hi does anyone remember going to picture house as there trying to get it reopened i used to go to the ballroom there had some good times as a child on sat mornings and the social on a sat night i remember ken who you payed your money too and ran it anyone remember him

Saw a leaflet or poster in the library about an open weekend at the Abbeydale Cinema..with conducted tours. You could try phoning the Information desk there.

Last time I was there was 1956 in the snooker hall downstairs...first time was 1946 or 47 to see Disney's 'Song of the South' with Brer Rabbit and Co. :D

I used to in the ballroom late 70's to early 80's, possibly the best sprung ballroom floor in the city and now it's a snooker hall. From the early 60's it was a Court School of Dancing, one of a chain around the country. In later days it became the Kay Gee Bee still a school for ballroom dancing but also now opening it's doors as a rock venue, and at other times a Mod dance hall then Northern Soul and even for a time a blues reggae club.
The guy Ken was there throughout and was the manager of the place when it was a Court school and then the owner of the Kay Gee Bee, he now lives in Stoke, winters in Malta and still teaches ballroom dancing even though he's in his mid 70's.
I could bore you silly with further info but if you want to know more just ask.

My brother-in-law says he saw Bob Dylan there. Would this be right?

I believe the original cinema interior of the place is still intact? I have a picture taken in 1988 that shows the screen still in place and all the seating.

Do any of you also remember the temperance bar about four doors down the road. (towards town)
As kids we used to go in there after going to the pictures and get a pint of sasperella in a dimple beer mug. There was a proper bar and bench seating just like in a real pub. lol

Originally posted by Bushbaby
My brother-in-law says he saw Bob Dylan there. Would this be right?

Dylan only played Sheffield twice in the 60s:

1965 City Hall and 1966 Gaumont Cinema (across from City Hall in Barker's Pool)

He didn't play the UK again until 1978 and even then didn't come back to Sheffield until the late 80s.

Your brother-in-law may be thinking of the Dylan film Don't Look Back which could have been shown at the Abbeydale.

www.abbeydalepicturehouse.com

More details and pictures here.

I used to go to the abbeydale pictures, and the dance hall..the last picture I think I saw there was an opera, we were sat on the front row craning our necks to see it..mind you they didhave very comfortable seats in thereOriginally posted by den37
hi does anyone remember going to picture house as there trying to get it reopened i used to go to the ballroom there had some good times as a child on sat mornings and the social on a sat night i remember ken who you payed your money too and ran it anyone remember him

I saw 'Diamonds Are Forever' there in the seventies. Oo Shirley Bassey.

when i was a baby upto being 3 years old i use to live on gatefield road & my dad said to me that showaddywaddy use to hang out around there,the last time i was round those parts it was open for up & coming live bands,if my memory serves me right was there an old dairy somewhere round the back of the old picture house?i might be wrong.

There was indeed a dairy or milk place on the road behind and below the cinema, in the stairwell was a large curved window in which stood a black and white model cow that I seem to remember actually moo'ed.
Don't remember live bands in the cinema though there were a few that played in the ballroom when it was a rock venue.
The friends of Abbeydale Picture Palace are having an open weekend and are giving guided tours of the interior if anyone's interested. 12-13 march?

[QUOTE]Originally posted by WallBuilder
There was indeed a dairy or milk place on the road behind and below the cinema, in the stairwell was a large curved window in which stood a black and white model cow that I seem to remember actually moo'ed.
Don't remember live bands in the cinema though there were a few that played in the ballroom when it was a rock venue.
The friends of Abbeydale Picture Palace are having an open weekend and are giving guided tours of the interior if anyone's interested. 12-13 march? [/QUOTE


yes i remember the the black & white model cow

The road behind is Broadfield Road and it was Express Dairy on there. Next to it was a confectionery factory called Dixon Pitchfork which made Dixon's mints. I used to trainspot at the railway bridge down towards Little London at Heeley, especially when it was raining as there was a covered passageway there.
I recall the dance hall at the Abbeydale Cinema, at one time, being called the Alfred Gold School of Dance?

When it came to a quiet bit in a film you could hear the music from the dance hall echoing through the walls

Originally posted by CHAIRBOY
The road behind is Broadfield Road and it was Express Dairy on there. Next to it was a confectionery factory called Dixon Pitchfork which made Dixon's mints. I used to trainspot at the railway bridge down towards Little London at Heeley, especially when it was raining as there was a covered passageway there.
I recall the dance hall at the Abbeydale Cinema, at one time, being called the Alfred Gold School of Dance?
Do you remember the Milk Machine outside Express Dairy,I used to get a carton of milk when me & my mates came out of the Baths.

