I recently went in the Weatherspoons Pub at Woodseats, The pub is called the Woodseats Palace, I was amazed to find out it was an old cinema and apparently there was another 2 on Woodseats itself, one was called the Chantry.

Which others do you know of in Sheffield ?

Abbeydale Pictures - Now a bar and snooker club
Heeley Pictures Palace - Where Ponsfords new building is on London Rd

Anymore, there must have been loads in the 50/60s

The co-op in Crookes used to be a cinema.

Nomme

Good link here mikey

Old Sheffield Cinemas (http://www.rocknroll.force9.co.uk/cinemas/cintable.html)

Originally posted by Michael_W
Good link here mikey

Old Sheffield Cinemas (http://www.rocknroll.force9.co.uk/cinemas/cintable.html)

Good link. I was wrong. The one in Crookes used to be the co-op. It's now a discount store ("Sound as a Pound"). The co-op is now next door where kwik save used to be.

Nomme

Greystones Cinema now Napoleans.
One of the usherettes there used to deliver milk at 5am in a
morning.God knows when she slept.

Hi Micky
I used to go to many of the old cinamas round pitsmoor
ie. the Colliseam on spital hill, now gone. the Sumbeem down at Firvalle now a petrol station, even that is now closed. the Parigon at Firth Park, also the Roxy at Page Hall. the Wicker was a good one as they had double seats for courting couples. this became Studio 7 before being demolished. Do you want me to go on.

I used to go to the Rex cinema at the bottom of Mansfield rd. also one on the arbourthorne estate near the fishing pond, my sister took me there in the thirties.

Also, there was a cinema down Duke st.below Talbot rd. on the left hand side going down. One night, we were sat in there and a choc. Ice came over the top and fell into my lap, I promptly ate it then just after, a girl came to us and asked if we had seen a choc. Ice, We said no as we hadn't any money to buy her another one!!!

I hear the Tesco on Herries road used to be a old picture house.

See the link, southey green Tesco is on the site of the old Essoldo. Saw Mary Poppins there. The Lane Top Essoldo changed from or to the Capitol if my ravaged memory is right. Saw Incredible Journey and the original film about flubber, can't remember the name. Just something funny, once went to Winter Garden at Brid and there were 2 films on the same bill, first was Henry Cooper having his face rearranged by Cassius Clay, blood everywhere, followed by .....Bambi. There were tears for Bambi's mother when she was shot but I can't remember any emotion for poor "Enry!!

The Heeley Green Cinema which is now a snooker hall and where my grandmother, my mother and I worked at different times in the past. The Heeley Coliseum which became a Fine Fare supermarket back in the sixties. And yes, The Heeley Picture Palace which is now Pondsfords. This was where, as children we spent some wonderful Saturday afternoons at the kids matinees.

There is the areis light shop on the corner of greenland road what used to be a picture house called the DARNALL DICK also known as "bug hut" by the locals because when you went in , you would come out with bugs.
Then there was the BALFOUR PICTURE HOUSE which is now the pyramid carpets shop. Both these old buildings are still the same inside only minus the seats and screen. The alcoving in the later is still round the inside of the building.
On ATERCLIFFE there is the old ADELPI PICTURE HOUSE which is now used as a night club. what a shame that these picture houses have since turned in to shops.

Originally posted by nomme
Good link. I was wrong. The one in Crookes used to be the co-op. It's now a discount store ("Sound as a Pound"). The co-op is now next door where kwik save used to be.

Nomme

Just a note nomme - the original co-op (S&E) was further up towards Cobden View Rd.

The cinema at Sheffield Lane Top was originally The Capitol, then changed to the Essoldo. It is now a carpet saleroom, but is still as original inside, it was one of the last suburban cinamas to close.

Originally posted by halevan
I used to go to the Rex cinema at the bottom of Mansfield rd. also one on the arbourthorne estate near the fishing pond, my sister took me there in the thirties.

Also, there was a cinema down Duke st.below Talbot rd. on the left hand side going down. One night, we were sat in there and a choc. Ice came over the top and fell into my lap, I promptly ate it then just after, a girl came to us and asked if we had seen a choc. Ice, We said no as we hadn't any money to buy her another one!!!

the one on the Arbourthorne (Eastern Avenue) should have had listed status, but the vandals took it to rack and ruin. It became disused then was a light-bulb warehouse, before becoming derelict again.

It was called The Carlton.

It was the first one constructed entirely in concrete, or some-such. It was unique, in the construction, anyway.

It's now demolished, and a swish new OAP complex of flats is on the site.

My dad, and my late grandmother both grew up in the summer street area (nr university arts tower) and told many amusing tales of the "Bug Hut", also known as the "Western Picture House".

The western (possible spelling "weston") had the lowest "gods" in cinema history. the rise, from the stalls to "the balcony" was no more than a foot or 18 inches (30 cm/ 40 cm)

They told the stories of that place being absolutely "walking Alive" with crawlies (ugh).

PT

Originally posted by little malc
The cinema at Sheffield Lane Top was originally The Capitol, then changed to the Essoldo. It is now a carpet saleroom, but is still as original inside, it was one of the last suburban cinamas to close.

Is that the one on Barnsley road next to the petrol station?

Yes, thats the one next to the petrol station. Originally built in late 40's, I believe it finished it's life as a bingo hall!

there was the Globe and the Pavillion down Attercliffe I dont think there is anything left of either of them, I remember mom taking me to see Mario Lanza films there and then there was the Wicker saw all the Dracula and Hammer Horror films there

In the 40s and early 50s I used to visit the Pavillion, Globe and Adelphi cinemas, all on Attercliffe Common. Any still working?

I don't think the Globe and Pavillion are still standing but the Adelphi is, I think someone here said it was a Carpet Warehouse.

theres one at lower wincobank ,just of merton lane
its a plumbers shop now.

I have a list of them,
Darnall Lyric
Regal on Staniforth Road ( Attercliffe end )
Oxford at Upperthorpe
Don on West Bar Green
The Weston (bug hut ) ( you used to come out of there feeling really "alive" )
The Scala (at the end of the road where the Arts tower is today)
The Palace Union Street
The Hipperdrome
Star cinema on Ecclesall Road
There was one on South Road Walkley I think it was called The Palace but am not sure, but I have a feeling someone will know and post the correct answer

this site certainly gets your mind in gear, lol
deecee

Originally posted by rainbow2411
I don't think the Globe and Pavillion are still standing but the Adelphi is, I think someone here said it was a Carpet Warehouse.

No, the adelphi is a sort of night club. My lad worked there as a barman.

PT

I've just remembered the name of the one on South Road Walkley.......... Walkley Palladium

deecee

The one on Herries road used to be called the Forum.

There was The Star at the bottom of Eccy Road (site of petrol station)
There's a building at Broomhill which looks like a cinema, the S10 Gallery/Cafe. Was that a cinema?
There was an old cinema at the bottom of Western Bank next to the Chemistry building until the late 60s. A car park attendants hut is on it now...entrance to Uni Arts Tower from Western Bank. I think this was probably originally on the corner of Winter Street, which was re-routed in the 1950's(?)

Am I right in saying that the Netto on MIddlewood road used to be a cinema?

I'm sure my gran has mentioned it before.

Try this:

http://www.rocknroll.force9.co.uk/cinemas/cinepho3.html#hillspark

What about those two in Barkers Pool,the Cinema House was where the block of shops is below the City Hall,and directly opposite the Regent which later became the Gaumont,another block of shops,then the Palace on Union St,often called "Union St",and the Manor at the top of City Road,Not living in Sheffield I don't know what is there now

there was another picture palace in Heeley called the Coliseum, In Attercliffe there was the Gaumont, and Tinsley had the Tinsley Palace

I don't remember there being a gaumont at Attercliffe, I can only remember the Attercliffe Palace, the Empire and the Adelphi.

I remember the Gaumont in Barkers pool, I thought the architecture was nice, not like that bl**dy awful monstrosity with the red scaffolding that's there now. I thought it was a shame that the old cinema building was replaced by such a "carbuncle" (!)

the Manor Picture house building (i think it was called the picture house) is now the Somerfield supermarket. it was still a cinema into about the late '60s, then became a supermarket, it has been a Challenge! and a Frank Dees before Somerfield took over.

and what about the Carlton, on Eastern Avenue?

that was finally demolished about four years ago, after becoming derelict and structurally unsound, after years of vandalism, neglect, and arson.

The carlton was architecturally significant, because it used an "innovative", and unusual type of concrete construction method, and was a rarity.

The locals who attended it called it "the Ice Box", as the bleakly exposed position on the high hillside, and the construction method combined to make it only just slightly warmer than the arctic!!!

it's now been replaced by a flats complex.

PT

As guoted by PT I don't remember there being a gaumont at Attercliffe, I can only remember the Attercliffe Palace, the Empire and the Adelphi.

Dont forget The Pavillion, near the junction of Coleridge Road, almost next door to the Salutation Inn with it's yellow facade.

