Cinemas That Are No More

TheScribbler · 08-09-2009 12:59pm #1

Hi everyone

Anyone out there who enjoyed the suburban cinema experiences of the 50s, 60s and 70s (in the days before multiplex's) will have many a happy memory to share. Cities like Dublin had a host of cinemas, especially in the suburbs that screened what they thought would sell rather than what was current. It was brilliant. I can remember searching through the evening newspapers to see what was on and travelling across towns by bus to be there for a seven o'clock screening. No all night screenings back then. The local 'flea pits' always turned out their audiences at 10.25 at the latest to get the bus home - aahhh nostalgia. Among my favourites were the following:

Dublin: Apollo in Walkinstown, Classic in Terenure, Kenilworth, Ormonde at Stillorgan and Greystones, Stella at Mount Merrion and Rathmines

Bray: Royal & Roxy

Dun Laoghaire: Pavillion & Adelphi

In Northern Ireland for holidays there was the Strand (which has recentlyhad its beautiful art deco exterior fully restored) and the Tonic in Bangor, once supposedly the largest art deco cinema in Ireland that burnt down mysterioulsy one night just as the planners were considering placing a preservation order on the building - funny that!

So folks fancy sharing some of your personal favourites and what sort of experiences you remember? Get writing.

trad · 08-09-2009 1:02pm

The Bohemian in Phibsboro aka the fleehouse, says it all. The State areound the corner where Des Kelly is. The Grand in Cabra, now a bingo hall. Never strayed beyond these when I was a kid.

enda1 · 08-09-2009 1:02pm

+1 for the Classic.
Is the Ormonde closed!?

I'll add the Ambassador to the list.

The one and only film I say there was the Lion King. Amazing!!

Savoy screen 1 style place in its presentation and regalia!

Hunchback · 08-09-2009 1:05pm

the Forum in Glasthule!! it just seems like a hazy memory to have people smoking in one half of the cinema!

Carroller16 · 08-09-2009 1:07pm

The Carlton in OCS... went to see adams family values in there ... my first ever cinema experience

rednik · 08-09-2009 1:18pm

I virtually grew up in the Pavillion in Dun Laoghaire. Remember it as a great cinema. Then the Forum came along. I went to see The song remains the same at a late night showing and could barely see the screen with all the smoke (not tobacco:)). Great days.

mike65 · 08-09-2009 1:29pm

The Roxy in Tramore. I saw such epics as Brannigan, Snow White, Kellys Heroes and Mission Mars (you'll have to look that one up!)

Waterfords closed cinemas are the Regal (in the Glen which closed many year ago), The Savoy in Broad Street which I saw one or two films in and The Coliseum. The Theatre Royal also screened films as well ass staging plays.

silverharp · 08-09-2009 1:42pm

there was one in Sandymount on Serpentine Ave, Its a Hindu temple now. It closed in the mid 70's and I only have a hazy recollection of it.

dario28 · 08-09-2009 1:47pm

Sutton Cross - Proper Old Skool !

TheScribbler · 08-09-2009 3:03pm

When I raisxed this subject earlier I was really thinking about the cinemas outside city centres that were main stream entertainment centres. In Dublin while major cinemas like The Capitol, Carlton and the Metropole have long gone but so have the '2nd tier' cinemas like:

The Academy (Pearse Street)
The Apollo (Sundrive Road)
The Astor

The Casino
The Corinthian
The DeLuxe (Camden Street)

The Eblana
The Film Centre
The Gala (Ballyfermot)

The Grafton Cartoon Cinema
The Grand
The Green Cinema

The Inchicore (was it called The Ritz?)
The Landscape (Churchtown)
The Phibsboro

The Plaza (Cinerama)
The Regent
The Rialto

The Sandford
The Star (Crumlin)
The State

The Talbot (I think thats what it was called)
The Tower (Clondalkin)
The Whitehall

That is as far as my uncertain memory takes me. Any others folks?

Bearhunter · 08-09-2009 10:15pm

CKonetheonlyone wrote: »

the Forum in Glasthule!! it just seems like a hazy memory to have people smoking in one half of the cinema!

Was that the one by the eagle House? If so, I remember it well and I remember the smoking section being on one side of the cinema.

Fuzzy Clam · 09-09-2009 12:42am

rednik wrote: »

could barely see the screen with all the smoke (not tobacco:)). Great days.

;);););););)

BOHSBOHS · 09-09-2009 1:24am

the adelphi !!!! on abbey st :cool:

the grand? on fairview strand!

and the one down the side of the janelle shopping centre in finglas!

