-
Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.
We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team
Astoria Cinema Aston
- Thread starter Astoness
- Start date
gingerjon
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN R.I.P.
High street Aston Six Ways to Asylum road opposite side SixWays to Bracebridge street.
Newtown Row. Lancaster street to Bracebridge street opposite side Lancaster street to Asylum road.
Same thing regarding Aston Cross which was queezed in between Lichfield road and Aston road north every one used to call the area Aston Cross so names after the old wooden cross that once stood at this point when it fell to pieces the remains where kept in Aston Church, that is why there is a cross on the top of the clock still.
we all ways wrote Aston X like this
Newtown Row. Lancaster street to Bracebridge street opposite side Lancaster street to Asylum road.
Same thing regarding Aston Cross which was queezed in between Lichfield road and Aston road north every one used to call the area Aston Cross so names after the old wooden cross that once stood at this point when it fell to pieces the remains where kept in Aston Church, that is why there is a cross on the top of the clock still.
we all ways wrote Aston X like this
h dave...i think i asked john if he had any bracebridge st a few months ago....dont think he had any....would you beleive that he has been searching for years for pics of his parliament st with no success...but you are right to stay posative..i keep on saying that out there somewhere are the pics both you and john want and they will turn up....trust me
lyn...
lyn...
Don Clive
Adopted 'Tammie'
Thanks Alf, the picture is how I remember the old Astoria as a child, the other bit aout it once being an Opera House may be not quite correct but the elderly neighbour who told me that also said that when they had opera on a red carpet was rolled across the pavement and us ordinary plebs were instructed to walk in the 'Horse Road'! Don
hi dave..ive just made contact with me cousin after many years.... guess where she was born and raised?? bracebridge street....she going to get her daughter to go through her moms old photos as she it pretty sure there are one or two pics of the street...dont hold yer breath as i had a couple of false alarms with the vine inn but at least its a chance....
lyn
guess where she was born and raised?? bracebridge street....she going to get her daughter to go through her moms old photos as she it pretty sure there are one or two pics of the street...dont hold yer breath as i had a couple of false alarms with the vine inn but at least its a chance....lyn
W
Wendy
Guest
From the book The Dream Palaces Of Birmingham by Chris and Rosemary Clegg published 1983.
The Theatre Royal was designed by Mr Ward and opened in 1893. It operated as a live theatre until Monday 12th Dec 1927 when it re opened as the Astoria Cinema. This cinema employed rear projection from behind a translucent screen because from the circle the rake would have been too steep. The projectors were situated about 25 feet behind the screen.
As an ABC house, it closed on the 26th Nov 1955 to be transformed into a television studio for ABC television and ATV. The building was later demolished after ATV moved to their new studios and BRMB now occupies the site,keeping alive the tradition of entertainment.
Edit. A link to the ATV Studios thread is here https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?threads/atv-studios-aston.22190/#post-617915
The Theatre Royal was designed by Mr Ward and opened in 1893. It operated as a live theatre until Monday 12th Dec 1927 when it re opened as the Astoria Cinema. This cinema employed rear projection from behind a translucent screen because from the circle the rake would have been too steep. The projectors were situated about 25 feet behind the screen.
As an ABC house, it closed on the 26th Nov 1955 to be transformed into a television studio for ABC television and ATV. The building was later demolished after ATV moved to their new studios and BRMB now occupies the site,keeping alive the tradition of entertainment.
Edit. A link to the ATV Studios thread is here https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?threads/atv-studios-aston.22190/#post-617915
Last edited by a moderator:
W
Wendy
Guest
fftopic:Now now you two behave!
sylviasayers
master brummie
I spent many a happy hour at the Astoria, indeed at all the cinemas in Aston, the Aston Cross, Orient, Globe, Victoria Playhouse, the only one I never went to was the Newtown Palace.
Cookie there was never a Peacocks on the Cross, perhaps you are thinking of the Co-op Drapery opposite the clock, there was a row of Co-op Shops, butchers, greengrocers, etc., and George Mason was on that side of the road just before Tower Road.