The Pavillion sticks out in my mind because in the 1970's, it exclusively showed Asian films. I remember the queues clearly, the men in suits, the women in colourful saris.
Incidently, I dont remember an Attercliffe Gaumont.

I remember the 'Weston' on St Phillips Rd. Used to go twice a week in the late 40's and early 50's. When it was an 'A' film (no unaccompanied children) we used to stand outside asking strangers to take you in. Not something you could do nowadays!!

When we'd seen the programmes at the Weston we used to go to the Scala which was roughly where the Brookhill roundabout is now.

All in all we used to go to the cinema about 4 times a week but remember there was no TV in those days. It only cost about 2p a time which we earned by taking rags to the rag shop or chopping up wood to use for lighting the old coal fires.

Another "Bug Hut" was the Roscoe on Infirmary Rd,with the balcony?a sort of raised enclosed area known as the Jury Box!

I don't know whats what now,having left in 66.
There used to be the Ritz at Wordsworth Ave and Southey Green.
I remember all the kids from where I lived at Owlerton going to the Saturday matinee to celebrate V.E day.
On Langsett Rd was The Phoenix,the Hillsborough Kinema was on Procter place and the Hillsborough Park Cinema was at Catch Bar Lane and Middlewood Rd.
There were two on Barkers Pool ,and The Hippodrome somewhere around Charles St.This used to be a variety theatre.
The picture's was the favourite place for picking up girls when we were 15 & 16.
Was it the Elderado on Barnsley Rd just below Sheffield lane top?
I remember going there by myself when I was about 15 .
There was a girl of a simular age also alone.Before the movie was over we were necking [is that term still used?] and I think we had one date.Yikes!! What a way to meet females. this would be in 1954

Originally posted by sweetdexter
I don't know whats what now,having left in 66.

On Langsett Rd was The Phoenix,the Hillsborough Kinema was on Procter place and the Hillsborough Park Cinema was at Catch Bar Lane and Middlewood Rd.

the hillsborough park (cinema!) is now a Netto supermarket. ugh!



There were two on Barkers Pool ,and The Hippodrome somewhere around Charles St.This used to be a variety theatre.
The picture's was the favourite place for picking up girls when we were 15 & 16.[/qupte]

yes, by the grand hotel. and the gaumont, opposite!

[quote]Was it the Elderado on Barnsley Rd just below Sheffield lane top?
I remember going there by myself when I was about 15 .
There was a girl of a simular age also alone.Before the movie was over we were necking [is that term still used?] and I think we had one date.Yikes!! What a way to meet females. this would be in 1954

yes, i think you are right, the Eldorado, was on barnsley road, (IIRC)this is now a discount supermarket, underneath,opposite the huntsman pub.
It used to be a carpet showroom, above the supermarket.

PT

Hi another ex pat,can anyone remember the pictures at the top of Heeley Green I am not sure but it may have burned down in the mid 60s. also I used to go to the Heeley Picture Palace & Abbeydale,great day's.

netto on middlewood

Originally posted by tosh13
Hi another ex pat,can anyone remember the pictures at the top of Heeley Green I am not sure but it may have burned down in the mid 60s. also I used to go to the Heeley Picture Palace & Abbeydale,great day's.

the only pictures I can remember, which was at the top of Heeley Green was the one that burnt down about a month ago, which had become a snooker club, called "Potters". (after an incarnation as a bingo hall) incidentally there is a thread about that, somewhere on here. (it is also mentioned at the very beginning of this thread)

The next nearest cinema to that would have been the "Heeley Picture Palace" where Ponsford's extension is, now, just beyond the railway bridge at Heeley Bottom, heading out of town.

PT

Don't think Plaza at Handsworth has been mentioned yet - changed to bingo - possibly still is.
Does anyone remember a cinema down the Moor - left hand side heading out of town? Can remember in 1950s going with my mother to a shop which I think was Atkinson's - they had been bombed out of their store and had a temporary one whilst the new shop was being built. Think the temporary shop must have been a cinema once because I remember it had a sloping floor - anyone else remember anything about this?

Do U mean London rd ?

No - was definitely on the Moor - somewhere near where bhs shop is now, or perhaps a bit further along - but not as far out as London Road

Just been looking at Picture Sheffield website - has a photo of the Moor cleared after the blitz - caption says picture shows former Central Picture House, then owned by John Atkinson - so they must have moved their shop into a building which they actually owned. Don't know what happened to it after new shop was built though.

Atkinsons used the locarno (now "bed") as a temporary warehouse, iirc, after the bomb damage during the war. (I could be wrong, tho)

the plaza at handsworth is now a bowling alley: I believe it was also a bingo hall, about 20 yrs ago.

PT

Originally posted by Plain Talker
Atkinsons used the locarno (now "bed") as a temporary warehouse, iirc, after the bomb damage during the war. (I could be wrong, tho)

the plaza at handsworth is now a bowling alley: I believe it was also a bingo hall, about 20 yrs ago.

PT

I think The Lansdowne Picture Palace was the original name of the building and as I remember, it was used by Marks & Spencers after the Blitz. The cinema half way down the Moor was the Central and that was used by Atkinsons.

Has anyone heard of or know where the Rutland Picture House was ? and when it closed down and if the buildig is still there. The reason I ask is whilst refurbishing my house I found some old cinema tickets for the Rutland Picture House and I would love to be able to put a date to the tickets.

The Rutland cinema was at the bottom of Rutland Rd at the junction of Neepsend lane where the traffic lights are ,believe its and office now, the cinema was pulled down to build the offices.

that sure is a memory jogger i do remenber going a couple of times when i was a lad with my mum,

Regards

Soggy

Originally posted by soggy
The Rutland cinema was at the bottom of Rutland Rd at the junction of Neepsend lane where the traffic lights are ,believe its and office now, the cinema was pulled down to build the offices.

that sure is a memory jogger i do remenber going a couple of times when i was a lad with my mum,

Regards

Soggy

Cheers for the info Soggy, might well have been your tickets that I've found :D

Originally posted by tosh13
Hi another ex pat,can anyone remember the pictures at the top of Heeley Green I am not sure but it may have burned down in the mid 60s. also I used to go to the Heeley Picture Palace & Abbeydale,great day's. There was a picture's at the top of Heeley green there was a butchers shop opposite & a place you could go for a sasparilla & others refreshments,The HeeLEY PP was a regular haunt of mine someone nicked my Man From Uncle Gun,never got it back after handing it over before I could go in,so if anyone has seen my gun can I have it back lol

Was it the Elderado on Barnsley Rd just below Sheffield lane top?
I remember going there by myself when I was about 15 .


It was actually the Essaldo!

Originally posted by RoyalRegular
Was it the Elderado on Barnsley Rd just below Sheffield lane top?
I remember going there by myself when I was about 15 .


It was actually the Essaldo!

Sorry no. It was the Essoldo.

Did you Know? that in 1950 the addmission to the Capitol on Saturday Matenee was only 4 pence in the Pits.
My favorites were "Zorro and Flash Gordon".

The Gaumont had distinguished red curtains in front of the screen.
They used to lift up and down and they had a sort of loopy draping design (hard to describe) but Sheffield painters and decorators used to say (when a painting job had gone wrong and the paint had started to sag and run) That the result looked like "THE GAUMONT CURTAINS".

No one has mentioned the News Theatre in Fitzalan Sq. All news, cartoons and weekly serials. You could sit in there all day for a bob or perhaps one and a tanner. The Star on Ecclesall Rd. Ah yes... It was the only cinema in Sheffield that opened on a Sunday in the mid fifties. Everyone would go to the 'first house' on Sunday evenings regardless what was showing then anything up to a couple of hundred teenagers wandered up to Endcliffe Park winter and summer. Now in my late 60s so cant remember what we did when we got there. A mate fell in the river 'cos during the week they had altered the path and he kept on walking... Another favourite was the Wicker where at one time they showed nothing else but post war black and white FRENCH films. This was pre Bardot and I remember my heroes being Jean Servais and Raymond Pelligrin - every scene they appeared in they had trilby hats and fags hanging out of the corner of their mouths. Only trouble was when you came out you got dodgy looks from passers by 'cos if you went to the Wicker to see French films you were 'a dirty little sod'. Any more dls's out there?

the rex cinema at intake was good (according to my mum!!!). its now a co-op supermarket and i worked there in the nineties. theres an old picture on www.picturesheffield.com (click on I for Intake). the picture showing at the time of the photo is lassie come home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

has anyone mentioned the Coliseum which was on Spital Hill, I went to see "The Young Ones" there and remember being jealous of Cliff getting all those lovely girls. At the Roscoe at Shalesmoor for the Saturday Morning session, (Hopalong, Zorro, Cisco Kid etc) if it was your birthday they put you on the stage and you got a prezzie. Also saw a yo-yo demonstration there.

The old Abbeydale picture house is having a couple of open days, in conjuction with Architectural Heritage Week.

There's guided tours held every hour on September 11 th, 12th. 10.00 am to 4.00 pm.

