I saw Star Wars (many times) at the ABC. Also Chariots of Fire and Gregory's Girl, which played as a double bill. I can't believe this cinema is gone now.
What a great video, I have such fond memories of the Savoy, frequented this establishment many times in my youth, saw quite a few 18 rated movies there while underage (fun times), Cobra, Fright Night, but my favourite experience was Day of the Dead on a Sunday afternoon, what a film and what a crowd experience, something I'll never forget.
I remember queuing always around the curved brickwork. During the 1980s. Reputed as the largest continuous english bond brickwall in the midlands when it was built. Is this true or not....
Saturday morning kids shows in late 60's. Seem to show films for kids, what ever happened to those films? I think Double Deckers tv show tapped into that audience.
I don't know if it's covered elsewhere, but there was also the Walsall Odeon in Bridge Street, which was destroyed by fire in the early 1970's, and stood derelict for some years until the George Hotel and surrounding buildings were redeveloped.
My mother said that many famous people performed at Her Majesty’s Theatre and the people were sad to see it go, as was The Savoy. The Savoy as great on Saturday mornings for the kids of the town. The Odeon was another in lower Bridge Street, in the town centre of town. There was a restaurant too. It was refurbished to a very high standard in the late sixties and I worked in a small office next door in Tudor Buildings. I went into work one morning and I noticed that more light was coming into the office and that I could see the clock on Church Hill. A fire had broken out the night before and gutted the beautiful cinema and it was never rebuilt.
Bazk in the mid 1950's I was an ABC minor and attended children's matinee's on Saturday mornings, needless to say it was always packed. I remember one Saturday just before Christmas we were all handed an apple and orange as we entered the foyer. No doubt the cleaners would not have been pleased at the mess we children would have left behind.
Brilliant piece of work. It takes me back a few years when even as a young proji I would visit boxes all around south and north London on my day off. Wish I had had the means to photograph them in the 50s. Too expensive for me.
Sadly very true. That's the one good thing about mobile phones. if we had them at that time, we would have many pics of these cinemas to look back on fondly.
Called the Imperial in my day, known in our family in the 60's as the 'flea pit'. I didn't realise until now that it was an ABC, only knew them by their given names. At that time it was the Savoy and Gaumont (on the Bridge, an Odeon cinema) for big films, and the Empire (in Freer St) and Imperial for smaller audience stuff. The Empire regularly did kids films, so I went there very often. I never did see the end of 55 Days in Peking at the Savoy - something broke half-way through, we all sat there for about an hour or more, then went off in a sulk - can't remember if we got a refund, likely wouldn't have dared ask.
I remember watching 101 Dalmatian's Disney film there circa 1970, but being advertised was 20 thousand leagues under the sea, i would rather have seen. Sister and me christened in St Paul's church opposite.
0:40 Her Majesty's Theatre In Walsall West Midlands Near Birmingham In England Is Named After The Very Famous West End Theatre The Her Majesty's Theatre AKA His Majesty's Theatre In Haymarket Near Piccadilly Circus In London's Glittering West End In London In England In The United Kingdom Which Is The Home Of Andrew Lloyd Webber And Cameron Mackintosh's The Phantom Of The Opera. Thanks Mate. X
3:13 large spoolboxes on the Westars, was it showing 3D films at the time? Nice to see mercury arc rectifiers in use. The screen at the entrance end, with the auditorium later turned around also happened at the Phoenix, East Finchley in London, in that case in 1938 I think.
I saw Star Wars (many times) at the ABC. Also Chariots of Fire and Gregory's Girl, which played as a double bill. I can't believe this cinema is gone now.
What a great video, I have such fond memories of the Savoy, frequented this establishment many times in my youth, saw quite a few 18 rated movies there while underage (fun times), Cobra, Fright Night, but my favourite experience was Day of the Dead on a Sunday afternoon, what a film and what a crowd experience, something I'll never forget.
Like seeing something else long gone, next to the entrance to the ABC, Radio Rentals!
I remember queuing always around the curved brickwork. During the 1980s. Reputed as the largest continuous english bond brickwall in the midlands when it was built. Is this true or not....
I remember the big screen and how disappointed years latter going to a cineplex with those small screens.
Saturday morning kids shows in late 60's. Seem to show films for kids, what ever happened to those films? I think Double Deckers tv show tapped into that audience.
Now a Poundshop. Welome to Walsall. Just be careful of the dogshit and chewing gum on the pavement.
I don't know if it's covered elsewhere, but there was also the Walsall Odeon in Bridge Street, which was destroyed by fire in the early 1970's, and stood derelict for some years until the George Hotel and surrounding buildings were redeveloped.
It is on my list!! 😀
So interesting thank you. Used to go to the Savoy on Saturday mornings with my friends, then aged 10🐞
Thank You!
Me too. Happy days eh?
My mother said that many famous people performed at Her Majesty’s Theatre and the people were sad to see it go, as was The Savoy. The Savoy as great on Saturday mornings for the kids of the town. The Odeon was another in lower Bridge Street, in the town centre of town. There was a restaurant too. It was refurbished to a very high standard in the late sixties and I worked in a small office next door in Tudor Buildings. I went into work one morning and I noticed that more light was coming into the office and that I could see the clock on Church Hill. A fire had broken out the night before and gutted the beautiful cinema and it was never rebuilt.
Nicely put together, keep up the good work.
Thanks Dave !
Bazk in the mid 1950's I was an ABC minor and attended children's matinee's on Saturday mornings, needless to say it was always packed. I remember one Saturday just before Christmas we were all handed an apple and orange as we entered the foyer. No doubt the cleaners would not have been pleased at the mess we children would have left behind.
Brilliant piece of work. It takes me back a few years when even as a young proji I would visit boxes all around south and north London on my day off. Wish I had had the means to photograph them in the 50s. Too expensive for me.
Sadly very true. That's the one good thing about mobile phones. if we had them at that time, we would have many pics of these cinemas to look back on fondly.
Missed out the third cinema opposite St. Pauls church, now a Wetherspoons.
Called the Imperial in my day, known in our family in the 60's as the 'flea pit'. I didn't realise until now that it was an ABC, only knew them by their given names. At that time it was the Savoy and Gaumont (on the Bridge, an Odeon cinema) for big films, and the Empire (in Freer St) and Imperial for smaller audience stuff. The Empire regularly did kids films, so I went there very often. I never did see the end of 55 Days in Peking at the Savoy - something broke half-way through, we all sat there for about an hour or more, then went off in a sulk - can't remember if we got a refund, likely wouldn't have dared ask.
It's not anything any more, spoons moved out ages ago :(
I remember watching 101 Dalmatian's Disney film there circa 1970, but being advertised was 20 thousand leagues under the sea, i would rather have seen. Sister and me christened in St Paul's church opposite.
0:40 Her Majesty's Theatre In Walsall West Midlands Near Birmingham In England Is Named After The Very Famous West End Theatre The Her Majesty's Theatre AKA His Majesty's Theatre In Haymarket Near Piccadilly Circus In London's Glittering West End In London In England In The United Kingdom Which Is The Home Of Andrew Lloyd Webber And Cameron Mackintosh's The Phantom Of The Opera. Thanks Mate. X
Imperial opposite St Paul's Church. And don't forget Ant the baked spud man sadly gone the days
There was also Classic on the Wise more .and one in Greys alley and1 more in Freer st those names jn the mists of time
3:13 large spoolboxes on the Westars, was it showing 3D films at the time?
Nice to see mercury arc rectifiers in use.
The screen at the entrance end, with the auditorium later turned around also happened at the Phoenix, East Finchley in London, in that case in 1938 I think.