No sorry I didn't. I passed milk goodbye after trying schoolmilk!

Yes 6d a carton. People used to go round at night if theyd run out of milk. Can you imagine it these days, it would smashed to bits as soon as you turned your back.

Can any one remember the conveyor which took the milk crates over the entrance way, all rattling and clinking, it used to fascinate me as a kid.
Also at Heeley baths in the summer when they had the boiler house doors open and you could see the furnaces of the boilers for the baths and the washhouse

Yes I remember the conveyor & on saturday mornings me & my mates from Heeley would go down at 7am & put chlorine around the edge of the baths & stay til 10am free of charge,what great day's.

Dylan indeed played the Gaumont in the 60s. What you may not know is that CBS records recorded the concert. Don't know if they ever released any of it commercially though.

Do any of you also remember the temperance bar about four doors down the road. (towards town)
As kids we used to go in there after going to the pictures and get a pint of sasperella in a dimple beer mug. There was a proper bar and bench seating just like in a real pub. lol
the guy that owned the place was Mr chicerlli he was italian very nice guy

The Abbeydale, 6 of us used to club togeather to pay for one to get in, he in turn would open the exit door in the toilet to let the rest of us in, 10 minutes later Horace would come and throw us all out, aaaaahh happy days. we used to meet two girls there, Wendy and Chris,i don't think i ever saw a film there.

i can remember the abbeydale early sixt's when you could sneek in free ;first bond flim dr no waited till films had done the rounds in the city cinemas then when they came to abbeydale they where cheaper to see sunday night was horror night films i was older then so skip sasperella ;express milk so after the film streight down to the droadfield pub for last orders ps did any one remember sat ;morning cinema for kids shouting and booing and some rotter would flick ice cream from the circle :hihi:

I used to go dancing there most Saturdays,Glossop Road Baths was another and the City Hall all had dances on Saturday in the 1940s. The Yorkshire ripper was caught by a very bright policeman outside Glossop Rd. baths.

The Temperence Bar. Ran by two brothers who lived near Millhouses Park. Open on Sundays as well - unusual for Sheffield in the 50s. " Sassparilla please". "A Sass" was the reply. "Horlicks please". "A horlicks" was the reply. Good place to meet girls though and saw my first 'finger tip length drape with link button suit' there worn with 'sharkskin shirt with under the collar button' and no tie. Plus crepe suede shoes. That guy was a fashion leader.

Intereting reading about the sasperella bar near the old abbeydale cinema. I used to go in there on a weekly basis with my friends for a pint of the stuff, used to love it.
During the summer months we would stand outside with pint glass in hand looking really cool, mind you we were about 10 or 11 at the time. It was also a meeting place for our gang. :thumbsup:

Happy times

Abbeydale Picture House photographs

I am currently working with the Friends of Abbeydale Picture House on the history of the Abbeydale with a view to publishing a guide booklet for the building. We have plenty of photographs from the present day but not many of it when it was a working cinema. If you have any that might be of help to us can you please get in touch; it may be that you had photographs taken in the ballroom at a dance or in the Snooker Hall (this is now Bar Abbey and the original ballroom is now used for Snooker). If you can accurately date any photos that would be a big plus.
Sadly the sprung floor was removed during the A&E Drake era.

Many thanks
Dennis

The temperance Bar was "Pops" drink shop and he sold draught sarsaparella

The Abbeydale, 6 of us used to club togeather to pay for one to get in, he in turn would open the exit door in the toilet to let the rest of us in, 10 minutes later Horace would come and throw us all out, aaaaahh happy days. we used to meet two girls there, Wendy and Chris,i don't think i ever saw a film there.

I think i was one of the six.I used to meet two girls sandra and pam both from rydal rd.good days

Do any of you also remember the temperance bar about four doors down the road. (towards town)
As kids we used to go in there after going to the pictures and get a pint of sasperella in a dimple beer mug. There was a proper bar and bench seating just like in a real pub. lol
Yes, and they also sold Horlicks in proper Horlicks mugs, Horlicks tablets and Liquorice Root. I could only ever handle a half of Sasperella.

