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Birmingham Cinemas

hi wogbag sorry i cant recall a pic of the beacon advertising the opening...the only one ive got is of the odeon at kingstanding circle advertising the opening NEXT MONDAY..

lyn
 
Very nice stars, thank you. Can't say that I remember any of the films, but recognise some of the stars names. The little advert at the bottom right of the programme list mentions Ellen St, I lived quite close to there. Well come to that I lived a stone's throw from the Gaumont.
 
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I did visit the Grange Small Heath and the Smethwick Gaumont but probably only once or twice each.
 
I remember going to the Grand Alum Rock to see Dangerous Moonlight with my mother, it was one of our local cinemas. We were quite regular cinema goers as my father worked shifts and when he was on "lates" we sometimes went twice a week (No T/V in those days)
 
I remember going to the Grand Alum Rock to see Dangerous Moonlight with my mother, it was one of our local cinemas. We were quite regular cinema goers as my father worked shifts and when he was on "lates" we sometimes went twice a week   (No T/V in those days)
 
I remember going to the Grand Alum Rock to see Dangerous Moonlight with my mother, it was one of our local cinemas. We were quite regular cinema goers as my father worked shifts and when he was on "lates" we sometimes went twice a week   (No T/V in those days)
 
Looking more closely at what was showing at the other cinemas I think it must have been a re-run of Dangerous Moonlight, as it was during the war when my mother and I saw it.
 
Lozells Rd Picturehouse
LOZZELLS-1.jpg
 
I remember the Beaufort had large dark brown wooden doors with small glass windows. When you went into the auditorium there were brass polls with velvet curtains to cut out the light when the doors were opened.
 
Buffalo puppy cakes were, and I believs still are made as puppy food but I do not know if they use real buffalo meat.
 
Zambodini said:
The Pavilion Wylde Green which was later turned into a bowling alley
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Looking at the photo again, although no date, it is interesting to see the wartime black and white markings on the kerbs and the advertised film 'Test Pilot' made in 1938 with Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy. My only visit to that cinema was in 1945 with a photo of 'little me' at a wedding on the day of my visit in the thread here... there was an interesting Newsreel shown....
 
The Rialto.jpgThe 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.
 
Re: Cinemas Carlton Taunton road.

Darby said:
Don't forget the Carlton in Taunton Road Sparkbrook,to my knowledge it was the only cinema in Birmingham to have a lift, I visited the area many years later when it had been demolished and was amazed at how small the site was that it had occupied.
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I lived across the road in Dennis road, 1948-1960. The Carlton was the best, and it did have a lift. The Sat matt was great apart from not hearing a word with all the kids chatting and running about. During the week you could ask an adult who was going into the carlton to take you in if it was an (A or B) film as you needed to be with a adult by law, then after you paid at the till to get in, you could leave your escort and find your own seat. you should stay with the escort but we never did.
Sowhere I have a picture of the Carlton when it was bombed during the war with the roof caved in on to the seats and a pic of it much later after it was restored. Topcat
 
hi dave
i seen the orinional flash gordon at the victoria palace on victoria rd aston next to buckinghams the chemist on a saturday morning matneefor the good old threepunny cruss like most of the aston kids on the sat morning then i would nip down to the astoria on aston cross on the afternoon to se trigger nd roy rogers for a tanner ; then when i came out the flicks i got knocked down by a hit and run driver of a baby austin ended up in the old general;l hospital for thre months had a couple of blood transfusiond during the night to save me and by coincidence the dr surgeonwittness my accident ;
they got the bloke tracked down four months later problem was a no claim there was no legal aid in those days we was the poor ones and i ended up with a plate in my leg and a long scarr down it this is in the early fifties ; i reckon i should trace the drivers details of his name from the papers
as i was only a kid but mom did say one day to me she read it out that they have got the driver and his name was published but i never took it all in on his name i think i would have liked to know whom he was and where from its quite clear sixty years down he line the person would no longer be alive best wishes astonian ;
 
Suppose one should restore the balance here.In the sixties Cinemas still retained there 1930's ambience.These are details of the ones I recall!!(all n the South side of Town.
The very large Kingsway in High st Kings Heath now demolished I think!..
It had 2 uniformed commisionaires in magnificent regalia of Maroon /pale blue.They were "chuckers out" or general policeman for the mayhem that often occurred during performancesYou could stay there all day once you paid to get in(3/6) so having seen the film once the local gangs of teenagers played transister radios,shouted out and even blew hunting horns.Fights , missiles, and fireworks also featured.I could write a book about the incidents, amusing when you look back."TAT" and his gang of black leather jacketed jd's were often evicted but wer.e let back in through an exit!(He was a milkman in Druids Heath by day!"
It was a place to pick up girls and have necking sessions in the back seats.I remember being forced to stand for the National anthem whilst a sweep of this ART Deco Place took place around 10.30.pm Films I saw.. "The Alamo".. accompaied by impromptu fireworks From Russia wit love ,Around the World in 8o days and many old Hammer films,Whatever happened to baby Jane" seat thrown at screen.
KINGS HEATH was a lively place then!!
 
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