Old Accrington Cinema
 

Can anyone tell me in what year it closed before being knocked down to make way for the Arndale?

Thanks in advance,

Gail xxxx

Re: Old Accrington Cinema
 

1983..84 ?

Re: Old Accrington Cinema
 

I suppose you mean The Odeon
http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...mas-31961.html

Re: Old Accrington Cinema
 

I didn't think it was so early hun.... !?

I read through all that thread, but can't seem to find a year...... :rolleyes:

Re: Old Accrington Cinema
 

The Arndale Centre proper was built before the Odeon was demolished (nearby).
..I can't put a date on it either.

Re: Old Accrington Cinema
 

Was built quite a long time before the Odeon went Margaret but I cant remember dates either

Re: Old Accrington Cinema
 

My ex was Manager of it right up until it closed, she then got moved onto Brierfield, within a year that was closed too.

I'm not saying it was her fault, she obviously, was in the wrong place at the wrong time twice, (three times if you include the marriage Ceremony).

It was some time in the nineties the place closed.

Re: Old Accrington Cinema
 

This seems helpful, looks like 1990.

Once upon a time in Accrington - Accrington Observer

Re: Old Accrington Cinema
 

Thank you hunnie! That's my question answered! xx

Re: Old Accrington Cinema
 

S'okay ... pleased I was of help at last .. teehee. You can probably get an article in the library from their Observer files reporting the closure. Good info. about the others too.

Talking about the library ... is that your display in there advertising your rambling club . nice one. Almost took information myself, doubt whether I would be able to keep up with you though .. :D .. Least I am giving you a plug.

Re: Old Accrington Cinema
 

Hehe, thanks for the compliment and the plug. I try too keep it up to date!

I'm sure you'd keep up with us hun, especially my walks and all the shorter walks. I only go at a steady pace as I'm not a fast walker myself. (little legs see :D). I'll be going on the short walk on 28th March if you want to come along too. Pick up the info and give us a go.... What have you to lose?!! xx

Re: Old Accrington Cinema
 

Don't blame me but the cinema was knocked down by a good friend of mine from Todmorden who's company is N&R Contractors. We started out together in 1963 but I pulled out, he became aa multi millionaire and I am left with plenty of egg on my face.
As you now know the date I don't have to ring up to find out.

Re: Old Accrington Cinema
 

The last film i saw there was batman & the cinema was due to be demolished shortly after that. Be about early 1990
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Re: Old Accrington Cinema
 

Didn't realise yer that old mel.;)

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Don't know if anybody ever noticed, but the front of the cinema, which was a typical example of 1930's-style Art Deco architecture featured carved panels with piano keyboards, gramophone records, musical notes and other entertainment-themed motifs. Would've been nice if they'd been preserved and incorporated into some newer building in the town centre, but I suppose they got smashed up like everything else. You don't get to be a millionaire by bothering about things like that!

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
:-)))

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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 .:)

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Ya had me scratching just thinking about it JCB:D

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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

Re: Old Accrington Cinema
 

Ah....The Princess theatre....were I invariably got stuck behind one of those poles holding up the roof structure.The place used to shake when a train went over the viaduct.

AlanD

Re: Old Accrington Cinema
 

The memorial pieta for parishioners who gave their lives in the two World Wars that was at the back of the church is now in the grounds of St Mary's Ossy .

The Stations of the Cross are in St Mary's Clayton , as well as some of the statues .

One statue has got as far as St Wilfrid's Preston .