I remember going to see Davy Crockett King Of The Wild Frontier there in the 50's. Fes Parker who played Davy Crockett made a personal appearance. You should have seen all the lads queueing from half way down Broadfield Road all wearing Davy Crocket hats. :hihi:

Judithjones contacted me by Private Message on 2 March 2009 - unfortunately she has blocked receipt of Private Messages so I am unable to respond directly to her.

DD

Once went to a Northern Soul night (or rather dragged along by an ex-girlfriend). Bored sh*tless, but I thought that the sprung dancefloor was rather fun...

Do any of you also remember the temperance bar about four doors down the road. (towards town)
As kids we used to go in there after going to the pictures and get a pint of sasperella in a dimple beer mug. There was a proper bar and bench seating just like in a real pub. lol
That drink shop was my local too, and we used to go in the "tanners" at the pictures too, getting somebody to say we were with them when the picture was over 14, or if we didn't have sixpence, wait for the crowd coming out from the first show, and slip in through them. Got caught now and then and got me tab batted by the guy in the red suit who looked like a general.But we never got sent to the cops. Those were the days.:)

The ballroom floor was possibly the best one in the city and at the northern soul nights which included several all night events the sheer energy of the dancers made me feel tired just watching.

Dylan only played Sheffield twice in the 60s:

1965 City Hall and 1966 Gaumont Cinema (across from City Hall in Barker's Pool)


Thanks - I think it's The Gaumont gig he remembered - that would have been Dylan going electric I guess

The temperance Bar was "Pops" drink shop and he sold draught sarsaparella

I remember it as "Toni DiDonno's"" (spelling might not be 100%)

The "Temperance Bar" sign is still carved in the stone at the shopfront

Remember once being stood up there, mind you I have been stood up at better places...

I remember it as "Toni DiDonno's"" (spelling might not be 100%)

The "Temperance Bar" sign is still carved in the stone at the shopfront

I too remember it as Toni Di Donnos back in the early 70s there was also Barringtons Antique / Sports shop where the Pizza Hut delivery shop is now I think :huh:

Remember going to the KGB, under the cinema, a few times in the late 70s too !

i believe the original cinema interior of the place is still intact? I have a picture taken in 1988 that shows the screen still in place and all the seating.

definitley not!
I worked for drakes office equipment who bought it in late 70's
we removed the seats ,they went to a cinema in leicster.
And we ripped the old screen down . Sorry!!!

I remember seeing " The Hound of the Baskervilles " starring Peter Cushing as Holmes and ( I think ) Nigel Stock as Watson. Does anybody remember a nearby temperence bar?

Dronfield Antiques have a shop just a few doors along which used to be a temperance bar (it says so below the windows). Could be that one?

Here's a pic from google streetview where you can see the sign:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=abbeydale+road,+sheffield&sll=53.800651,-12.392578&sspn=18.042343,56.25&ie=UTF8&ll=53.359875,-1.479764&spn=0.007965,0.038624&z=15&layer=c&cbll=53.359793,-1.479851&panoid=JUzpYFtxkw6LH3RFG0lcpg&cbp=12,86.11,,1,5

I think it is. I also remember a coffee bar almost opposite called the Flamingo.
Anybody remember the El Mambo coffee bar.

Yes 6d a carton. People used to go round at night if theyd run out of milk. Can you imagine it these days, it would smashed to bits as soon as you turned your back.

Can any one remember the conveyor which took the milk crates over the entrance way, all rattling and clinking, it used to fascinate me as a kid.
Also at Heeley baths in the summer when they had the boiler house doors open and you could see the furnaces of the boilers for the baths and the washhouse

yes i remember going round there with my mum at night if we had run out of milk , the smell of the dairy was disgusting though. it was a hive of activity, the conveyor rattling and the milk floats quietly going about their buisness

Yes 6d a carton. People used to go round at night if theyd run out of milk. Can you imagine it these days, it would smashed to bits as soon as you turned your back.

Can any one remember the conveyor which took the milk crates over the entrance way, all rattling and clinking, it used to fascinate me as a kid.
Also at Heeley baths in the summer when they had the boiler house doors open and you could see the furnaces of the boilers for the baths and the washhouse

yes i can remember that

I had a tour around it about a year ago, and some of the original features are amazing, I’m looking forward to seeing how they try and restore this one!

I think it is. I also remember a coffee bar almost opposite called the Flamingo.
Anybody remember the El Mambo coffee bar.

I remember the El Mambo bar at the side of The Empire stage door. It had rather a reputation.

