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Dudley Road Picture House

Vivienne14

Vivienne14

Kentish Brummie Moderator
Staff member
image.jpeg image.jpeg This must have been a very early picture house with it being built in 1912. It was overtaken (and closed down) in 1932 following the building of the Grove further down the road. In later later years it was used as a ballroom dancing venue. Surprisingly the building is still there, but could do with a facelift. Viv.
 
Hi viv,
I have just logged on to your picture and I just cannot believe what I have just seen
That building as fully deteiratec and disrepair able its a disgrace
I must admitted I never seen it as a picture house ,but at my years around there I was aware
Of it history, but I do know what it was like as the ballroom and getting dancing lessons
There and it was high stannard neon lites building
Spotless inside and out even in the foya heartbreaking and discussting
To be honest viv I knew that area very well inside and out from one to the other
But I was up there some months ago and I just could not believe how that area as become the forgotten
People it was never like that in many years back ad far as I can remember it made me
Cry I spoke with the family whom own the frying fish and chippie whom I knew from when they first moved
North brook street first way back in 1959/60 at there first little shop at the bounty clock
Of the 95 bus service terminus, then they came out of there down to the BBC pershore road
Selly park they bought the shop and ran it for area years it was big johns the gather and owner
With his family they made big trade and refurbished the shop and living quarters and tiled the whole kitchen
Then sold up and moved to dudley road where they are now fully expanded and now added the chicken rack in Sutton C
oldfield to there bow. And they also seen it going down the drain
 
It's so sad to see this building in such a state. As Alan says, it was lovely inside and I had few dancing lessons there.
It will make a stark contrast when the new Hospital is built just up the road on Grove Lane.
rosie.
 
Agree Alan and Rosie. It must have been one of the early cinemas and I expect there aren't that many left. A great pity it's in such a state. Was there originally an entrance at the front? The older photo doesn't seem to show one at the front, unless it had been filled in. And you can just about make out to word 'dancing' above the ground floor central window. Viv.
 
There was a smaller door at the side of the main door, (this was about 1983/4). We just had a visitor who remembered going there too, he said it helped him get girlfriends because he could dance properly!!
It was Hawley's, they were very popular for many years.
rosie.
 
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