Keep the memories coming ! Is anyone collating this info on old cinemas? There is one more not mentioned I don't believe. Way, way back me and a mate went to see a film called 'Pick Up On South Street' starring a young Richard Widmark. It was a good omen for some serious bird pulling or whatever we called it back then 'cos it was being shewn at the Park Cinema on South Street. It was an old part of Sheffield on a hill behind the Midland Station. Last seen it was grassed over. Spent the whole film twisting and turning our necks looking for birds but no luck. No Pick Up On South Street for us !!!! ANTHONY.

Originally posted by little malc
The cinema at Sheffield Lane Top was originally The Capitol, then changed to the Essoldo. It is now a carpet saleroom, but is still as original inside, it was one of the last suburban cinamas to close.
talking about carpets at the capital i used to go on a saturday afternoon the carpets was about 2 inches deep that was in the war years 2 pence to go in old money had to deliver papers to get it no running to your parents saying can i
all the best

it was said that in the olden days, that the Scala had a piano that rose out of the ground, with a pianist already playing it. not in my time though.

Originally posted by pietro
The old Abbeydale picture house is having a couple of open days, in conjuction with Architectural Heritage Week.

There's guided tours held every hour on September 11 th, 12th. 10.00 am to 4.00 pm.


I went around it, and it brought a few memories back for me from the 70's.

I was amazed how good the condition of the place is, but its going to take a lot of money to restore it to its former glory.

There is a web site here (http://www.abbeydalepicturehouse.com/)

[QUOTE]Originally posted by juliediane
Hi Juliediane Had to laugh at that one. Brought back memories. We used to go to the LITTLE DICK. There used to be 2 grumpy old commisionairs? I think they called them. They were twins. They used to push the kids in on the front row and they used to fall off at the other end . Usually Roy Rogers and Gene Autrey Sat arvo followed by Tom and Jerry. Come out covered in fleas. Ha!Ha! They say if you went in with a suit on you'd come out with the buttons. Can't stop laughing at this Used to go to the Balfour a lot but mainly the Lyric cause we used to get good fish and chips from the corner shop and share them
Thanks for the memeories Juliediane.
Regards Vera

In the 1930,s my mother and dad used to take me and my sister to the Manor Cinema (and buy a quarter of sweets ) for one shilling (5 new pence) It was 4p for mum and dad 2p for me and carry my sister in

As kids we used to go to the heeley Palace on a Saturday afternoon ,late fifties,We used to get six penorth of mixed from the chippie on Myrtle Rd (chips,mushey peas and scraps) and eat them out the paper walking down.Highlight was the serial at the end Captain Marvel (SHAZAM!!!!)

Originally posted by Michael_W
Good link here mikey

Old Sheffield Cinemas (http://www.rocknroll.force9.co.uk/cinemas/cintable.html) .................................

Mikey, Thank you for this cinema link. I have been trying to find out about the Adelphi unsuccessfully though. Someone asking me about it but I forgot who Thanks anyway Great Pictures.

Regards vera

The palace wincobank became Cowan Barrat's [plumbers merchant's]in the early 60's I worked there 62 to 65 as a driver could still see parts of the old cinema plus old tickets in odd corners.

Originally posted by deecee
I have a list of them,
Darnall Lyric
Regal on Staniforth Road ( Attercliffe end )
Oxford at Upperthorpe
Don on West Bar Green
The Weston (bug hut ) ( you used to come out of there feeling really "alive" )
The Scala (at the end of the road where the Arts tower is today)
The Palace Union Street
The Hipperdrome
Star cinema on Ecclesall Road
There was one on South Road Walkley I think it was called The Palace but am not sure, but I have a feeling someone will know and post the correct answer

this site certainly gets your mind in gear, lol
deecee
remember the victory on upwell street

Originally posted by RoyalRegular
Was it the Elderado on Barnsley Rd just below Sheffield lane top?
I remember going there by myself when I was about 15 .


It was actually the Essaldo!
it was the capital when i was a lad used
to go saturday afternoons you sunk in the carpets at that time
that was in the later war years not giving my age away

There was one on South Road Walkley I think it was called The Palace but am not sure, but I have a feeling someone will know and post the correct answer

It was called THE WALKLEY PALLADIUM, and was situated next door to the Rose House pub, there is still an area of waste grass between it and the next road. Looks very small bit of land but there it was. I dont think it was a very large building and had a fairly small capacity. Most people assume NETTO used to be the old cinema as its a big square building, but that was in fact a garage at one point I believe.

i used to go to the manor pictures every saturday before it closed and became challenge then it became gateway now it is somerfields

Used to go to the Lyric cinema in Darnall to see the saturday matinee's and call in a little shop on main road for a penny drink and a barley sugar stick!

Originally posted by Lickszz
Is that the one on Barnsley road next to the petrol station? Yep just down from Neto.

What happened to The Classic in Fitzalan Square?
..formerly the Electra Palace.

The Classic. Closed 24/Nov/ /1982.

Is the building still there or was it pulled down?

it is no llonger there.

it's a newer building that stands on the site now.

I am not sure if the Classic was finished -off when the fire happened at wigfalls, or whether there was another fire that "did-for" the classic... (I definitely seen to remember fire being involved.. perhaps it was from the restaurant, below the cinema itself? that rings bells)

the new building houses a "Nobles' Amusements arcade" and a "Quit "Charity shop.

I never realised that there was all the ornate achitecture that decorated the stonework to the front of the Classic, as it was always covered, with a sort of fascia.. first, with the oval clock. Then, some years later, when the clock was broken, the oval opening was filled with a gaudy multicoloured abstract thing that looked like a squashed beach-ball.

PT

don't remember there ever being a heeley green cinema, where was itOriginally posted by Banksia
The Heeley Green Cinema which is now a snooker hall and where my grandmother, my mother and I worked at different times in the past. The Heeley Coliseum which became a Fine Fare supermarket back in the sixties. And yes, The Heeley Picture Palace which is now Pondsfords. This was where, as children we spent some wonderful Saturday afternoons at the kids matinees.

The following book lists many old cinemas, including opening and closing dates, seating capacities and in many cases the first and last films shown. Also has pictures of many of the premises.

In Memory of Sheffield's Cinemas by Richard Ward

Sheffield City Libraries

Apologies if this is going off topic but.....

Where Somerfields is on White Lane, near Gleadless Town End (was originally Kwik Save)

What was the building used for before this......

I'm sure my parents said it was a dance hall or cinema or something.

I used to live around there and I can vaguely remember a boarded up building, but would like to see a photo if anybody has one.

When the original building was knocked down, my Dad raided the skips (with the builders permission I might add) and used the old 'dance' floorboards and an internal door, complete with original hinges and door handles to build a new shed in his garden!

The place was called The Azena Ballroom and it was where the Beatles gave their first performance in Sheffield

http://www.triumphpc.com/mersey-beat/beatles/sheffield-beatles1.shtml

So your shed could be very famous indeed.

Thank you Mikey!:clap:

Azena, yes I remember now.... did a quick search on this forum for azena and found a bit more info.

No picture though as it was, :(

only a picture of Kwick Save.

Appreciate your help


LoopyLou



:clap:

The picture houses in Barker's Pool were originally called,
The Cinema House and the Regent. The Cinema House is now a Jewellers and The Regent was renamed The Gaumant.
I used to go dancing at the Azena and In the interval crossed the Rd to the Pub on the corner of White Lane. The Landlord there was a Frank Sinatra,/Ella. /Sarah Vaughn/ Louie Armstrong fan and played all their records.
I can recall the thrill of the music, whirl of the dancing and the meeting of my 1st boyfriend. Everything sparkled, the lights the music and me.
hazel
it was prob freezing cold and it was frost that was sparkling. but not as I saw it

i was born in netherthorpe / st philips area the cinemas we used ( all long gone ) the palladium at south rd walkley now netto the scala western bank the building was used by the uni
for a time then later demolished, the oxford beside upperthorpe library. the roscoe shalesmoor, the don picture house west bar now a storage facillity and the weston bottom of weston street

Doesn't anyone remember the Oxford Street picture palace in Oxford Street right at the bottom of Crookesmoor Road? Saturday mornings in the 60’s we would go and see cowboy B movies where the “goodie” always won the “baddie”. We saw Flash Gordon in black and white……at times it was a riot….how the ushers kept control I will never know…….

Originally posted by all4_ofus
don't remember there ever being a heeley green cinema, where was it the heeley green cinema later to be known as the tudor , then potters snooker was bang opposite the wagon and horses pub on gleadless road .

hi
the heeley picture palace where ponsfords new showrooms are
nce had the legendary blackpool tower organist reginld dixon as resident organist

Originally posted by stevie1957
Doesn't anyone remember the Oxford Street picture palace in Oxford Street right at the bottom of Crookesmoor Road? Saturday mornings in the 60’s we would go and see cowboy B movies where …….

