Re: Old Accrington Cinema
 

using that yardstick, i should be a "Multi-Millionaire":D

Re: Old Accrington Cinema
 

Re the art deco panels. They didnt get smashed up, just purchased and moved elsewhere, over the seas perhaps (as did the lovely wrought iron gates for the old Grammar School).

Re: Old Accrington Cinema
 

Might have known you'd have noticed 'em as well, Atarah! Nice to know they were preserved, but what a pity they've gone abroad, like the Grammar School gates. :(

Old Accrington Cinema
 

Summer 1991 - here is a reminder of the old cinema being demolished. I was sure I had taken a close up of the panels mentioned in this thread, but, cant find one.

Re: Old Accrington Cinema
 

Nice shots, Atarah, cheers. You can just see the panels below the three top windows...wonder where they are now?

Old Accrington Cinema
 

And here is the cinema when newly opened, in 1937.

The brochure produced at the time quotes "emphasis is produced by complete facing with Portland stone into which are introduced decorative panels, modern in character, and symbolical of Music, Dancing and the Cinema Art"

Re: Old Accrington Cinema
 

And the majority of the treasures from Sacred Heart Church, our loss is other peoples gain:(

Re: Old Accrington Cinema
 

I seem to remember there being two picture places in Edgar Street, the Empire and the Princess.... I think the Princess did afternoon matines, and across the road was the Observer and Telegraph offices, with the Blockade at the bottom of the street.
We used to play in the hippodrome as kids, and there was a lot of stuff still inside. I can recall all the seating being intact, and the fire curtain stuck at half way down.... We stopped sneaking in after a lad fell to his death from the roof, and to this day I can still remember the ring on the road (ellison st.) where he met his end....bit gruesome but as kids you tend to remember things.... the lad was I think called David Masterman...

Re: Old Accrington Cinema
 

I think there were 6 cinemas in Accrington (Odeon, Princess, Empire, Ritz, Palace, King's Hall) and one on Blackburn Rd at the Church boundary (Queens). Spoilt for choice really
:-)))

Re: Old Accrington Cinema
 

They could have kept the facade, it could have been incorporated into the new building.

Re: Old Accrington Cinema
 

List of Accrington's long lost cinemas on this link.

(Below the photograph.)

“Empire Picture Palace” Edgar Street, Accrington | City Sights NY

Re: Old Accrington Cinema
 

I like the name Picturedrome for the Bug 'Ut .:)

Re: Old Accrington Cinema
 

Ya had me scratching just thinking about it JCB:D

Re: Old Accrington Cinema
 

The Princess had little alcoves at the back of the balcony(I don't think the Empire had them). They seemed nice and dark and private(I only realised years later if you were sat near the front and turned round the film would light up the alcove!).
I remember going home many a time and my folks saying 'Was it a good picture?' and me thinking 'What the hell was the picture?'
You didn't do that sort of thing in the Odeon!

Re: Old Accrington Cinema
 

Obviously your talking about the swimming seats Gordon, breast stroke on the back row:D:D