Leeds lost cinemas

fred1935 · Post by **fred1935** » Mon 03 Nov, 2008 12:45 am

Oh what memories these messages bring back. I'm a new lad and have enjoyed reading about the old cinama's, ballrooms etc.I know the Palace Cinama on Armley Road has been mentioned but it really was the place to go in Armley. Not only a cinama but Roller Skating and Ballroom. Yes we had live bands (big ones) on Saturday nights, I'm sure someone else can mention which ones.There was also Armley Baths, a ballroom over the big pool in the winter, wonderfull times were had by all I'm sure.Yes, I lived in Armley and went to St, Batholomews church school from 1941 to 1950, my growing up years. many lovely memories of the area and all it provided.

fred1935 · Post by **fred1935** » Wed 05 Nov, 2008 4:41 am

Just to go back a bit. Wasn't the Carr Crofts cinama in Armley the Picturedrome?. It really was the local Bughutch in the late 1940s, the cheap 4d seats were simply wooden forms at the front, no back on them as far as I remember. Couldn't say if it was still there, probably not. Another one in the city centre I don't remember seeing mentioned was the Scala, cinema and Ballroom, again the late 1940's, I did my best Tango there, mind with a good dancer.

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Wed 05 Nov, 2008 9:07 am

fred1935 wrote: Just to go back a bit. Wasn't the Carr Crofts cinama in Armley the Picturedrome?. It really was the local Bughutch in the late 1940s, the cheap 4d seats were simply wooden forms at the front, no back on them as far as I remember. Couldn't say if it was still there, probably not. Another one in the city centre I don't remember seeing mentioned was the Scala, cinema and Ballroom, again the late 1940's, I did my best Tango there, mind with a good dancer. Hello Fred - a fascinating question and I've just dived into my books for you. The CARR CROFTS cinema is unbelievably still there and recognisable, despite being converted from a Sunday School (opened 31.5.1912 and closed 17.10.1931). It is still in commercial use. With respect Fred, the bug hutch you recall in the 1940s was the PICTODROME in Wortley Road (opened 26.4.1913 and closed 13.9.195I've had many a happy afternoon and evening in the wonderful Scala Ballroom at 2/6d per session. If I remember rightly it was noted for having "the finest sprung dance floor in Leeds." Every time I walk down Albion Place nowadays (going this morning) I wish we could go back to those happy days - Barker's record and electrical shop was in the corner of the Scala on the junction with Lands Lane, prior to being relocated to The Headrow.

dogduke · Post by **dogduke** » Thu 06 Nov, 2008 2:26 am

my young cinema experiences were at the Harehills,it's now a KFC.During the interval "Uncle Monty used to do a turn which included use of a mirror on the spotlight,if the reflection stopped on your face you won free admission the next week plus an ice cream.The chocolate lollies were great!!!!!.Only won it once,chuffed eh!

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Thu 06 Nov, 2008 10:35 am

dogduke wrote: my young cinema experiences were at the Harehills,it's now a KFC.During the interval "Uncle Monty used to do a turn which included use of a mirror on the spotlight,if the reflection stopped on your face you won free admission the next week plus an ice cream.The chocolate lollies were great!!!!!.Only won it once,chuffed eh! "FINGER LICKIN' GOOD" eh ?? - for those who remember the slogan when these chicken places were "Colonel Sanders"

simong · Post by **simong** » Fri 07 Nov, 2008 2:42 pm

It's still pretty obvious that the Aviator in Yeadon was a cinema. There's only one not very good picture on Leodis but when you go in you can more or less work out where everything was - it looks to me like the seats would have been raked up on the back wall and the screen would have been above where the entrance is now. Does anyone know how long ago the bingo hall closed as it was either boarded up or in its last days when I moved into the area.

Lilysmum · Post by **Lilysmum** » Fri 07 Nov, 2008 4:24 pm

simong wrote: It's still pretty obvious that the Aviator in Yeadon was a cinema. There's only one not very good picture on Leodis but when you go in you can more or less work out where everything was - it looks to me like the seats would have been raked up on the back wall and the screen would have been above where the entrance is now. Does anyone know how long ago the bingo hall closed as it was either boarded up or in its last days when I moved into the area. When it was the old pictures the entrance was in the same place and the screen would have been on the far wall,there was also a balcony which would have been above where you go through the doors. It was changed to a two screen cinema,studio 1 and 2, in about 1970? The bingo only shut down shortly before it was turned into a bar.

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Fri 07 Nov, 2008 11:44 pm

fred1935 wrote: Just to go back a bit. Wasn't the Carr Crofts cinama in Armley the Picturedrome?. It really was the local Bughutch in the late 1940s, the cheap 4d seats were simply wooden forms at the front, no back on them as far as I remember. Couldn't say if it was still there, probably not. Another one in the city centre I don't remember seeing mentioned was the Scala, cinema and Ballroom, again the late 1940's, I did my best Tango there, mind with a good dancer. Fred - if you look about halfway down page 7 of this thread you will find a pic I took of the Carr Crofts cinema about a year ago.

Trojan · Post by **Trojan** » Sat 08 Nov, 2008 1:47 am

dogduke wrote: my young cinema experiences were at the Harehills,it's now a KFC.During the interval "Uncle Monty used to do a turn Uncle Monty from "Withnail and I?"

fred1935 · Post by **fred1935** » Sat 08 Nov, 2008 9:16 pm

Thank you Blakey, Drapesy for putting me right about those Armley cinama's. For some reason though I lived in Armley during my growing up years, as a youngster exploring every alley as you do, 1941 to 53, I still don't recall the Carr Crofts cinama, all the others yes as plain as day but not that one. Very good reading anyway.