Stevie...Iw as a faithful follower at teh Oxford, ut I thought it was Saturday afternoons. 6d was the admission and if I remember they sold rocket shaped ice lollies at the intermission.

Other film serial I remember included one where some guy flew around saving the world with a rocket pack on his back and one where there were a gang of kids who had some wonderful 'den' and they fought the baddies but that is just a hazy memory.

Do you also remember when yo-yo's were all the craze and they had yo-yo championships with some guy giving a show on the stage?

Originally posted by docmel
Stevie...Iw as a faithful follower at teh Oxford, ut I thought it was Saturday afternoons. 6d was the admission


You are right sir it was afternoons. I stand corrected. I can't remember the yo-yo demo's, but then again the old grey matter is fuzzy at the best of times. I wonder if the fella is still with us. I wasn't allowed a yo-yo after bouncing one off my brothers head :(. My father had no sence of humour. I used to go with my cousin, Robert England. I think it's a bank now?

Anybody remember a cinema called the Unity? Was it somewhere near the Roscoe on Middlewood Road? I can remember the majority of the places mentioned, especially around the City Cente and the North East of Sheffield, cant place the Unity.

Anybody remember a cinema called the Unity? Was it somewhere near the Roscoe on Middlewood Road? I can remember the majority of the places mentioned, especially around the City Center and the North East of Sheffield, cant place the Unity.

I used to go to the Rex cinema at the bottom of Mansfield rd. also one on the arbourthorne estate near the fishing pond, my sister took me there in the thirties.

Also, there was a cinema down Duke st.below Talbot rd. on the left hand side going down. One night, we were sat in there and a choc. Ice came over the top and fell into my lap, I promptly ate it then just after, a girl came to us and asked if we had seen a choc. Ice, We said no as we hadn't any money to buy her another one!!!


The cinema on Duke Street was The Norfolk.

Is that the one on Barnsley road next to the petrol station?


Yes it is and it closed in October 1975.

anyone remember the roscoe i think it was near the shalesmoor tram stop my family used to own it i think

There is the areis light shop on the corner of greenland road what used to be a picture house called the DARNALL DICK also known as "bug hut" by the locals because when you went in , you would come out with bugs.
Then there was the BALFOUR PICTURE HOUSE which is now the pyramid carpets shop. Both these old buildings are still the same inside only minus the seats and screen. The alcoving in the later is still round the inside of the building.
On ATERCLIFFE there is the old ADELPI PICTURE HOUSE which is now used as a night club. what a shame that these picture houses have since turned in to shops.
My father owned the Darnall Cinema, and yes it was a horrible place, he would never take me, only on rare occasions, and he would stand at the front and shout "lets have some order now", i only went to play with the kittens, and had to sit with an usherette near the front.

anyone remember the roscoe i think it was near the shalesmoor tram stop my family used to own it i think


I was just thinking 'What was that place called near West Bar'

It must have been the Roscoe.
The balcony was about 4' higher than the pits.

Saw' House of Ushers' there, (I think) Or was it 'Fall of the House of Ushers'.
What with age and Aqua Vita the memory is foggy.

yes the classic, old wigfalls was finished off by 2 fires in the mid 80s. i also remember the star on the wicker. r am i showing my age?

anyone remember the roscoe i think it was near the shalesmoor tram stop my family used to own it i think
It was a bingo hall in the early 70's.

[QUOTE=Plain Talker][/b]

the hillsborough park (cinema!) is now a Netto supermarket. ugh!


[quote]
There were two on Barkers Pool ,and The Hippodrome somewhere around Charles St.This used to be a variety theatre.
The picture's was the favourite place for picking up girls when we were 15 & 16.[/qupte]

yes, by the grand hotel. and the gaumont, opposite!



yes, i think you are right, the Eldorado, was on barnsley road, (IIRC)this is now a discount supermarket, underneath,opposite the huntsman pub.
It used to be a carpet showroom, above the supermarket.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Sorry, you are confused here. It was the Essoldo in Barnsley Road at Lane Top, but it did in fact sell Eldorado ice cream. It opened when WW2 was one week old and closed in 1975 and after a great deal of internal work, opened as a bingo/social club. It is now a carpet showroom. The Hunstman was pulled down earlier this year. Opposite that pub is a discount store which is on two floors THIS is the discount supermarket, and is called Job Lot.

I think The Lansdowne Picture Palace was the original name of the building and as I remember, it was used by Marks & Spencers after the Blitz. The cinema half way down the Moor was the Central and that was used by Atkinsons.



The Central Picture House was gutted by the blitz.

it was the capital when i was a lad used
to go saturday afternoons you sunk in the carpets at that time
that was in the later war years not giving my age away


The Essoldo (Capitol) opened in 1937. Closed in 1975.

hi
the heeley picture palace where ponsfords new showrooms are
nce had the legendary blackpool tower organist reginld dixon as resident organist


He also played the piano in Ecclesfield Cinema for the silents. His in laws only lived a few hundred yards away.

The Hippodrome was not on Charles Street, it was on Cambridge street near the barlycorn, The babyshop belonging to coles brothers was built on the site of the Hippodrome.

No one has mentioned the "Ranch House " on Union st,so called because they allways had Cowboy films They used to say "dont sit too near the front or you will get covered in dust" The Norfolk palace was in Duke st then there was the Picture at the bottom of South St How about the DON picture palace on West Bar, the "SCALA onthe end of Winter St,The "REX" at iIntake .How about the "UNION PALACE"on UnionST FOUNSANS of em ?? Milted

I was just thinking 'What was that place called near West Bar'

It must have been the Roscoe.
The balcony was about 4' higher than the pits.

Saw' House of Ushers' there, (I think) Or was it 'Fall of the House of Ushers'.
What with age and Aqua Vita the memory is foggy.

The cinema at Westbar was The DON. The Roscoe was situated on Infirmary Rd. Somwhere around where the supertram stops at the bottom of St Philips Rd. The Unity was on Infirmary Rd roughly where the car park is for the bingo hall

The cinema at Westbar was The DON. The Roscoe was situated on Infirmary Rd. Somwhere around where the supertram stops at the bottom of St Philips Rd. The Unity was on Infirmary Rd roughly where the car park is for the bingo hall


Was it the 'Don' that had the balcony just a few feet higher than the stalls?

remember the victory on upwell street
Yes on the same side of the road as the Sheffield Arms ,between Birdwell Road and Wincobank Lane ,it closed earlier than a lot of the cinemas on this thread, do not know the date of closure.

Was it the 'Don' that had the balcony just a few feet higher than the stalls?

I think it was the Roscoe that had the low balcony.
The DON by the way was situated on WEST Bar in the building that now appears to store files and documents. Just before you get to the roundabout at the top of Corporation St

There was The Star at the bottom of Eccy Road (site of petrol station)
There's a building at Broomhill which looks like a cinema, the S10 Gallery/Cafe. Was that a cinema?
There was an old cinema at the bottom of Western Bank next to the Chemistry building until the late 60s. A car park attendants hut is on it now...entrance to Uni Arts Tower from Western Bank. I think this was probably originally on the corner of Winter Street, which was re-routed in the 1950's(?) I was the Scala Ned

don't remember there ever being a heeley green cinema, where was it
opposite the waggon and horses pub gleadless rd

I was just thinking 'What was that place called near West Bar'

It must have been the Roscoe.
The balcony was about 4' higher than the pits.

Saw' House of Ushers' there, (I think) Or was it 'Fall of the House of Ushers'.
What with age and Aqua Vita the memory is foggy.
the Don, arthur

No one has mentioned the "Ranch House " on Union st,so called because they allways had Cowboy films They used to say "dont sit too near the front or you will get covered in dust" The Norfolk palace was in Duke st then there was the Picture at the bottom of South St How about the DON picture palace on West Bar, the "SCALA onthe end of Winter St,The "REX" at iIntake .How about the "UNION PALACE"on UnionST FOUNSANS of em ?? Milted


Hiya Ted

The cinema on South Street was The Park Cinema, really just where the park roundabout is now.

