Majestic Cinema

Bunkers, shelters and other buildings
Post Reply
User avatar
chameleon
Site Admin
Posts: 5462
Joined: Thu 29 Mar, 2007 6:16 pm

Post by chameleon »

Geordie-exile wrote: Thought I'd revive this and see if any of our newer contributors have any ideas. I've found a little bit more information myself, and description of the architecture which includes a mention of the balcony statues. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Detai ... &id=465928 Sure I saw a fleeting glimpse of something unusual up there tonoght Geordie.

String o' beads
Posts: 1360
Joined: Wed 06 Feb, 2008 6:09 pm

Post by String o' beads »

I wouldn't let it lie.Does anyone know anyone who worked there during the relevant period 1956-64? [/clutchingstraws]Know what? I bet the management decided they looked a bit old fashioned and stuck them in a back room and they're still there.    

dogduke
Posts: 1402
Joined: Thu 03 Jan, 2008 6:47 am

Post by dogduke »

Talking to mi mam on the phone last night (she's nearly 90)the Majestic cropped up.She remembers an illuminated ticker tape style display giving out information.None of the photos on Leodis show this but one of the commenters on one photo backs this up.Apparently it ran underneath where the statues were.Any photos out there please??
Consciousness: That annoying time between naps.90% of being smart is knowing what you're dumb at.

MIKER
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun 28 Nov, 2010 6:53 am

Post by MIKER »

Chrism wrote: *shouts very loudly* Phiiiiiiiiiiilll!! There's a job for you. I worked as projectionist from 1963/64 before opening the odeon merrion centre august 10th 1964, the rooms with a view were nothing more than store rooms, however one did get used as a office for a short while to run the Saturdays kids club which i ran from 1961 until starting work here. the dome structure housed an electric motor to haul the large light fitting to the ground for cleaning once a year, containing 200 bulbs and around 400 pains of glass, it took over an hour to bring down.During 1963 late in the year a building next to the west riding pub caught fire early evening it was firth ray & prosser decorators merchants. that evening i spent on the flat roof with fire buckets ect making sure no sparks entered the air ducts which were of wood construction for my trouble i was awarded £5.00

String o' beads
Posts: 1360
Joined: Wed 06 Feb, 2008 6:09 pm

Post by String o' beads »

See, I knew someone would know *something* ! Thanks miker.The figures on the balcony appear to have disappeared around 1964. Any idea what happened to them?

MIKER
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun 28 Nov, 2010 6:53 am

Post by MIKER »

edgey2001 wrote: I'll dig out the paragraph in a book I've got, during the 50's and 60's many of the Cinema chains were swallowed up by the bigger chains and from what I've read, Rank took over the Odeon chain when Oscar Deutch died. Rank eventually ran the Majestic and decided it wasnt viable to keep open 2 large 1st run cinemas in such close proximity so it turned it in Bingo. the sound of music ran for 2.5 years and holds the world record, it was awarded a plaque which was stolen at a later date and never found.the majestic had the original screen on the wall, as screens got bigger the old frames could be seen the last screen was around 50x60.

Trojan
Posts: 1990
Joined: Sat 22 Dec, 2007 3:54 pm

Post by Trojan »

MIKER wrote: edgey2001 wrote: I'll dig out the paragraph in a book I've got, during the 50's and 60's many of the Cinema chains were swallowed up by the bigger chains and from what I've read, Rank took over the Odeon chain when Oscar Deutch died. Rank eventually ran the Majestic and decided it wasnt viable to keep open 2 large 1st run cinemas in such close proximity so it turned it in Bingo. the sound of music ran for 2.5 years and holds the world record, it was awarded a plaque which was stolen at a later date and never found.the majestic had the original screen on the wall, as screens got bigger the old frames could be seen the last screen was around 50x60. The Majestic seemed to specialise in long run films. South Pacific was on there for a long time in the fifties, Lawrence of Arabia, The Sound of Mucus, Oliver!, all had long runs at the Majestic.
Industria Omnia Vincit

geoffb
Posts: 342
Joined: Fri 23 Feb, 2007 9:53 am

Post by geoffb »

MIKER wrote: edgey2001 wrote: I'll dig out the paragraph in a book I've got, during the 50's and 60's many of the Cinema chains were swallowed up by the bigger chains and from what I've read, Rank took over the Odeon chain when Oscar Deutch died. Rank eventually ran the Majestic and decided it wasnt viable to keep open 2 large 1st run cinemas in such close proximity so it turned it in Bingo. the sound of music ran for 2.5 years and holds the world record, it was awarded a plaque which was stolen at a later date and never found.the majestic had the original screen on the wall, as screens got bigger the old frames could be seen the last screen was around 50x60. A neighbour of ous, old Mrs James, Aunty Gladys, a friend of the family you know, went to see SOM 70 times at the Majestic, this must be a record of some sort, she was a singer in the church choir probably modeled her self on Julie. LOL

User avatar
Leodian
Posts: 6478
Joined: Thu 10 Jun, 2010 8:03 am

Post by Leodian »

I took a photo just a few days back of the 1921 date in stone high on the side of the Majestic building in Quebec Street. I had thought it may be suitable for the 'Where is this?' on SL, but it was too poor quality to use as the optical zoom on my digital camera is not good for sharpness.
A rainbow is a ribbon that Nature puts on when she washes her hair.

User avatar
chameleon
Site Admin
Posts: 5462
Joined: Thu 29 Mar, 2007 6:16 pm

Post by chameleon »

YEP today:http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/n ... 6716479.jp(look carefully at the picture Geordie!)

Post Reply