Three Towns Forum
The Local => Times Past => Topic started by: suepp on September 05, 2010, 08:03:30 pm
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I've been discussing this on Facebook, In the 1970's a few bands appeared at The Palace, I can remember going to see The Detroit Emeralds and also Sweet Sensation, they were both popular at the time and appeared on Top of the Pops! D)
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I never knew that bands appeared at the Palace! :o I thought it was a case of being just a cinema originally, then going over to cinema/bingo, then just bingo. Do tell more...
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/89/206611807_9a223e13f1.jpg)
Palace Bingo (former Cinema), Conwy (http://www.flickr.com/photos/davellandudno/206611807/#)
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All I can remember is those two events, and a couple I didn't get to see who appeared there such as Jimmy Ruffin and Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon. If I'm not mistaken the promoter was the late Louis Parker
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Ah, that would make sense. Parker Leisure Holdings (run by Brian Parker) still own it today, along with large swathes of central Rhyl like the Queens Market etc.
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Not too sure of my facts here---but I do know that the late Louis Parker had booked a top "star" to appear at the Palace around the 1970s. Unfortunately I dont recall his name, perhaps I never knew it, but he was FAMOUS---but for whatever reason he did'nt turn up. A little thing like that did'nt put off Louis, he got the late James Barr who was a local D.J. and tennis star, I think there is a local tennis facility called after him, is it James Carrington Barr, Im not sure of his middle name.. He looked vagulely like this "star" he had a mass of black hair, bulky build and a very extroverte personality. So Louis pushed him out on the stage introducing him as being the missing "STAR." Unbelievably he appeared to get away with it. Neither of them, both sadly died very young, were short of cheek. This story was told to me by the manager at that time of the Palace. Mike
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Alexander James Barr, if it's the one in Eirias Park. Z**
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I can certainly remember seeing the Hennessys and Ryan a Ronnie there but that was in the sixties.
More fondly, I remember the cinema being used for saturday morning picture in the late fifties.
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Alexander James Barr, if it's the one in Eirias Park. Z**
Hmmm, or it might be James Alexander Barr actually. :-[
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Front of the Palace in the 1980s:
[smg id=316]
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James A. Barr was brought up for a time at Arnhall, Graigside he worked on the buildings when he left school, the last time I saw him was about 1985 he was running a pub in Kinmel Bay he had a rich lady friend. Louis was the DJ at Penrhyn Old Hall before he went to a club which I believe his family owned in St. Asaph.
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James A. Barr was brought up for a time at Arnhall, Graigside he worked on the buildings when he left school, the last time I saw him was about 1985 he was running a pub in Kinmel Bay he had a rich lady friend. Louis was the DJ at Penrhyn Old Hall before he went to a club which I believe his family owned in St. Asaph.
The Talardy in St Asaph.
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James A. Barr was brought up for a time at Arnhall, Graigside he worked on the buildings when he left school, the last time I saw him was about 1985 he was running a pub in Kinmel Bay he had a rich lady friend. Louis was the DJ at Penrhyn Old Hall before he went to a club which I believe his family owned in St. Asaph.
The Talardy in St Asaph.
and the hottest nightspot around "The Stables" D)
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I didn't know the Talardy had gone bust back in June:
http://www.denbighshirevisitor.com/news/denbighshire-news/2010/06/16/st-asaph-s-talardy-hotel-in-administration-105722-26656464/ (http://www.denbighshirevisitor.com/news/denbighshire-news/2010/06/16/st-asaph-s-talardy-hotel-in-administration-105722-26656464/)
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Some press clippings from the past...
1919:
[smg id=956]
1920:
[smg id=939]
1922:
[smg id=934]
1929:
[smg id=958]
1933:
[smg id=951]
1950:
[smg id=924]
1961: (probably the last proper Summer Show on the Pier)
[smg id=933]
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A Soul All Nighter from 1986 at the legendary CeeJs nightclub (i.e the Dixieland with a new coat of paint) on Colwyn Bay Pier in 1986:
[smg id=1010]
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A Soul All Nighter from 1986 at the legendary CeeJs nightclub (i.e the Dixieland with a new coat of paint)
L0L
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Inside the Palace in 1981 (courtesy of Ian Grundy on Flickr):
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/35/71140434_7a3ce44ecf_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/71140434/)
PalaceConway (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/71140434/#) by stagedoor (http://www.flickr.com/people/stagedoor/), on Flickr
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Six people from the audience standing on a man lying on a bed of nails, Fakir performance At Colwyn Bay October 1947. (Theatre unknown)
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Silly Fakir....
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I was just looking at the entry on 'Cinema Treasures' for the Palace. Have to say that the bit about 'The front of the building was originally a Georgean house which had been in use as a bank for many years' was news to me...
Located in the North Wales town of Conwy (originally known as Conway, Carnarvon). The Palace Cinema opened on 6th January 1936 with Hugh Williams in "Lieutenant Daring R.N.".
It was designed by architect Sydney Colwyn Foulkes for independent operator Mr H. Christmas Jones. The front of the building was originally a Georgean house which had been in use as a bank for many years. It was built of grey weather-worn stone, fitting in nicely with the old townscape. Behind this was built the modern cinema's auditorium block. Inside the auditorium was rather plain, but there was a reason for this. The lighting was by Holophane, which was able bathe the audiorium in over 400 tints and hues of colour. There are six silvered columns on each side of the proscenium opening which reflected the lighting. Across the top of the proscenium were panels in silver, which showed the faces of leading film stars of the 1930's. The ceiling was a plain 'dome' which had the Holophane lighting 'played' onto it. There was a cafe located in the balcony foyer which provided refreshments to patrons.
Of all the cinemas that were built in the U.K. in 1936, the Palace Cinema received the title 'Cinema of the Year' and the architect was given a 'special design award'.
In the 1970's occasional stage shows were included in the programming. The proscenium was 28 feet wide and two dressing rooms had been provided. The Palace Cinema closed in the early 1980's and was converted into an independently operated bingo club, which remains in use today.
The former Palace Cinema is a Grade II Listed building.
Contributed by Ken Roe http://cinematreasures.org/theater/22947/ (http://cinematreasures.org/theater/22947/)
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James Alexander Barr & Louis Parker used to go out with their mobile disco called "The Disco Roadshow". Louis used to DJ at Penrhyn Old Hall with his then wife Val, they were known as "King Louis & Val". Louis went on to form a Management company in London that used to manage major acts including Boyzone, and he was responsible for bringing many big name boy bands / groups / singers to the Rhyl Pavillion Theatre. I don't think he made a huge amount of money from doing that. I phoned him one day at his office and he said it gave him an excuse to come 'home'. Louis used to buy records from me back in the 1970s.
The major act that didn't turn up was, and I may be wrong, Robert Knight of 'Love On A Mountain Top' fame...Or it may have been George McCrae in around 1974/5.
As for the Palace, back in 70s it was Gilbert Gillan and Robert Redhead who brought Sweet Sensation there. They used to have a record shop in Madoc Street, Llandudno on the upper floor of the catring shop I think.
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There was a review in "The Guardian" last week for a dvd - "Here's a Health to the Barley Mow: A Century of Folk Customs and Ancient Rural Games", 0ut July 18th and produced byBFI.
Apparently it has dances, songs, in the form of news reports from regional tv etc. "So alongside raw 1927 footage of the Llandudno May Queens there are childrens' games etc etc. Hmm?