I think it was the Roscoe that had the low balcony.
The DON by the way was situated on WEST Bar in the building that now appears to store files and documents. Just before you get to the roundabout at the top of Corporation St


It seems I have the correct Cinema but in the wrong location.
Being absent 40 years makes it difficult to envisage how things were

old cinemas 1940/60s

star cinema ecclesall rd
greystones ecclesall rd
abbeydale abbeydale rd
heeley coliseum heeley bottom
heeley palace chesterfield rd
heeley green gleadless rd
woodseats palace chesterfield rd
chantrey woodseats chesterfield rd
carleton arborthorne
park palace south street
norfolk duke street
manor
rex intake
news theatre fitzallen square
wicker
adelphi attercliffe
globe attercliffe
darnall cinema
lyric main rd darnall
balfour main rd darnall
plaza hansworth
forum
hillsborough cinema
hillsborough kinema
hillsborough pheonix
hillsborough park cinema
sunbeam barsley rd
coliseum spital hill
victory upwell st
crookes palace
walkley paladium south rd
scala brookhill
weston st philips rd
don west bar
roscoe infirmary rd
roxy page hall
oxford oxford st
globe attercliffe
cinema house barkers pool
gaumont barkers pool
hippodrome cambridge st
palace union st
essoldo lane top
ritz parsons cross

Saturday morning cinema was the highlight of the week. Every week we would set off, along with loads of other kids, for a weekly dose of cartoons, films, and action packed serials, at the “Ritz” cinema on Wordsworth.
This lovely Art-Deco (ish) building normally showed two films a week (‘A’ and ‘B’ features). On any given evening, the films were constantly played on loop, so you could come in half way through, and sit there until it played around to the same point, at which you left. Sounds daft now, but that’s what happened. Most grown-ups would sensibly time there arrival to coincide with the start of the programme, ‘B’ feature first, then ‘A’, but as kids we just turned up whenever. If it was a good film, you could watch it one-and-a-half times.
Saturday mornings though, were adult free zones. The “Flicks” would be packed to the rafters with screaming kids ready for their weekly dose. The formats varied a little, but were usually something like:
A Warner Brothers Cartoon.
A public Information Film.
A comedy short (Three Stooges, Alfalfa, that kind of thing)
A short break (Birthday dedications, yo-yo competitions)
A CFF film (Usually starring Michael Crawford, Sally Thomsett or Keith Chegwin)
A final cartoon.
Then (Da-DaaaH!!) The Serial

The Serial was very much a boy’s thing. The most famous example was “Flash Gordon” but there were lots of others – Captain Video and Captain Marvel are two that spring.
The format was similar in each case. A futuristsic Sci-Fi set up, with a mature hero (in his thirties?) and an immature sidekick (seemed about twelve but was probably 17), a glamorous leading lady who didn’t get to say or do much, and of course, a Baddie.
The Baddie had to be an ugly alien (often with oriental features I recall) and plans to conquer the universe. The hero and his teenage companion would naturally try to prevent this, in seven 30 minute episodes, each of which had a real cliffhanger ending, just to make sure you came back next week.

“Bushy, As tha brung thi yoyo?”
“Ahr I ‘ave. I’ve nicked ar John’s – it’s a luny 99”
I proudly displayed the black shiny yo-yo for all to see, and mimicked it moving majestically up and down at my command before dropping it and chasing it under a privet hedge.
“E’ll kill thee if ‘e finds art – I saw ‘im a bit back artside Baldwins”
“OO worree wee, worree wee izsen?”
“Nayew, ‘e wor talkin’ to BeeBee an Barbra”
“Yor John likes lasses dunnee?” This from Senna, who spoke little but was profound when he did
“Norraif ‘e dunt”
He was also the local yo-yo champ, and his Black Lunar 99 was a prize possession. I was skating on thin ice, but figured that this skill must be in the genes, and that I therefore, would soon be a yo-yo master.
It isn’t and I wasn’t.
On the way down we constanly flicked small stones at each other, played “tiggy”, fenced with imaginary swords, and generally acted out the most recent episode of Robin Hood/William Tell/Fireball XL5 (perm any one from three). To break the monotony of the long walk we walked up one side of Wordsworth Cres and down the other. I was looking out for Sharon who lived on the Crescent, and who had recently left our school to go Southey, but I didn’t see her.
As we got to the “Buggut” (Bug Hut) the doors were still closed (“Wriggo, I thought tha said wid be late??) and there was about 4 thousand kids (ok, 80 kids, but it seemed a lot more at the time) waiting to get in
“Eh up Bushy!!”
It was Richard from school. He lived on Launce Rd
“Eh up Richard. Are thy on thi own?”
“Nayew, I’m wi ar Veronica”
“Tha ca knockabart wi us if tha wants”
“O-reight! See yer Vron” We were now a foursome
We made our way down to the front of the auditorium, picking out 4 seats together in the third row. As kids, sitting at the front was the best. A hierarchy which was reversed when you became a teenager.
“Duz tha wanna poppet?” Sitting with Richard payed dividends
For the next ten minutes we jumped over seatbacks, shouted at friends in the balcony, pulled girls’ hair, whistled very loud, and made nuisances of ourselves until……the lights went down

“Wahoooo, Yeaahhhh, Hooraayyyy” The chorus was deafening, then – ‘The Warner Brothers’ Theme’
“Da-da-dat dat-da-da-da-da da-dat-dat-daaaa….“ And we were off on a magical journey. Captured by the allure of the big screen and all its magic.
The film that day was “Go-Kart-GO” starring Dennis Waterman, about a kid with a go-Kart (surprisingly) who overcomes many obstacles to become the local champion. Maybe a touch formulaic.
When I got home I was gonna make a trolley (as we called them) and nothing would stop me becoming the local champion, except maybe the fact that we didn’t have a local championship.
As we ran out at the end, we leapt, dived, fenced, Bow’n’arrowed, flew, lazered and copied every other piece of action we’d seen on the screen that morning. I drove up Wordsworth in a pretend trolley, swerving to avoid obstacles and expertly adjusting my crash helmet and goggles. The bollards outside the doctors became a chicane, and I spent my last penny on a cane which would be my sword.
“Mam, it wor great.This kid ‘ad this trolley, an thi wor these burglers, an ‘e found the di-monds but ‘is trolley got smashed up, but it warn’t a trolley, it wor a Go-Kart…”
Mum did me a cup of tea and listened intently as I poured out the morning’s itinerary, in-between slurps, running the whole gamut from Elmer Fudd through to “Satan’s Sattelites” and asking the occasional pointed question (“Isn't that the boy who plays William on the TV?”) to show she was paying attention.
Afterwards we met up on the field and re-enacted as many battles as we could remember, but memory is fickle, and we were soon back to being the TV heroes of the day. I was Mike Mercury. Senna was Steve Zodiac. Kenny was Troy Tempest and Wriggo was Torchy.

Hello Bluebird 62, the Hippodrome was further down Cambridge St. and below Wellington St., there was Nell's Bar and then the Hippodrome.

An impressive list willybite, but where is the Coliseum, Spital Hill? I remember the list of cinemas over the front page of the 'Star', and what they were showing, back in the '40's. The 'Weston' was never listed, don't know why. And the 'Victory' on Upwell Street, I'd forgotten about that one.

I was at the Hippodrome on its last night, 2 March 1963. Rather appropriately, they showed "Gone With the Wind". There were some people in the audience who had been there when it opened as a music hall in 1907. At the end of the film, everyone joined in a rendering of Auld Lang Syne before leaving.

Willybite’s long list brought back some happy memories. One picture palace not listed there that I remember was the Unity, on Langsett Road just below the junction with Wood Street - you went in at the front and left at the side into Gertrude Street. The whole area is now more-or-less in the Mecca Bingo car park.

An old guy at work used to tell us about a cinema called the Ranch House.I don't know if this was a nickname,as apparently they only used to show westerns.He said they used to have a row of "horses" with saddles for kids to sit on w
hile they watched the film.Can anyone shed any light on this?
I've just noticed #103 which mentions part of this (oops!) That'll teach me not to read the whole thread!

I remember when I was about 9 or 10 going to the Forum, Shirecliffe.
I lived on Deerlands Avenue and made my way there on foot and had to ask someone(an adult) if the would "take me in" because the film was an "A". In those days we would just stand outside asking this of anyone entering. These days it would be a risky practice.
Once inside, after an appropriate amount of time, I would leave my benefactors and go and sit somewhere else.
I remember the film was called "Naked as Nature Intended" which I figured would be well worth the 3 mile walk. It was all about nudists but I was a bit miffed because they kept walking behind walls and branches so I really didn't see anything.
I think there was an Edgar Wallace Mystery on with it as a "b" movie.
In those days you could stay in the cinema as lon as you liked and watch the main film over again.
Hence the saying "this is where I came in"

I can remember before the war,going with my school class (Sharrow Lane)to the Abbeydale cinema to see a 3d film. We were issued with special glasses to view the film. All those years ago,and they still have'nt produced 3d films as a norm. The Regent cinema in Barkers pool,was,in those days,the premier cinema in town,with an organ,that rose up from the depths and popular tunes of the time were played by the organist. The words of the songs were displayed on the screen,and a moving ping pong type ball lit apon the words as the song played out. Great value for money in those long gone days. A travelogue film,cartoon,Maybe the 3 Stooges,newsreel,B film,and then the main feature film. All for 1/3d (6p) For new popular films (Gone with the wind) type,huge queues would form outside,and people would wait ages to get in. How times change.

[/b]

the hillsborough park (cinema!) is now a Netto supermarket. ugh!


[quote]
There were two on Barkers Pool ,and The Hippodrome somewhere around Charles St.This used to be a variety theatre.
The picture's was the favourite place for picking up girls when we were 15 & 16.[/qupte]

yes, by the grand hotel. and the gaumont, opposite!



yes, i think you are right, the Eldorado, was on barnsley road, (IIRC)this is now a discount supermarket, underneath,opposite the huntsman pub.
It used to be a carpet showroom, above the supermarket.