That's right give a girl a bad name !

That's right give a girl a bad name !

Sorry love. No reference to you at all.

love it !!!! The comment about the Express dairy was three years ago and it's carried on as if it was yesterday....

Don't you just get this picture of a skeleton covered in cobwebs sat there waiting for a reply.....Ha Ha...

Remember all the above and walking up the gennal that went behind the dairy to get to the Addeydale, and as a kid going round the back and queuing to get in the 7d pit.....

Do you remember the cow which stood in the window of Express Dairy? We also went up the footpath which ran up from Broadfield Road to Abbeydale Road, I think it was called something like Rose Walk.

Can see it now Duffems.
I lived on Carter Road Heeley in the 50s & early 60s. If I went to the Abbeydale with the lads we would walk down Thirlwell rd across London rd then turn down saxon rd under the railway bridge, around the corner there was a small gennal with a bridge across the Sheaf, then across Broadfield rd and up Rose walk....
I also used Broadfield road baths a lot for swimming when at school and of course with the house having no bath room I also used the slipper baths there, so was up and down past the Dairy quite a lot..

Funny to think back, that we didn't even have a hot tap on the sink...

Did you call at the corner shop on Little London to get your traffic light lolly when you'd been to the swimming baths? We used to be walked from Carfield Junior School in "two by two" formation all the way down to Broadfield Road Baths, call at the shop then all the way back up again.
Years later when we were "courting" we did the same journey to Abbeydale Pictures but, we didn't buy the lollies then we went to Pop's for sarsaparilla, how grown up we thought we were.
Strangely enough, 39 years of marriage and neither of us can remember the films we saw, I wonder why!
Duffems.

The cow in the curved window at the dairy had a recording of a 'moo' noise didn't it. The little footpath is still there and I walk up it every now and then although I can't imagine why it would ever of been called Rose Walk, it's not the nicest of footpaths.

The cow in the curved window at the dairy had a recording of a 'moo' noise didn't it. The little footpath is still there and I walk up it every now and then although I can't imagine why it would ever of been called Rose Walk, it's not the nicest of footpaths.

Loads of these names go back into the mists of time, look at The Moor.
Probably was relevant once upon a time,

The proper name for 'Rose Walk' is Primrose Walk,
it most likely got it's name from from 'The Primrose'
the name of a meadow that was once situated by the river near to Broadfield Rd,
prior to the course of the river being diverted.
m&p

I used to go to sharrow lane school and we all walked down to the baths in the old two by two method
when i think now its a good walk for 9-10 yr olds

I too went to Sharrow Lane School and we also walked there two by two down what I aways remember as Primrose Walk, later as we got older we were allowed to go to the baths unsupervised and on the way back we would call at a shop on the corner of Sellars Street and Aizlewood Road and buy a
1d breadcake for our dinner.
In keeping with the thread I spent many happy hours in the Abbeydale Cinema and have cherished memories of it.

Do any of you also remember the temperance bar about four doors down the road. (towards town)
As kids we used to go in there after going to the pictures and get a pint of sasperella in a dimple beer mug. There was a proper bar and bench seating just like in a real pub. lol

A pint of sasperala after swimming at Heely baths or coming out the Abbeydale, those surely were the days.

I too went to Sharrow Lane School and we also walked there two by two down what I aways remember as Primrose Walk, later as we got older we were allowed to go to the baths unsupervised and on the way back we would call at a shop on the corner of Sellars Street and Aizlewood Road and buy a
1d breadcake for our dinner.
In keeping with the thread I spent many happy hours in the Abbeydale Cinema and have cherished memories of it.
I lived on fentonville st. 2 roads up from Washington road, I went to Sharrow Lane school until I was 11 aprox 1957'ish

The bar's nickname was "Pop's". Draught Sarsaparilla was Pop's speciality and another of his mixes, was Black Current & Compo. (dont know what Compo was) It was popular at the dance interval too. until we promoted ourselves to the Broadfield or Byron.

Just to add to the Primrose Walk comment, I lived in the area 45 - 57ish walking up Primrose Walk towards Abbeydale to the left over the wall was a rough grassy area, before the baths with a bank that went up to the back door of the picture house, this was called Primrose Hill. Used to sledge down Primrose Walk every winter, roller skate in summer good bend on it. The dairy was Primrose Dairy, Oh well happy days. RG

I believe the original cinema interior of the place is still intact? I have a picture taken in 1988 that shows the screen still in place and all the seating.

