Cinemas of Llandudno

[DaveR]

Built in 1880 as St Georges Hall and later the New Princes Cinema, it is now HMV:

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[Fester]

Surewin Bingo?
What a brilliant name for a gambling business!!

Its like BetFair which is massive these days, ... its anything but FAIR...

I think I shall open a bookies called You'llWin,  or Deffo-Win  or  U'll B Rich  ....   

Should be illegal really.

[DaveR]

A slide from the 1960s, that shows the sheer size of the Astra complex (left of picture). Originally built as the Winter Gardens and incorporated an Odeon Cinema for many years:

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[Trojan]

It certainly was a large building, by Llandudno standards.

[Trojan]

We used to go to Saturday morning pictures at the Astra, where they would show cartoons. When the theme tunes came up on the screen, all the children would rattle their hinged cinema seats up and down noisily whilst cheering at the same time.

Merrie Melodies & Looney Tunes - Opening themes.

[DaveR]

Interior of the Palladium Cinema. I don't remember it looking quite so tatty!

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[Trojan]

Must have been not long before it closed down.

Look at those cob-webs! 

[Trojan]

Came across this Pathe newsreel filmed at the Palladium in 1952, which was hosting the premiere of the film Castle in the Air.

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=29938

[Ian]

That's a superb site...

[RichieC]

In compliment to Dave R's photograph at post no. 12, here (unless there is a previous copy somewhere else already) is the then brand-new Odeon Colwyn Bay on its opening day in 1936. The image is reproduced on a film and cinema historian's site "Cinema Treasures" of which I have been a member for some years now, whereby readers can find much of the history of the beginnings of this theatre-and others locally. The photograph belongs to the stupendous catalogueof the original nationwide Odeon Theatres' staff photographer John Maltby, of whom more details are available, who celebrated the opening of each one with a comprehensive portfolio when the opening dates occurred.

Link is here: www.cinematreasures.org/theater/35192

In addition, which is not always possible on Cinema Treasures I'm including a replica of the poster of the the opening night film "The Ghost Goes West" to give forumers a feel of the cinema-going experience at that time and the ambience that as a result Colwyn Bay had with its partner cinema-chain places in the country. (All image source details available).

MO

[DaveR]

 

I'm a member of the Cinema Treasures site as well, their photo uploading feature has been unavilable for years. Great website, though. 

[DaveR]

Programme from 'The Cinema', Mostyn Street, Llandudno in 1924. It did not become known as the Savoy for many years later.

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[Trojan]

Page 2.

[DaveR]

It did not become known as the Savoy for many years later.

1932, to be precise.

[Trojan]

This program from 1941 indicates the facility was busy during the war.

It's the first time I've seen the building in that architectural state.