PT

It was the Essoldo. It has been untouched inside, apart from the removal of the screen and seating. Also, the floor has been levelled. It is a carpet warehouse/salesroom. The supermarket stands a little further down Barnsley Road, and is now called 'Job Lot'. There was a branch of the City Library above it at one time. The Hunstman is no longer there. Replaced by a block of flats

Anybody remember a cinema called the Unity? Was it somewhere near the Roscoe on Middlewood Road? I can remember the majority of the places mentioned, especially around the City Cente and the North East of Sheffield, cant place the Unity.

The Unity, was on Langset rd. opp. the Barracks. It had no balcony, just
an area called the "jury box"

Anybody remember a cinema called the Unity? Was it somewhere near the Roscoe on Middlewood Road? I can remember the majority of the places mentioned, especially around the City Center and the North East of Sheffield, cant place the Unity.

See post #117, second paragraph. Apart from the oddity of the "jury box", and also of going in at the front and leaving at the side, it also had the surliest usherettes in Sheffield. But I suppose I was a lot younger then and maybe a bit michievous...:)

Good link here mikey

Old Sheffield Cinemas (http://www.rocknroll.force9.co.uk/cinemas/cintable.html)

Is this link broken? I know the site, but I can't find it anywhere and wonder if it's been shut down.

The oldest cinema I would think was the Don opposite the end of Corporation Rd adjacent to the police station. The seats were wooden fold up type- I want to try and find Arthur Stevenson who lived on Verdon Street, Pitsmoor, moving to Parsons Cross, wiith family including Carole his sister

[QUOTE=willybite;4813200]old cinemas 1940/60s

star cinema eccleshall rd
greystones
abbeydale abbeydale rd
heeley coliseum chesterfield rd
heeley palace chesterfield rd
heeley green gleadless rd
woodseats palace chesterfield rd
chantrey woodseats chesterfield rd
carleton arborthorne
park palace south street
norfolk duke street
manor
rex intake
news theatre fitzallen square
wicker
adelphi attercliffe
globe attercliffe
darnall cinema
lyric
balfour
plaza hansworth
forum
hillsborough cinema
hillsborough kinema
hillsborough pheonix
hillsborough park cinema
sunbeam barnsley rd
coliseum spital hill
victory upwell st
crookes palace
walkley paladium south rd
scala brook hill
weston st philips rd
don west bar
roscoe infimary rd
roxy page hall
oxford oxford st
globe attercliffe
cinema house barkers pool
gaumont barkers pool
hippodrome cambridge st
palace union st
essoldo lane top
ritz parsons cross]
unity langset rd
odeon flat street

I used to go to the Saturday matinee at the Lyric in Darnall in the early 50s but occasionly visited the Wigfalls cinema which was known locally as the "Little Dick", sort of a nissan hut I think, very basic! When I was a bit older I went upmarket and changed to the Manor Top cinema!

The Unity, was on Langset rd. opp. the Barracks. It had no balcony, just
an area called the "jury box"

Nope, The one opposite the Barracks was The Phoenix (now Maplins). The Unity was near the top of Wood St. (Gertrude St.) opposite the Kelvin flats. It was the only one I knew that had plywood seats which were sprung loaded and when everyone rose to attention for the national anthem (really!) or perhaps to make a quick exit, there was an almighty clatter.

The Hillsborough Park Cinema, now Netto, is reputed to retain its original balcony.

[QUOTE=sweetdexter;1452849]I was just thinking 'What was that place called near West Bar'
It must have been the Roscoe.

The one at West Bar near the island was the Don.

Quite right - the Roscoe was at the beginning of Infirmary Road near the bottom of Hoyle Street; the Shalesmoor tram stop is there now. The Roscoe survived until about the early 1980s as a bingo hall.

[QUOTE=willybite;4813200]old cinemas 1940/60s

star cinema eccleshall rd
greystones
abbeydale abbeydale rd
heeley coliseum chesterfield rd
heeley palace chesterfield rd
heeley green gleadless rd
woodseats palace chesterfield rd
chantrey woodseats chesterfield rd
carleton arborthorne
park palace south street
norfolk duke street
manor
rex intake
news theatre fitzallen square
wicker
darnall cinema
lyric
balfour
plaza hansworth
forum
hillsborough cinema
hillsborough kinema
hillsborough pheonix
hillsborough park cinema
sunbeam barnsley rd
coliseum spital hill
victory upwell st
crookes palace
walkley paladium south rd
scala brook hill
weston st philips rd
don west bar
roscoe
roxy page hall
oxford oxford st
globe attercliffe
cinema house barkers pool
gaumont barkers pool
hippodrome cambridge st
palace union st
essoldo lane top
ritz parsons cross]
unity langset rd


Minor point, but I think that you'll find that the Heeley Coliseum and Palace were actually on London Road.

[QUOTE=willybite;4970222]


Minor point, but I think that you'll find that the Heeley Coliseum and Palace were actually on London Road.
Heeley Coliseum picturesheffield (http://www.picturesheffield.com/cgi-bin/picturesheffield.pl?_cgifunction=form&_layout=picturesheffield&keyval=sheff.refno=s02698)
Heeley Electric Palace picturesheffield (http://www.picturesheffield.com/cgi-bin/picturesheffield.pl?_cgifunction=form&_layout=picturesheffield&keyval=sheff.refno=s08060)
:thumbsup:

An impressive list willybite, but where is the Coliseum, Spital Hill? I remember the list of cinemas over the front page of the 'Star', and what they were showing, back in the '40's. The 'Weston' was never listed, don't know why. And the 'Victory' on Upwell Street, I'd forgotten about that one.

hiya texas
willybite here. here is the answer to your question as why the weston wasn't listed in the star cinemas page it was they had a select set of customers, when i was a young lad my mother and gran took me to the weston tues, sat, hippodrome monday, empire some friday's, in between i would go to the star saturday afternoon it would cost about 2/6 ( 12.5p) for my four visits in the 40s

ps i dont like saying this about a very dear old friend but if it was open today you would wipe your feet before you came out ha ha ha


when you went to the weston it was advisable to take a shovel with you to clean up the horse muck if you had to sit on the front row reason was they had so many cowboy films on show there, ha ha

An impressive list willybite, but where is the Coliseum, Spital Hill? I remember the list of cinemas over the front page of the 'Star', and what they were showing, back in the '40's. The 'Weston' was never listed, don't know why. And the 'Victory' on Upwell Street, I'd forgotten about that one.

hiya texas
willybite here here is the answer to your question as why the weston wasn't listed in the star cinemas page was they had a select set of customer when i was a young lad my mother and gran took me to the weston tues, sat, hippodrome monday, empire some friday's, in between i would go to the star saturday afternoon it would cost about 2/6 ( 12.5p) for my four visitsin the 40s

I never went there myself. I remember when I first saw it though. A gang of us from Pitsmoor had been up Weston Park one Sunday, and decided we'd walk back via St Philips area. It was really strange territory for us but there was about nine of us so we felt safe.
On our way down we passed the Weston, none of us knew it exsisted.

hi willybite - impressive list - what about the pavilion attercliffe - regular haunt when hammer house of horror films where shown - later began to show asian/indian films - we also had one known locally as the flea pit (walked in rode out!!) but can't remember the name, seems to think it was the globe, or it could have been the one on upwell st.
did the news theatre fitzalan square become the classic as the mother in law was an usherette/cum cashier at the classic? -

The Netto used to be called the Hillsbough Cinema if u look off the rear car park Its still written on the wall. the Kinama was somewhere near the Blockbuster Vidio shop.[may be the other way round not sure??]

The Netto used to be called the Hillsbough Cinema if u look off the rear car park Its still written on the wall. the Kinama was somewhere near the Blockbuster Vidio shop.[may be the other way round not sure??]

The Kinema was on Proctor Place approximately where the ramp is for the car park (or opposite Co-op doors).
It's interesting to note that none of these cinemas, even the later ABC and Odeon were designed (as far as I can remember) with any sort of car park, although there might have been some small area for the staff. I wonder what they did with the expensive projection equipment after closure.

I used to live in the Summer St area and apart from the digusting "bug hut" there was the Scala, which was on Winter St, now University Area. There was the Walkley Palladium, which was considered a "cut above the rest" as far as we were conserned. There was also a picture house in Upperthorpe, can't just remember the name.

Reading Willybite's list of cinema I remembered the one down in Upperthorpe, it was the Roscoe. The Star picture house was on Ecclesall Road. Use to go there on Saturday mornings for the 6d rush. Great fun.

There was also a picture house in Upperthorpe, can't just remember the name.
The Oxford Picture Palace, Addy Street.
Closed in 1964.
m&p

I believe the earliest cinema (picture house) was the one in Fitzalan Square (became Classic), it had an earth floor and wooden benches. This however was pre-dated by one on Bradfield Road, Hillsboro, located somewhere near the tyre fitting garage, possible that part of building is still there. Perhaps someone could further elucidate?

