Birmingham Cinemas

[carolina]

Chris my mistake I was getting mixed up with The Lyric.

 

[Jayell]

Chris - thanks for the photo of the Elite on Soho Road. That cinema holds many happy memories for me. My Mom and Dad had a hotel just up the road from there and the manager often popped in for lunch as he and my dad were friends. My Dad was in the cinema business for many years and was manager at the Clifton on Walsall Road when I was born.

Judy

 

[Stitcher]

I never went to this one either.

 

[cookie273uk]

Stitcher (1163) I believe the Kingsway is/was on the Coventry rd near the Blues ground..... Eric

 

[maypolebaz]

Stitcher (1163) I believe the Kingsway is/was on the Coventry rd near the Blues ground..... Eric

The Kingsway we used to visit was in Kings Heath.

 

[Stitcher]

Hello maypolebaz, I remember the one by the Blues Ground as being 'The Kingston'. Time makes it all foggy but some parts are a lot foggier than others.

 

[Stitcher]

Top of Kingston Hill.

 

[maypolebaz]

Hello maypolebaz, I remember the one by the Blues Ground as being 'The Kingston'. Time makes it all foggy but some parts are a lot foggier than others.

Foggy ? You should take a look inside my bonce mate !

 

[Chris B]

it was THE KINGSTON that was situated at the top end of the Coventry Road, it was the sister to THE SHELDON, in fact it was identical to look at from the front, and the mistakes they made building the Kingston were remedied when the Sheldon was built, one improvement at the Sheldon was a covered in crush hall integral with the building along the Lyndon Road side of the building to shelter the queues from the rain and wind, it was complete with a separate cash desk so that at busy times another cashier could sell tickets for the front stalls thus relieving the cashier in the main foyer. The Cinema was built by Bryants for Morris & Jacombs who at the time also owned THE SHELDON, THE CORONET, THE GRANGE, THE BEAUFORT, and I think they also had interest in THE ROCK. There was a boardroom incorporated in THE KINGSTON where meetings of the company directors were held, Mr Arthur Dowding General Manager of the group also had offices there. Miss Lloyd was one of the last Cashiers. Not the best quality Pics but I just can't put my hand on the originals at the moment

 

[Stitcher]

I do not remember these two.

 

[Chris B]

The EDGBASTON circa 1946

pic of the CROWN Ladywood on page 80, in later years it was Bill Landons bathroom centre

 

[Anne Jessel]

I can't for the life of me remember the name of the Cinema on the corner diagonally opposite Scott Arms. I used to be sent to the Saturday morning matinee by my sister who I frequently stayed with in Appleton Avenue - in those days! Yes, I also walked throught the woods to the canal from the back of her house. Judging by Google Earth it's COVERED now. Sorry I strayed from Cinema's.:fatigue:

 

[paul stacey]

Where in Edgbaston was this Chris? I lived there from 1948-53 and don't remember it, we lived in Raglan Road, just off the Pershore Road.
paul

 

[Avena]

I think it was the Beacon in Great Barr

 

[Chris B]

The BEACON Cinema

 

[Chris B]

Where in Edgbaston was this Chris? I lived there from 1948-53 and don't remember it, we lived in Raglan Road, just off the Pershore Road.
paul

I believe the address was MONUMENT ROAD Edgbaston

 

[Chris B]

THE CROWN Icknield Port Road

 

[carolina]

There was another picture house on Monument Road which was just down from The Ivy Bush.

 

[maggs]

carolina, I think it would have been the 'Edgbaston'. A cinema I used a lot.

 

[carolina]

Maggs yes thats right it lay back right from the road

 

[Jayell]

I remember seeing April Love with Pat Boone at the Edgbaston in Monument Road. Guess that would be around 1958.

 

[maggs]

Judy, that's the one I saw at the Paladium.

 

[paul stacey]

Thanks Chris, was't near me that's why I don't remember it, I suppose it's long gone now.
paul

 

[Stitcher]

I never used the Apollo but I did go into the Alhambra once or twice.

 

[Stitcher]

I have been in The Coronet and The Carlton, but it was many years ago.

 

[Chris B]

The first Odeon was in Perry (Pear) Barr (Hill).
Opened on 4th August 1930 by Oscar Deutsch the name ODEON derives from part of his name,
Oscar Deutsh Entertains Our Nation.
He was Born of Jewish Hungarian Parents in Balsall Heath 1889 Died 1941.
How many Cinemas do you have stories about and what was your favorite story of that cinema.

Perry Barr Odeon original frontage and then after modernisation

 

[Chris B]

THE DANILO / ESSOLDO, / ABC, / ODEON,/ REEL, Quinton.

 

[Chris B]

ODEON Stratford Road Shirley

 

[Stitcher]

I remember going to these two but only once each, I think.

 

[Stitcher]

The sheldon is the only one of these that I visited.