The Star cinema

[ASTONITE]

Don't know if this has been asked before, but was the Star on Slade road, the only cinema in brum with no upstairs, I can rememember it was only 4d for the saturday matinee, whereas most of the others cost a tanner.

 

[jennyann]

Hi Astonian: When I saw your post about The Star Cinema, the first recollection was that the matinee was 4d. The Plaza, Stockland Green was 6d
if I recall and a much larger and posher establishment. I remember The Star only having one level also. I don't know if it was the only "one level" cinema in Brum. Someone else might know. Thanks for the photo....brings back memories. I remember coming back from town on the No.65 bus and watching the place close down and then become a car showroom and then disappear altogether.

 

[john knight]

The Era on Bordesley Green Road was also one level, although it did have one step up to the balcony.

 

[coopbill7]

I remember the Star cinema very well, when I was in the Erdington cottage homes,if you elected to go to the "pictures"(instead of having pocket money,) we had to queue in a seperate line from the other children

 

[Alf]

Astonite your photo of the Star says it was taken 1955 sadly it Closed for good in 1957.

Two years National Service 1955 to 57 and they knocked down one of my local Cinemas.

 

[sylviasayers]

The Globe cinema Aston didn't have an upstairs either. You went up a flight of stairs to reach the back of the cinema - dearer seats - then it sloped downwards as you neared the screen, and there was an exit at the front on the left of the screen into New Street.

 

[Alf]

Nice one Sylvia Mom paid for my late Sister and myself to sit in the dear seats to watch the Saturday show and it was sixpence and we always sat by the exit on the left with the Brass polished rails so we could get out first. This was in the 1940s and always got us some fruit to take at the time she worked in the Greengrocery part at Giffins

 

[Lynda Harvey]

Although I was only twelve when the Star closed down, I must have spent many a happy hour there over the years. The saturday matinee was 4d or 6d. 6d meant you sat further towards the back. I was given 9d so I had threpence to spend on a sherbet dab or something, from the sweet shop on the corner of George Road. The last film shown there was Pal Joey, and the bill board was there for many years after. I went to Slade Road juniors, and used to come out of school and go straight to the pictures. Mom often had to come and fetch me out, as I would watch the feature twice if I could. I did graduate to the Stockland, but the Star was the one with all the memories.
Lynda

 

[Alf]

Lynda, its been said before but I for one don't mind saying it again, this is what this great Forum is all about.

Pal Joey ( Frank Sinatra)
As I have said I was in the Army at that time and I was a keen on his records. One day a parcel arrived for me at the camp as usual I thought it was from Mother.
But no it was from my late Sister and guess what was in the parcel a packet of Cigs, sweets a postal order and best of all the LP PAL JOEY.

It was the Sound track of the Film. My Sister had won the Bingo not much in those days and thought of me and my love of Franks music.

I've still got the LP battered and torn and very much worn but it never lets me forget my Sister

 

[Vintage Brumie]

I remember the Star cinema very well, when I was in the Erdington cottage homes,if you elected to go to the "pictures"(instead of having pocket money,) we had to queue in a seperate line from the other children

Hi there,
I've just seen your posting about the star cinema.
Was that the one situated next to "The Swan Pub" almost opposite "The Palace" cinema on the other side of "the horseroad" ?

If I remember rightly, it was known locally as "the flea pit". It had a wooden floor and every time someone walked down the isle the thump thump thump distracted one from concenrating from the film.

I preferred to go to "The Palace", at least one could go upstairs. I and my mates also frequented "The Palace Ballroom" to the dances there. They were run by a man called Phillips and the band was superb.

... all a long long time ago ....

 

[Alf]

Brumie The Star was in Slade Road near Gravelly Hill, The Palace was in High Street Erdington, The Palace was coverted from a public Hall and had a new auditorium built behind it, closed for the work and reopened 22nd Jan 1923.

 

[goldfinch]

HI! Do you happen to know if this cinema has been known as the Gravelly Hill Picture HOuse? My great uncle was a 'cinema photographer ' there before WW1 and he has listed this as his place of work on his medical records, when he was discharged. Many thanks in advance!

Don't know if this has been asked before, but was the Star on Slade road, the only cinema in brum with no upstairs, I can rememember it was only 4d for the saturday matinee, whereas most of the others cost a tanner.

 

[Phil]

Hi Goldfinch,

When the Star opened in 1914 it was known as the Gravelly Hill Picture House, the manager was a Mr E.Russell Yeulett. The building was demolished in 1981.