Just for info. The Forum was normally classed as at Southey Green and was part of the Essoldo group with the Capital at Lane Top and the one at Ecclesfield.
The last time I saw the Forum about 15 years ago, it had been replaced by a supermarket.
Worked there 50/51 in the projection box, anyone remember the horse races on stage?

Does anyone remember the don on west bar? the unity cinema was on langsett road, near wood lane. according to my mum

lagerlil-just read back through threads, you'll find plenty on these cinemas.

ok thanks will have a look

Does anyone remember the don on west bar? the unity cinema was on langsett road, near wood lane. according to my mum

Yes - the Don was on the corner of West Bar and Paradise Street. When it closed it became the HQ of the Bradford Woollen Co. owned by the Swycher family - the firm eventually went bust. The building was extended at the left-hand side and (as "Progress House") it was an E.L.S. Furniture showroom for a while; it is now a branch of Armadillo Self Storage. If you loook at the Paradise Street side of the building you can see the fancy windows and decorative stonework of the old cinema.

Your mum is quite right about the Unity - it was next to Wood Street where the Mecca bingo hall car park is now. The odd thing was that you went in at the front and left via a side entrance on Gertrude Street.

is still there but looks very different

I believe the earliest cinema (picture house) was the one in Fitzalan Square (became Classic), it had an earth floor and wooden benches. This however was pre-dated by one on Bradfield Road, Hillsboro, located somewhere near the tyre fitting garage, possible that part of building is still there. Perhaps someone could further elucidate?the one in Ftzalan square was previously called the News Theatre.

Yep, the News theatre. I was a teenager in the early fifties and occasionally went there. They used to show, besides the news, shorts like The Three Stooges, Laurel and Hardy, cartoons etc. No feature films and short continuous programmes.
Brian

The Cinema House at Barkers Pool opposite the Gaumont has been mentioned. On Saturdays you invariably had to queue and when you finally got in you had to sit at the very front where your neck had to be almost at a right angle back as the screen was almost vertically above. The idea was that you then had to keep an eye open for a seat becoming vacant further back.
I now have a dvd projector on which I can show films in the comfort of my own home - 55 years later makes a big difference!!

Incidentally, at most cinemas then with a continuous programme, how often did we queue for hours and then get in just in time to see the final minutes of the main film and then have to sit through it all again to see the full story.

I lived at Gleadless then and often caught a bus into town to see one of the latest films. I remember seeing first cinemascope film in the city (I think), The Robe at The Palace, Union St. It was probably one of the worst cinemas to choose for cinemascope as it was an old cinema and you had to be careful where you sat in the stalls as there were pillars holding the gallery up blocking the view. Still, who cared!

I also remember queuing in the pouring rain in a huge queue outside the Hippodrome to see, I think it was Doris Day in Calamity Jane but it could have been John Wayne in The High and the Mighty. I was soaked to the skin but it was worth it. Great to be young eh!

Brian

The News Theatre changed to the Cartoon Cinema sometime in the 50s

the one in Ftzalan square was previously called the News Theatre.

It opened as The Electra Palace on 11 February 1911.

I wonder what the Electra Palace became (if it changed) between 1911 and the early fifties? Anybody know?
Brian

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It was the Electra until it became the News Theatre. I spent enough time and money in that place to own it. I think I've mentioned before, sometimes I'd go in there on Saturday morning, see the show, come out and walk uptown for an afternoon show at the Gaumont or some other place, and then go for an evening show somewhere else.

Yes - the Don was on the corner of West Bar and Paradise Street. When it closed it became the HQ of the Bradford Woollen Co. owned by the Swycher family - the firm eventually went bust. The building was extended at the left-hand side and (as "Progress House") it was an E.L.S. Furniture showroom for a while; it is now a branch of Armadillo Self Storage. If you loook at the Paradise Street side of the building you can see the fancy windows and decorative stonework of the old cinema.

Your mum is quite right about the Unity - it was next to Wood Street where the Mecca bingo hall car park is now. The odd thing was that you went in at the front and left via a side entrance on Gertrude Street.

is still there but looks very different
Not being clever here hillsboro, but do you mean Schweitzer? I knew one of the sons. And was there a store across the road owned by Sugarmans?

Not being clever here hillsboro, but do you mean Schweitzer? I knew one of the sons. And was there a store across the road owned by Sugarmans?

As far as I know, Dennis and Stephen Swycher (definitely this spelling) owned the Bradford Woollen Co., and L. & P. Schweitzer had a furniture store in the Wicker. I remember Sugarmans nearby in Waingate.

As far as I know, Dennis and Stephen Swycher (definitely this spelling) owned the Bradford Woollen Co.

That's right - the Swychers owned Bradford Woollen until it went bust (though Dennis and Stephen must be doing OK as they still live at Whirlow..;)) The Schweitzers were a different family, though the name Swycher had at one time probably been anglicised from Schweitzer or Schweizer. Come to think of it, Weston Seniors around the corner also went bust - what is it about West Bar Green?.:(

I remember in c. 1957 going to the Don to see a black & white film (I forget which one) that was shown in 3-D. Everyone going in was given a pair of cardboard specs. with red and green cellophane eyepieces.

Apologies for questioning your spelling hillsboro. I remember, beechnut, going to see 'House of Wax' at the Hippodrome. It was a continuous programme so we were walking out mid film so to speak. We were downstairs and went around to the exit via the front. To see the audience, all attention on the screen, all wearing the same cardboard glasses, had a bizzare quality about it. Made me laugh anyhow.
Anybody see the photographs of the old Odeon cinemas in the Daily Mail? Some terrific buildings there.

I think The Lansdowne Picture Palace was the original name of the building and as I remember, it was used by Marks & Spencers after the Blitz. The cinema half way down the Moor was the Central and that was used by Atkinsons.

i remember my mum taking me into the landsdown when it was used by marks and spencers it was really odd, the floor still had the cinema slope, the counters were a normal height at one end, but at the other end it was too high for a five year old to see what was on the counter. i would much rather go round woolworths, or bhs at the side of the palace on union street.the site of atkinsons shop on the moor was a big hole where atkinsons old shop was i remember it was covered with two or three ins of water. just before you reached the area of atcos as we called it, on button lane, there was a waste yard called marsdens they dealt with all sorts of waste paper, rags. rabbit skins,bones, we used to go round the local shops for waste paper and cardboard and take it to marsdens the worst part was to take it to have it weighed, the smell was shocking but it was all forgot when we got our cash, about two bob (10p) between three of us.
ps believe it or not there were fish in atcos only tiddlers but they were there.

Here are a few others :- The Don, The Roscoe, Scala ,Weston, Unity, Pheonix, The Kinema,Palladeum, Hillboro Park Cinema. I could go on all day but then Iam an oldun

Don't think Plaza at Handsworth has been mentioned yet - changed to bingo - possibly still is.
Does anyone remember a cinema down the Moor - left hand side heading out of town? Can remember in 1950s going with my mother to a shop which I think was Atkinson's - they had been bombed out of their store and had a temporary one whilst the new shop was being built. Think the temporary shop must have been a cinema once because I remember it had a sloping floor - anyone else remember anything about this?

The cinema at the bottom of the moor I think was called the Landsdown and at a later date became for a short period of time Marks & Spencers

The Landsdown cinema was on London Road, not the Moor and became a bingo hall. I do remember the cinema on the Moor, not its name, but on one of the very bad nights of the blitz people were ushered from the cinema to an air raid shelter which took a hit and most were killed. My mother was taking me to this cinema that night, but on the advice of my father we went to the matinee instead. Fortunately for us, or we would have been with the rest!!

The cinema on the Moor was 'The Central'. I was in that shelter that was hit, I had been to the Empire theatre to see Henry Hall. Henry who? I can hear you say!

Thanks for the reminder. Yes it was the Central. Glad you survived and yes I do remember Henry Hall, unfortunately!

I can remember going to the Star cinama on ecclesall rd for the saturday matanee opposite old wards brewery a bit higher up

Just a note nomme - the original co-op (S&E) was further up towards Cobden View Rd.

I used to pick up my mums's milk checks there 55 years ago - 81546 was our number and it's a pity I can't remember my current telephone number !!

Apologies for questioning your spelling hillsboro. I remember, beechnut, going to see 'House of Wax' at the Hippodrome. It was a continuous programme so we were walking out mid film so to speak. We were downstairs and went around to the exit via the front. To see the audience, all attention on the screen, all wearing the same cardboard glasses, had a bizzare quality about it. Made me laugh anyhow.
Anybody see the photographs of the old Odeon cinemas in the Daily Mail? Some terrific buildings there.

hiya i remember the hippodrome showing the house of wax in three d my mates and me used to go to the hippo every monday night always in the gods it cost us 1s0d = 5p.

can anyone imagine the weston on st philips rd having a stage act i remember one in the late fourties early fifties, it was a dog, it was called the brainiest dog in the world, it could add and subtract numbers by tapping out the answer with its paws it was only for ten minutes or so,i remember because the trainer started selling its autographs, it was a dog picture with a paw mark in ink..