My Dad and Mum worked there in the 60's my Dad was the projectionist and my Mum was usherette there this place means a lot to me as thats where they met ...

Composition or compo was and still may be a herbal cordial that was diluted with hot water for cough relief. My parents had a pub in Chesterfield during the 1960's and we sold it.

Any one else remember the film " Davy Crockett" in the late fifties, ( Born on a mountain top in Tennessee ) I remember Fess Parker, the guy who played him coming to the Abbeydale picture house.
I thought he was on stilts he was that tall....

What about all the fuss and objections when they wanted to put in the double seats, in the end they were allowed but only in certain positions.
RG

What about all the fuss and objections when they wanted to put in the double seats, in the end they were allowed but only in certain positions.
RG

Which were very welcome by some of us! I seem to recall that those seats had a name/nickname but, I can't remember what it was.
We always tried to get on the back row whatever film we went to see.

Any one else remember the film " Davy Crockett" in the late fifties, ( Born on a mountain top in Tennessee ) I remember Fess Parker, the guy who played him coming to the Abbeydale picture house.
I thought he was on stilts he was that tall....
Fess Parker, I retired from work Dec 2009, Prior to that I was working on Sakhalin Island (A Russian Island off the mainland Russia north of Japan) living in camps in remote locations of the island, we relied on DVD (some movies) some documentary's.
We had various documentary's on wines and a major wine maker & distrubutor was (The ) Fess Parker. I was asked prior to seeing the video did anyone no who Fess Parker was.
Seeing Davy Crocket & later Davey Crocket & the river pirates , both at the Abbeydale. It was an imediate response on my part.
I have also visited the Alamo when I was working in the USA.
The 50's also the 60's were a memorable part of my growing up.

They were at near to the front ,right hand side of the screan, some memorable parts of my growing up included those seats, the names I forget . the seats I will never forget.

Yes, they did have a name or names, the main one everyone used I can not remember, the others are unrepeatable on here.
RG

Yes, they did have a name or names, the main one everyone used I can not remember, the others are unrepeatable on here.
RG

We must have known them by the same name then!

We must have known them by the same name then!

Surprising how rude we could be, remember about the same time that American Gent's hair style the DA ? apparently it meant District Attorney.....

Not what we called it :lol:

Surprising how rude we could be, remember about the same time that American Gent's hair style the DA ? apparently it meant District Attorney.....

Not what we called it :lol:

I recall that we used these names when with "our mates" but, not at home in front of relatives. I once used the word "hell" in front of my grandmother, something like "who the hell's that on't telly", fortunately there was a table in between us at the time and she was seated otherwise I'd have copped for a thick ear, as it was I got one of those black looks that only grandmothers could do plus a lecture of course!

I recall that we used these names when with "our mates" but, not at home in front of relatives. I once used the word "hell" in front of my grandmother, something like "who the hell's that on't telly", fortunately there was a table in between us at the time and she was seated otherwise I'd have copped for a thick ear, as it was I got one of those black looks that only grandmothers could do plus a lecture of course!

Yes in their day a man never took his jacket off in the house,
No gentleman would walk around showing off his bracers......:o

I used to live opposite Abbeydale cinema,remeber seeing my first film there,the Al Jolson story.Also the sasparilla shop we were in there all the time,the Flamingo cafe was across the road and it was a hang out for the rockers, I remember all the motorbikes lined up there and Wilf Greens motorbike shop was across the road.

hi does anyone remember going to picture house as there trying to get it reopened i used to go to the ballroom there had some good times as a child on sat mornings and the social on a sat night i remember ken who you payed your money too and ran it anyone remember him

Have just seen your query - bettefr late than never !
I saw Dangerous Moonlight the Warsaw Concerto film at the Abbeydale Cinema house in 1942(?). From 43' to '48 the Gee Lee Band used to play in the ballroom under the cinema. Gee (Gordon) Lee also had a shop in Heeley I think he sold bird seed and stuff.
Gordon also was a elderly (45) Bevin Boy in those years at the Nunnery Colliery as I (conscript) was also. We went by tram at 4.30 am to Fitzalan Sq, and changed to another tram to Handsworth arriving at 5.40am, and return etc every day for 3 years +. I'm 83 now. best of luck in your quest. London

The Old Heeley Green Cinema had double seats and once when I was very young back in the 1940s I asked why and was told that they were "courting seats"