was much loved for its bacon sandwiches according to this thread was run by a lady called Joan who is still alive and kicking and lives in the area.

The chip shop (unsurprisingly called the Beacon Fish Bar) moved across the road to its current site 8th of December 1960. The new shop was called the same thing until it was taken over by the son of the original owner, when it was renamed the Scott Arms Fish Barr some years later.

(The last of the shops were open around 69-70, about two years before the closing of the cinema itself)

All information thanks to the current owner of the chip shop, who remembered the Beacon with great clarity!
 
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This was in the newspaper recently. Acocks Green Picture Playhouse, it closed for good in 1929.
 
img712.jpg1956.
The Scala, Smallbrook Street.
I can do a better picture than that.
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Stitcher said:
View attachment 78047The Rialto, Stratford Road Hall Green.
Because I lived in Oakhill Crescent Acocks Green, The Rialto, The Robin Hood and Olton were the three nearest cinemas but they were all rather a long walk from the house.
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I recall going to this cinema around the 1945/6 period. (if memory serves well)!! A friend, whose father had a car, took his two children and myself to see The Wizard of Oz. Little did I know at that tender age that I would be able to watch the film on television (not yet available outside London at that time I believe) every Christmas in the latter part of the 20th. century. :rolleyes: My father was still a serving soldier at that time in Norway so it was a rare treat to attend a cimema or theatre.
 
I remember this cinema so well. It was where all us kids used to go on a Saturday morning to see Flash Gordon etc., I can remember the film always breaking down, and ice cream cartons among other things being thrown, whilst shouting, whistling and complaining at the top of our voices. Good days eh?
 
Tha Acocks Green Picture Playhouse was on the corner of Station Road and Warwick Road.
 
The Picture Playhouse, Warwick Rd, Acocks Green.
 

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Seeing the words to the Odeon song, and mentally hearing it, really brings back memories.
We used to live next to Wilkinsons in Villa road and I used to walk to the Villa Cross picture house to see Flash Gordon on Saturday mornings.
I only recently found out that the picture house had burnt down, when trying to look at our old property with Google Maps.
Glad I've still got a photo of it.
 
a21.jpeg1946.
It was hoped that the Metropole Cinema on Snow Hill would re-open in this year after bomb damage was repaired.
 
A Bit of History..

It became a cinema from 1911, operated by Joseph Levy. In January 1929, it was taken over by Associated British Cinemas(ABC). It was leased to their Regent circuit from May 1933 until 1935. It was taken over by an independent operator from 11th July 1938.
Taken over by the Clifton Cinemas chain in August 1939, the Metropole Cinema was closed by extensive damage caused by German bombs which hit the theatre twice in 1941.
The building was demolished in 1952, and in 1953 a hotel was built on the site, designed in an Art Deco style by noted cinema architect Harry Weedon & Partners. This became a YMCA, and later a homeless hostel. It is known today as ‘The Snow Hill’ .
 
That is correct Mike, and when it was hoped it would re-open 1946 it was to be for stage shows and not films.
 
I think you will find that Boots the Chemist is on the site of the Picture Playhouse, it closed when the WARWICK SUPER CINEMA opened in Westley Road in 1929.
 
Interesting bit of history Mike. My dad worked for Clifton Cinemas from about 1936/7 and was supervisor for many cinemas in the area. I wonder if the Metropole came under his wing!

Judy
 
Clift and the other son and nephew of Leon Salberg where going to do it.... They Used the Savoy Theatre Kettering instead, which was a Modern Theatre and already owned by the Clifts and Salbergs... They would not then have been in opposition to The Alex,, which they also had shares in.. They did Monday for 6 Days and Film on Sundays and school holidays
 
I can remember Dad talking about Sidney Clift, but his immediate colleague was Ken Jones. I myself worked at Cinema Accessories in Corporation Street for a short time, booking the films into all the cinemas in the Clifton circuit.