The cinema on the Moor was 'The Central'. I was in that shelter that was hit, I had been to the Empire theatre to see Henry Hall. Henry who? I can hear you say!

hiya i can remember henry hall he was quite a name on variety shows ,and radio, i remember some of the acts from the 40/50s like nat mills and bobbie,( i've got a hole in my bucket),freddy frinton, nat jackley,wilson kepple and betty( the arabian sand dancers ) , later lita rosa,frankie vaughan,shirley bassey,bill maynard and terry scott, tommy steel and the steel men l, cliff richard and the shadows eddie calvert ,acker bilk, all seen from the gods,at the second house showing i remember having to wait in the cages as we called them up the stairs.

Can anyone tell me the name of the cinema which was in Woodhouse ? I seem to remember it was near to the stocks in the market square and its nickname was the " Stab " which I hope was short for " stable "

hiya i can remember henry hall he was quite a name on variety shows ,and radio, i remember some of the acts from the 40/50s like nat mills and bobbie,( i've got a hole in my bucket),freddy frinton,the pantomimes, soldiers in skirts just about 1945, later lita rosa,frankie vaughn,shirley bassey,bill maynard and partner, tommy steel and the steel men l, cliff richard and the shadows,all seen from the gods,at the second house showing i remember having to wait in the cages as we called them up the stairs.
I can remember (just) Henry Hall on the radio. He used to say something like 'Hello, I'm Henry Hall, and tonight is my guest night.'' And didn't Bill Maynard do a double act with Terry Scott. They had a show called ''Great Scott it's Maynard'' on TV. Nothing at all to do with Old Sheffield Picture Palaces, I know.

Saw my first film at the Odeon cinema Barkers Pool in the late 40s Hans Christian Anderson
and my first job was as an assistant projectionist at the very same Theater early 60s. Talking of these old movie houses must bring back so many memories to us oldies, it was an event just to go out the the FLICKS...

Nobodys mentioned the picture palace at Chapeltown, now a snooker club or the little cinema at High Green, now a carboard box factory.

Capitol Sheffield Lane Top. I saw Elvis's first films there. Used to go on a Sunday and into the Huntsman for a drink after. There used to be some comedians in the audience. For instance, during quiet scenes, such as romantic encounters, someone would play things like "Yellow rose of texas" on the mouth organ. On occasions when it got rowdy, the manager would come to the front and shout "Shhhhh!" Eventually the whole house was hissing! Balloons got thrown from the balcony and thrown around.
All harmless fun and nobody got hurt! Happy days! Late 1950's.

Woodseats and Chantrey on Chesterfield Rd
Heeley Coliseum near traffic lights at Heeley bottom plus another I can't remember the name of.
One very very old one at Heeley Green
In my teens there were 52 of em.
Best one for us was Hippodrome on Cambridge st.
It was a wonderful old variety theatre we kids got in the Gods for 3d
I think.. Graystones was 6d.. and adults used to take us in for an A film.
Miserable old spinsters ran it mostly... We got chucked out often for messing about.
Then there was the Star near the bottom of Ecclesall Rd... There was also almost always a good sweet shop or two near by... My dad bought me my own sweet shop at 16 at Bannercross and I couldn't close till 8: 30 pm till the late house at Greystones had started... I usually went dancing then at the Locarno on London Rd... Thanks for the memories.

Hi Texas i think the unity was at the top of Woodstreet on Infirmary rd ,i worked in the sweet shop near the cinema for a time ,

I think it was the Essoldo in Ecclesfield. Went in only once with my mates and we got thrown out for messing about. It had the nickname, "Bug hut!"
That was in the late 1950's.

Dear Sir/Madame,
My name is Alex Birks, a final year Masters student, studying Graphic Design at Sheffield Hallam University. I am currently undertaking a large research based study, on the rise and fall of cinema, starting from the early 1900s to the present day. I have been focusing on the many changes to film making throughout time, such as black & white silent films, atmospheric theatre, the triumph in talking pictures, Technicolor, etc. I have also been paying close attention to cinema technology and the roles of the cinema staff, required to run a functioning theatre.

I have recently visited 'The Cinema Museum' in London, where I met Ronald Grant, a cinema enthusiast who has devoted his life to preserving the cinema experience, since it began in the late 1800s. After sharing stories and speaking to him over the course of the visit, I gained a strong interest in the projectionist and how they have adapted to the changes in both technology and the requirements of cinema-goers.

This e-mail is addressed to anybody who has been involved in cinema over the years, particularly before the introduction of the multi-plex cinema, as I would like to find out more. As part of my final product I would like to document an encounter I have had with someone involved in the cinema, as a biography/information piece.

If you, or anybody you know could qualify for this position please could you get in contact with me. This will be a tremendously exiting opportunity, and a great way to share your enthusiasm with many people, both educated and non-educated in the subject.

I live in Sheffield and would be prepared to travel to meet you.

Thank you for listening to my proposal.

Yours Faithfully,

Alexander Birks


Contact details:

e-mail – alexbirks88@yahoo.com
Mobile - 07706336517

I've been trawling through the thread and I suddenly thought when did the Regent become the Gaumont? Was it the late 40's?
And was the Roxy always known by that name? The Roxy, I think, was one of the first cinemas to open on Sunday in the late 40's. They used to put on some really old films, even for back then. I reckon they must've had copies in the projection room and just rummaged around to find something to use. I saw the original 'King Kong' there, and some that hardly had a sound track. I once saw a film featuring William S Hart, with his chalk white face and even whiter stetson. They even had 'Birth of a Nation' one Sunday. I think the cinema people were trying to educate us.

The last time that I went to the 'Unity' was to see 'The Vikings'. It was colder inside than outside in winter!! Does anyone remember 'The Oxford' at Upperthorpe?

The last time that I went to the 'Unity' was to see 'The Vikings'. It was colder inside than outside in winter!! Does anyone remember 'The Oxford' at Upperthorpe?

I used to go to see the Sat. Morn. mattinees there (Oxford), Roy Rodgers, Flash Gordon Etc. must have been around '58-60. The Unity was the one that had bare plywood seats which I think were spring-loaded so would snap back when you stood up, what a racket!

I used to go to see the Sat. Morn. mattinees there (Oxford), Roy Rodgers, Flash Gordon Etc. must have been around '58-60. The Unity was the one that had bare plywood seats which I think were spring-loaded so would snap back when you stood up, what a racket!

I used to see the same films at the 'Roscoe'. Was really annoyed one Saturday when we arrived a bit late, we were told that the cinema was full so we actually missed an episode of 'Flash Gordon'. What a tragedy!!

I used to see the same films at the 'Roscoe'. Was really annoyed one Saturday when we arrived a bit late, we were told that the cinema was full so we actually missed an episode of 'Flash Gordon'. What a tragedy!!

I lived in Lower Walkley and we would walk or use the bus to: the Phoenix, Hillboro Kinema and Park cinema, Unity, Walkley Palladium, Oxford, Roscoe, occasionally The Don and the Weston. Sometimes we would start at one cinema for the "first house" and travel to another for the second.

The Palace in Woodhouse saw Rock around the Clock and Shane there aaaah happy days:)

The Palace in Woodhouse saw Rock around the Clock and Shane there aaaah happy days:)

As a kid, I just remember seeing Rock around the Clock; that film kicked it all off, music since was never the same!

I remembered. The Roxy was originally called the Page Hall.

I have a vague memory of Sunday nights in the 50's & 60"s being over 18's only, does anyone remember this. I am sure I remember queuing outside the Wicker hoping that they wouldn't ask my age, I was sure that my long dangly earrings, which were pictures of Elvis in a gold frames, would make me look older, oh my god I really must remember those earrings when I laugh at the tat that some of the youngsters wear today.

Sunday cinemas started about 47/8. I was 15/16 then & can remember going to the cinema with no problem. If there was an age restriction maybe it was 16 yrs old but can't vouch for that.

Hmm must be my memory playing tricks again!

Sunday cinemas started about 47/8. I was 15/16 then & can remember going to the cinema with no problem. If there was an age restriction maybe it was 16 yrs old but can't vouch for that.

hiya, i thought it was 16 as i first went to the regent on a sunday i was 12 years old, i went with my uncle he paid of course, there was a restriction for "H"" films at that time.

I recently went in the Weatherspoons Pub at Woodseats, The pub is called the Woodseats Palace, I was amazed to find out it was an old cinema and apparently there was another 2 on Woodseats itself, one was called the Chantry.

Which others do you know of in Sheffield ?

Abbeydale Pictures - Now a bar and snooker club
Heeley Pictures Palace - Where Ponsfords new building is on London Rd

Anymore, there must have been loads in the 50/60s

gaumont, cinima house,palace union street,news theatre, wicker,park pictures, norfork, heeley palace ,heeley colliseum, rex, essoldo,don,hippodrome,regal star,globe ,regal,oxford to name but a few