Bill Parker
master brummie
I am sure we all have a favourite Cinema, they are so much an integral part of our former years and they should be remembered for what they are, a building where many shared a few hours together engrossed in a film made to simply entertain us and yet they became far more, often remaining in our memories for far longer than other buildings.
Even the many that have been destroyed, I use that term deliberately, still survive in our memory, often cherished memories of our youth and even childhood, I would like to share one such building with those that read this part of the forum, the cinema that was originally buils as the Danillo, Quinton.
By all accouts this Cinema should not really exist, in many ways it has lead a charmed life and has seen of the introduction of the Multiplexes and the construction of the M5 motorway!
It could be argued that this was not a Birmingham Cinema but it was in Quinton and the Quinton 9 ran right in front of it, well in one direction and It would have entertained many many Quintonians and only moved technically into Halesowen for a while in the 1970s
This was my local from 1957 and I have distinct memories of the Cinema well before it was converted, rather well, into a four screen complex. I cant recall the films seen there other than one with Rock Hudson in and screened about 1966, dont ask me what it was called, I remember it because I was with rather nice young lady named Maureen.
It was originally a Danillo and opened on August 7th a bank holiday in 1939. It was a 1600 seater built by T. Elvins and it opened with the film "Charlie Chan In Honalulu" After the hostilities it passed from its owner Mortimer Dent, of Edgebaston, to SM super Cinemas but retained its original name and did not became an Essoldo until 1961.
In April 1972 it was sold to the Classic Circuit who converted it ventually into a four screen Cinema, this was eventually completed in 1978 with Michael Jackson as manager and the chief projectionist being Michael Hands. It kept technically updated with the installation of Dolby Stereo ect.
It had changed names several times and has also been a Cannon, ABC, Odeon and it now as far as I know a "Reel" cinema, I believe this was becasue the monopolies commision told odean to dispose of some of its cinemas, althought I stand corrected on this.
Its fate did look a bit doubtful earlier in the 60s, with the construction of the M5 motorway but the motorway just skims the side of the Cinema. I seem to remember there was once a pathway that provided a short cut along the side of the building, this would now be where the motorway is but at a much lower level.
So long may it continue to entertain.
Even the many that have been destroyed, I use that term deliberately, still survive in our memory, often cherished memories of our youth and even childhood, I would like to share one such building with those that read this part of the forum, the cinema that was originally buils as the Danillo, Quinton.
By all accouts this Cinema should not really exist, in many ways it has lead a charmed life and has seen of the introduction of the Multiplexes and the construction of the M5 motorway!
It could be argued that this was not a Birmingham Cinema but it was in Quinton and the Quinton 9 ran right in front of it, well in one direction and It would have entertained many many Quintonians and only moved technically into Halesowen for a while in the 1970s
This was my local from 1957 and I have distinct memories of the Cinema well before it was converted, rather well, into a four screen complex. I cant recall the films seen there other than one with Rock Hudson in and screened about 1966, dont ask me what it was called, I remember it because I was with rather nice young lady named Maureen.
It was originally a Danillo and opened on August 7th a bank holiday in 1939. It was a 1600 seater built by T. Elvins and it opened with the film "Charlie Chan In Honalulu" After the hostilities it passed from its owner Mortimer Dent, of Edgebaston, to SM super Cinemas but retained its original name and did not became an Essoldo until 1961.
In April 1972 it was sold to the Classic Circuit who converted it ventually into a four screen Cinema, this was eventually completed in 1978 with Michael Jackson as manager and the chief projectionist being Michael Hands. It kept technically updated with the installation of Dolby Stereo ect.
It had changed names several times and has also been a Cannon, ABC, Odeon and it now as far as I know a "Reel" cinema, I believe this was becasue the monopolies commision told odean to dispose of some of its cinemas, althought I stand corrected on this.
Its fate did look a bit doubtful earlier in the 60s, with the construction of the M5 motorway but the motorway just skims the side of the Cinema. I seem to remember there was once a pathway that provided a short cut along the side of the building, this would now be where the motorway is but at a much lower level.
So long may it continue to entertain.