Judy
 
I worked for Ken Jones Son KBK... and was a shareholder in one of the companies. Ken Jones sort of replaced Leon Salberg when he died.. Up until 1942 ish Sidney Clift and the Birmingham Mafia as I effectionatly call them, contolled 6 Odeons with Oscar Fronting them.. Plus share interests in another 50 Odeons Sidney Clift as I understand was not a natural showman.. Ken Jones provided that element and was a good booker.. When the Clifton Fall out happend in the 1960's with the son in law of Sidney Clift. Ken Jones Snr.. Took with him the Cliftons where the Brown facation controlled and joined with the BT Davis Curcuit to form "Theatre Administration Ltd., Based at the Regal Leamington..

I am full of useless knowledge........
 
Small world Mike! At Cinema Accessories which was at Princes Chambers at the New Street end of Corporation Street, I worked for Ken Jones but was only 16 so was the junior! I remember his lady PA was a chain smoker and never seen without a cigarette hanging out of her mouth! Can't remember her name though.

Judy
 
Hmm was It Joyce Rabbits ???? She moved over with Ken Jones to Leamington.... She did the accounts for my theatres... 1994 I took over the booking of the last four screens... Capitol Ward End.. and my one.. Savoy MONMOUTH

Was You father Leslie Holden. I think the name was. I think the name was. (my Memory) I have a picture somewhere of him in a group photo.. I think he had worked for Paramount Cinemas..
 
Might have been Joyce but I really can't remember. My Dad's name was Alexander (Alec) Tuck. He had worked in cinemas all his life. My grandfather opened the first theatre and then the first cinema in Selby in Yorkshire. After the first world war my Dad worked as a Cinema Projectionist and electrician in various cinemas in Yorkshire and Bath. In Bath he became Assistant Manager. In 1925 he became Manager of the Bath Cinema, Spencer Street, Leamington but I'm not sure if this was in the Clifton Group.

I know that by 1936 he was Manager of the Regal in Wednesfield and this was one of the Clifton Group. By this time he was manager of four cinemas and was also supervisor to the whole Clifton Cinema Circuit in the Midlands. In 1939 he was Manager of the Clifton Cinema, Great Barr and the family lived across the road from the cinema on Walsall Road. I think he left the cinema business just after the War - I can't remember exactly when but it would have been mid to late 1940s.


Judy
 
In July 1938, The Bath was taken over by the Stratford Picture House Co. part of the Clifton Cinema circuit, I know the name of Alex Tuck... and later renamed..
2nd from Left Ken Jones Snr 3rd from Right is SIR Sidney Clift (Might as well give him is Title. The Lady on The Far right is the Actress Marjaree Westbury Mike

clifton group 2.jpg
 
Mike - I managed to get a couple of photos that my sister had and here is one of Dad (Alex Tuck) when he was manager of the Regal at Wednesfield. The photo was taken in 1937 as you can see from the sash being put on Miss Wednesfield! Dad is the one with the dress shirt on! Judy

Regal Wednesfield 1937002.jpg
 
Another one for you Mike. Not Birmingham but another of the Regal in Wednesfield. This time it was the Babs Beauty Contest in 1935! Dad is on the left.

Judy

Regal Wednesfield 1935001.jpg
 
I love the photo's Jayell, your dad looks just like the Manager's, I remember, we tend to forget nowadays just how important the local cinema was, to the local community in the "pre-televison days".
paul
 
Mike,
I think you may be thinking of Leslie Holderness who was one of the first Managers of the Odeon New Street (Paramount) and was a "friend" of Betty Petrucci who was an assistant Manageress for a number of years at New Street.
Regards Chris
 
A lovely photo Judy. As has been said the managers of cinemas were very respected then. An elderly lady I knew a few years ago often recalled the time her father was the manager of the Baufort Cinema, Ward End.

The dresses are lovely so much satin obviously a popular material for evening dresses at that time.
 
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