Old cinemas of sheffield

[davebrmm 10]

I've asked this on another link somewhere, but where exactly was the Unity? I guess it was somewhere on Langsett Road but I can't just picture it.

 

to the left at the top of wood street a few yards they had a chucker out called biley bill and a front section which cost tuppence I lived o penistone rd you could only go to the 2nd house if you were 14 or with an ugrown --an adult

[Sheff2006 10]

What I would really love to see again is a good colour photo of the Cinecentre (Cinecenta?) sign on Flat Street. I was far too young to go in the cinema but always remember the sign which the lights moved to make it look animated (sort of!). Wonder what happened to that sign in the end???

 

The only photo Ive ever found online is this one:

 

http://www.sheffieldhistory.co.uk/forums/uploads/monthly_10_2008/post-822-1225381895_thumb.jpg

 

Has anyone got any other photos of the sign?

[NogbadTheBad 10]

What about the Rex at Intake? I remember seeing 'Diamonds are Forever' there, on the back row with a girl . . . also 'A Clockwork Orange'. I seem to remember it was 30p to get in! (I know - I was done...) I did a drive by recently and went to and fro a few times thinking 'I'm sure it was here somewhere . . .' but eventually concluded it had been pulled down. Well - it was a bit of a flea pit wasn't it?

[sheffield77 10]

I am a 'stranger' to Sheffield................I arrived here in 1974 and initially lived at Firth Park and one night found the cinema just down from Lane Top which according to previous threads was probably the Vogue, although I can't remember that. I always remember the film I saw on that night was Papillon which I really enjoyed. When I was leaving, the manager was at the door and asked whether I enjoyed myself, and I asked why weren't there any trailers for future films, only to be told 'we close tomorrow'.

 

My only experience of a local cinema in Sheffield

[wd01 10]

there's an excellent reference book at Weston Park Museum, with fine photos of old Sheffield cinemas

[segasonic 11]

What about the Rex at Intake? I remember seeing 'Diamonds are Forever' there, on the back row with a girl . . . also 'A Clockwork Orange'. I seem to remember it was 30p to get in! (I know - I was done...) I did a drive by recently and went to and fro a few times thinking 'I'm sure it was here somewhere . . .' but eventually concluded it had been pulled down. Well - it was a bit of a flea pit wasn't it?

 

Did you notice a supermarket while you were driving by? (Co-op I think - while since I've been up that way). The Rex stood on what's now the Co-op car park I believe.

[Sheff2006 10]

Yes, the Rex cinema was on the corner where the Co-op car park is now. I passed it loads of times in the 70s and 80s.

 

Regarding books on old Sheffield cinemas, there is/was a book in Crystal Peaks library as Ive looked through it a few times. However I dont remember what it looks like, what its called and whether it is still there or not!

[sleeperman 10]

Two more cinemas and a drinks shop :-

The Star Cinema was at the bottom of William Street at the junction with Ecclesall Road.Later became a petrol station. Spent many happy hours in The Star---first as 8 and 9 year olds,in 1950-ish,watching Roy Rogers....etc..... on Saturday afternoons.Then about 8 years later going in with friends to partly watch the film[any film!] but mainly to try to sit next to and chat up, a girl.The drinks shop [sarsparella...etc...] was almost opposite the Star but a bit nearer Town.

Another one was the Greystones cinema,which later became Napoleon's nightclub and Casino. Near both cinemas there were good chip shops. The one near the Star was Middleton's at the corner of Ecclesall Road and Summerfield Street.I went to school with the son ,David. Very,very lively area that in those days.Seems kaput now.

 

The old cinema at stocksbridge used to be a Star cinema, then it became Palace cinema & closed in 1966 & became a bingo hall until the mid eighties, then it was converted into a shopping mall & is still in use today as a shopping mall

[darylslinn 10]

I used to live practically in the shadow of the Abbeydale Picture Palace, I used to play about in the car park and up and down the concrete ramp around the back that was a fire escape.

One afternoon whilst round the back of the cinema me and my mate Barclay heard cry and yells for help, a girl had got stuck in the ladies toilets and asked us to help get ther out...the dilemma however was that we shouldn't have been around the back of the cinema and debated whether or not to tell someone inside about the trapped girl for fear of getting into trouble (or getting done).

We went inside and told someone about the girl and was given a packet of Spangles for our trouble.

As for the Rex Cinema at Intake, I moved to Intake aged 11 and remember the final years of the Rex Cinema and a couple of days after the place had closed managed to sneak back inside through a fire door at the back to find the place empty but with the snackbar still stocked up, we daren't take anything but remember how eerie the place was.

[CF8M 11]

I was a great fan of the cinemas in Sheffield.

When we moved there from an RAF base in Lincolnshire in the early sixties as a teen-ager and not having a Sheffield accent I used to spend a lot of time in the cinemas.

One of my favourites was the News theatre in Fitzalan Square,you could spend all day in there if you wanted.This later became the Classic.

Another was the Wicker,they showed all the X classifictions and you had to be at least sixteen to get in.

The first time I went in I was fifteen, but I was carrying a Crash helmet and got away with it because you had to be sixteen to have a motor bike license.

I think the film was one of those Japanese Horror-monster shows,Gorgo or something.

The stuff that little kids watch on the telly now.

Another favourite of mine was the Pavilion Attercliffe,saw Zulu there.

Further up the Common was The Adelphi,just set back off the main road.

Saw my first stereo sound film here it was Carousel and the sound effects had people turning round in their seats as voices seemed to come from behind them.

Further up the main road and round the corner on Staniforth Road was the Regal.I remember seeing Calamity Jane there.

Going up Staniforth Road was The Balfour,which became a Carpet wharehouse.

Over the back was Darnall Main road and the Lyric.remember seeing the The time machine,the original Absent Minded Professor and Ring of Fire with David Jansen.

Going further afield I used to go to the Abbeydale Cinema a lot.I remember taking a Girl friend to see Roustabout with Elvis.Then later seeing a few Richard Burton/Elizabeth Taylor films one of which was the Sandpiper,remember the song "The shadow of your smile"from that picture.

Later the Wicker became the Studio Seven and the film quality improved saw many great films in there when that happened.

My favourite Pub was the Bull and Oak in the Wicker and I recall on many occasions the Projectionist from the Studio 7 would nip in for a Pint when the film was running.

Sadly now just memories, but at the time it was great!

Edited May 28, 2010 by CF8M
Grammar

[cazza 10]

nobody seems to have mentioned the manor pictures which is now tesco at manor top remember going there as a kid sat mornings .

[soft ayperth 11]

nobody seems to have mentioned the manor pictures which is now tesco at manor top remember going there as a kid sat mornings .

 

I remember taking a date there to see what was then a very risque film - Peyton Place. What was I thinking of? No need to answer that.