Run_to_da_hills · 09-09-2009 4:05am

Savoy in Limerick City.

Hunchback · 09-09-2009 4:16am

Bearhunter wrote: »

Was that the one by the eagle House? If so, I remember it well and I remember the smoking section being on one side of the cinema.

it sure was. i recall watching such dubious films as "my girl" and "moonwalker" somewhere in the midst of the smoke

TheScribbler · 09-09-2009 8:50am

Wow I remember the Savoy in Limerick. Actually it was a good cinema.

I also remember The Abbey in Wicklow. There was also an old cinema in Blessington. Someone told me it was called The State

iMax · 09-09-2009 9:15am

Someone will probably enjoy these, written by my dad for Box Office magazine in 1997:

The Ambassador

Multiplicity in Irish Cinema

TheScribbler · 09-09-2009 1:47pm

Thanks IMax that is an interesting review on cinema history. I new the Ambassador to be venerable but was unaware of its extensive heritage

Antenna · 09-09-2009 10:39pm

See attached
Recently came across an unrelated newspaper cutting someone had from the Cork Evening Echo from 4th Sept 1973 - but on the other side were mostly cinema ads of what was playing then in long since gone cinemas around Cork city - would be of interest to this thread.

TheScribbler · 11-09-2009 3:01pm

Bruce Lee & Fists of Fury - that was on television recently. It was dreadful when it first came out and hasn't got any better.

I had quite forgotten qabout the cinema ads that appeared in the newspapers. In Dublin the Evening Mail, Evening Press and Evening Herald will filled with them, as was the Cork Evening Echo and Belfast Telegraph

Capt'n Midnight · 12-09-2009 6:27pm

The one in Lucan down by the bridge

And what was the other one on Abbey St, with the tiny screen upstairs with all the foreign films ? Diva and Betty Blue were each there for ages

And the other other one in Abbey St. which had Mad Max for ages too.

mike65 · 12-09-2009 6:43pm

I love old cinema displays ads. Shows how things change - double bills? Late shows for "adults"? Whatever happened to the good old days.

TheScribbler · 14-09-2009 9:03am

Late showing were a real treat which often meant that you were on your own in the cinema

Outkast_IRE · 14-09-2009 9:15am

I know it only closed down a few years ago but the capital in cork !!!
It was right on grand parade always fond memories of getting bus into town and watching a film there .......... And i always remeber Screen 1 being huge i dunno was it cause i was small or what but in my mind it had more seats than any other cinema i was in and a huge screen!!!!! Good times

Outkast_IRE · 14-09-2009 9:16am

TheScribbler wrote: »

Late showing were a real treat which often meant that you were on your own in the cinema

late shows are still on in cork i usually head to the 23.30 show usually a few people who are all intrested in the movie i love late show.

superfly · 14-09-2009 9:20am

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

And what was the other one on Abbey St, with the tiny screen upstairs with all the foreign films ? Diva and Betty Blue were each there for ages

And the other other one in Abbey St. which had Mad Max for ages too.

are you talking about The Lighthouse and The Adelphi?

also the Carlton on O'Connell st

TheScribbler · 14-09-2009 1:07pm

Goodness I can remember going to all the Dublin central cinemas at one time or another (some more frequently than others). The Adelphi was a smart modern looking cinema but my favourite was the Capitol with its amazing interiior foyer - loved it.

triple-M · 14-09-2009 1:11pm

anyone remember the name of the cinema in janelle shopping centre in finglas where tesco is now?? iirc it closed in the 90's,good times

:D

oneweb · 14-09-2009 1:58pm

Janelle, Finglas had a cinema - think I was only there once. From what I can recall it was to see Ernest Saves Christmas! Would've been about right for the time. Was closed for years. There was a huge tree just outside, to one side of the path down the hill that had lights all over it too. I loved the way Janelle Shopping Centre was lit for Christmas, couldn't wait for the trip from Blanch every week for the shopping at Crazy Prices! Ah the memories

Of course, Janelle Shopping Centre no longer exists, and that makes me feel like an old fart!

oneweb · 14-09-2009 2:01pm

triple-M wrote: »

anyone remember the name of the cinema in janelle shopping centre in finglas where tesco is now?? iirc it closed in the 90's,good times :D

I'd hit reply before I saw your post

Ha! Furthermore, the listing is still up for "The Plaza"...

http://www.goireland.com/dublin/plaza-cinema-attraction-cinemas-id10830.htm

Don't even try, the number's out of service :pac:

TheScribbler · 14-09-2009 4:17pm

Does anyone remember the name of the cinema that used to be in Drumcondra?

Cinemas That Are No More

Comments