Phil

 

[ASTONITE]

It must be hard to envisage nowadays, especially for youngsters, that in the mid 1940s, there were 84 cinemas listed in Birmingham alone, I bet there's not many on this list still standing!View attachment 45227

 

[ethanedwards]

It must be hard to envisage nowadays, especially for youngsters, that in the mid 1940s, there were 84 cinemas listed in Birmingham alone, I bet there's not many on this list still standing!View attachment 45227

Great post, great list. Fascinating.
Not many at all, left!

 

[goldfinch]

Hello Phil
Many thanks for your very quick response!! How did you establish who the Manager was? My (husband's) Great Uncle was John Harold Hooke (son of Hookes the Stonemasons on Gravelly Hill) and we are confused about the actual place of work - I've gone back into the records and he described this as the Electric Picture House and Gravelly Hill Picture House - two different locations as verified by the photos on the site. I am checking ebay too, to see if there are any postcards to send to relations in the US. Hoping to go into Birmingham next week to buy some books and do more research at the Central Library - cheers again for your help! Jo

 

[goldfinch]

Hello Phil
Many thanks for your very quick response!! How did you establish who the Manager was? My (husband's) Great Uncle was John Harold Hooke (son of Hookes the Stonemasons on Gravelly Hill) and we are confused about the actual place of work - I've gone back into the records and he described this as the Electric Picture House and Gravelly Hill Picture House - two different locations as verified by the photos on the site. I am checking ebay too, to see if there are any postcards to send to relations in the US. Hoping to go into Birmingham next week to buy some books and do more research at the Central Library - cheers again for your help! Jo​

 

[sylviasayers]

Astonite, great to read through that list of mostly bygone cinemas, I visited so many of them. Did you notice that there was a different programme for Sundays for the surburban cinemas, I think it was something to do with licensing laws of the time. In those days it was common to go to the pictures 3 times a week, some cinemas changed the programmes, Sunday old films, MTW new releases, change TFS also new releases.

 

[Phil]

Goldfinch

This is the source of the information I quoted its from Victor J Price's excellent book Birmingham Cinemas.

As you can see there is no mention of the Star ever being called The Electric, from the same source I have found that 3 cinemas in Birmingham were called the Electric. There was the one in Station St in the city, The Electric Picture House on Bristol St that later became The Cinephone, The Electric Theatre on Coventry Rd Small heath that was later to be called Casino cinema.

Phil

 

[Tomo]

Hi Vintage. The cinema that your thinking of next to the "Swan Pub", was called the "Picture House" as you say a real "Flea pit".
There was no upstairs balcony, just a single story building.

 

[Alberta]

We certainly had a few cinemas to choose from in Erdington and most of them showed 2 different films a week ,switching over midweek if I remember correctly.

 

[gerry taylor]

Interesting. I recall the STAR Cinema, as when I was fifteen I went to a dancing school on Gravelly Hill, and used to go to the Star after dance lessons. I remember The Palace in High Street too. Ah such happy days.

 

[mikebrown007]

I remember the Star Cinema iused to go in 3d seats and when in the seat when it goy dark we would go under the seats and go in the 4d seats and sit with the girls.That would be 1950-55 they were great times

 

[Bill Parker]

According to the book Iam using for referance the Star opened in 1914 and was owned by Aston Villa player William Devey, it doesnt say when. Its frontagw was heavily modified in the mid 50s with what looks like a new canopy and large square shaped pillars surrounding a lrager centre secion with vertical columns that are in a darker colour.
In 1957 it was turned into a film studio for making TV adverts then prior to demolition in 1982 it had also been used as a factory and offices, hope this is of interest.

 

[odeonmillfield]

I used to go to school between 1953 and 1957 in Slade Road, next to the Star. What a luxury, out at 4.30 and start a queue at the 'STAR' Happy memories, Any school friends remember me, Roy Gregory. Before demolition the film studio belonged to Birmingham Commercial Films. They held a few open evenings there too. Very interesting

 

[Delyawindsor21]

Thank you for sharing that with us, so interesting, my Mum worked there in the fifties and as we only lived just up the road, in St Thomas, I often went to meet her on summer evenings to walk home with her. I was born in 1947 , safe on the streets in those days.

 

[Delyawindsor21]

Sorry Roy, I don,t think I remember you but I started at Slade Road in 1952' I swam in all the galas at wood coat St, (think that's how you spelt it)? Long long time ago......

 

[Delyawindsor21]

I vividly remember The Swan Pub, going past to home for lunch, with the old ladies sat on the wall with their turbans on drinking half a pint of ale, (in a ladies glass of course) I recall hearing them call each others :ducks or duckie or dear)
Happy days...

 

[mossg]

You can just about see the Star picture house on this picture of Slade Rd taken in 1952.

 

[Delyawindsor21]

God, I must getting old, I can even remember the trams !!!! thanks for that, your so lucky to have all these lovely photos.... and I CAN see the STAR.....