I can't remember Jelf's coffee house on the corner of Rocky Lane, going towards Aston X from the Astoria, was the pawnshop, Woolworths, Timpson, and the Municipal Bank. in later years the "coffee shop" was Lathams Drapery, and then a car showroom.
I remember Jelfs fish & chip shops and the cafe just into Park Lane as Baron posted.
Cookie there was never a Peacocks on the Cross, perhaps you are thinking of the Co-op Drapery opposite the clock, there was a row of Co-op Shops, butchers, greengrocers, etc., and George Mason was on that side of the road just before Tower Road.
I can't remember Jelf's coffee house on the corner of Rocky Lane, going towards Aston X from the Astoria, was the pawnshop, Woolworths, Timpson, and the Municipal Bank. in later years the "coffee shop" was Lathams Drapery, and then a car showroom.
I remember Jelfs fish & chip shops and the cafe just into Park Lane as Baron posted.
oops ray...please ignore my post 30...i said i only had a pic of the marquis of lorne that was on the corner of farm st/hockley hill...slight senior moment
wrong pub as that was the benyon arms...thats the bad news..the good news is i do have a pic of your marquis of lorne...just tried to post it ray but it needs downsizing..thats a job for me son...he will be back soon.....
lyn...
wrong pub as that was the benyon arms...thats the bad news..the good news is i do have a pic of your marquis of lorne...just tried to post it ray but it needs downsizing..thats a job for me son...he will be back soon.....lyn...
Last edited:
Don Clive
Adopted 'Tammie'
The butchers in the line of shops between Park Lane and Tower Road Was 'Thompsons' They had another shop further down Lichfield Road, the Slaughter house was at the rear. another Aston cinema that hasn't been mentioned was the 'Delicia' on Gost Green, when it closed it became the first BBC TV studio in the Midlands
Alf
Gone but not forgotten. R.I.P.
It has now although the TV studio has been mentioned before, my Mom worked there Don, its on the Gosta Green link look in the Search box at the top page.
It was closed in 1944 then it was used for Wrestling then it became a TV studio for the BBC, last I heard it was used by Aston University as a Arts Lab then called the Triangle
There was also another Thompsons at Hawthorne Road Kingstanding/ Erdington depends where you lived
This is the best I can do for now
View attachment 38793
It was closed in 1944 then it was used for Wrestling then it became a TV studio for the BBC, last I heard it was used by Aston University as a Arts Lab then called the Triangle
There was also another Thompsons at Hawthorne Road Kingstanding/ Erdington depends where you lived
This is the best I can do for now
View attachment 38793
Last edited:
Ray Barrett
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN R.I.P.
I never knew the Delicia as a cinema,it was, as Alf said a wrestling venue,the M.C.and referee was Micky Wood (I think).I do remember boxing there once c1950.
The last time I was down there the front had been kept intact,and it was a Waterstones book shop.
Lyn,thanks for the Marquis Of Lorne,the "Benyon" hockley is another story
...shall send you an I.M.
The last time I was down there the front had been kept intact,and it was a Waterstones book shop.
Lyn,thanks for the Marquis Of Lorne,the "Benyon" hockley is another story
...shall send you an I.M.
Don Clive
Adopted 'Tammie'
Thanks Alf, went frequently to see the 'pictures' at the Delicia, a school friends father used to sell fruit from a handcart outside the cinema, a half Pomegranite cost a penny, complete with a pin out of the sellars lapel to pick the seeds out! found another good site, for current and ex 'Astonians' like myself with loads of pictures....
www.astonhistory.co.uk have a looksee Don
www.astonhistory.co.uk have a looksee Don
blackmagicmargaret@google
Brummie babby
Lyn,do you have photo.of "The Marquis Of Lorne"it was further up Newtown Row.Went in there the day they pulled it down,not for a drink,"our Phil"wanted the porcelain beer pumps,the demolition men objected...however,they are now in Shrewsbury somewhere.