Leeds lost cinemas

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Sun 01 Jul, 2007 11:28 pm

munki wrote: Is it true that the T&C also used to be an indoor circus / zoo when it originally opened?It is the source of some of the silliest but almost believable rumours about tunnels under the city centre. A lot of my friends worked there & swore they had seen the entrance to tunnels from what used to be the Underground (Sunday Roasts & Jazz).The revolving bar stools from the Underground now grace the bar of the Pack Horse, Woodhouse Lane. According to Robert Preedy the Coliseum opened in 1885 (15th July) as a 'concert hall and variety theatre' - so its more than likely that travelling circuses with animals used it as a venue from time to time. it became a cinema in 1905Here's a drawing from 'Leodis' of the Coliseum in 1896 complete with steam tram!

Old Leo · Post by **Old Leo** » Mon 02 Jul, 2007 10:44 pm

Just spotted this thread. What about the Hillcrest on Harehills Lane near Lupton Avenue, the Dominion on Harrogate Road just above Chapel Allerton Hospital and the Kingsway further up towards Moortown Corner? This became a synagogue after closing and was often referred to as the cinemagogue.

farbank · Post by **farbank** » Tue 03 Jul, 2007 3:41 pm

The original 'bughutch' must surely have been the Western nearby the Hillcrest, lower down Harehills Ln. along Florence St. It stood almost opposite the new Labour Club. The facade is probably still there. The building certainly wont be. I was at the fire when it burnt down many years ago.Its situation, adjoining the corporation 'destructor', and what was then , a piggery also, made for some real gut wrenching pongs on swill boiling days. On those occasions, the cinema fireman would dash up and down the aisles with the pressurised scent sprayer.But also at the front of the auditorium, in the cheap seats,[the dearest were only 10d. and 1/- on Sat. nights], the first half dozen rows up, had the seat arms removed. This enabled them to shove all the kids down to the front on busy nights. And get as many full price adults on proper seats. Not so bad if we kids had a seat to ourselves. But they would make you squash up along the row. And many's the time I sat through a programme with a 'cheek' on either seat.And can you imagine nowadays , going into the flix 10/15 minutes before the main feature ended. Then sitting there whilst it began again . You knew the ending before you knew what the film was really about.! Continuous they called it. Much better were the 'Distinct' performances. When did it all change.?

FarnleyBloke · Post by **FarnleyBloke** » Tue 03 Jul, 2007 3:53 pm

I'm pretty sure this hasn't been mentioned already but i'm sure a few of the older generation on here (cough, Scandy) are too embarrased to post this and are just waiting for someone else to mention it first.Wasn't there some form of "special" cinema on New Briggate? I'm thinking in the same building complex as the Grand but on the right, catering exclusively for adults and showing films of a mainly "specialised" nature?

Post by **tyke bhoy** » Tue 03 Jul, 2007 4:06 pm

You are correct FB there were I think two cinemas on New Briggate.The Plaza and the Tower. One of them certainly did show almost if not completely exclusively x-rated films. I never went I don't think I would have convinced anyone I was 18 at the time it closed.It will certainly have shown the Confessions series starring Robin Askwith and the ex-PMs father in law Tony Booth (Think Carry on.... with more action to go with the double entendres). Quite tame now though. The early Emamnuelle's will have been shown there too

Post by **tyke bhoy** » Tue 03 Jul, 2007 4:46 pm

The Plaza from leodishttp://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?resourceIde ... AY=FULLnow part of the extended Grand Theatre and the cinema that showed almost exlusively x-rated (18+) films. According to Leodis I would have been old enough to see its last 3 years of x-rated films legally.Further up Briggate now Europa? and previously Mr Craigs the Tower which also closed in 1985http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?resourceIde ... SPLAY=FULL

Scandy Bramley · Post by **Scandy Bramley** » Tue 03 Jul, 2007 9:35 pm

FarnleyBloke wrote: I'm pretty sure this hasn't been mentioned already but i'm sure a few of the older generation on here (cough, Scandy) are too embarrased to post this and are just waiting for someone else to mention it first.Wasn't there some form of "special" cinema on New Briggate? I'm thinking in the same building complex as the Grand but on the right, catering exclusively for adults and showing films of a mainly "specialised" nature? Only "mooky" bughouse I can recall on New Briggate was on the right, with the Headrow at yer back. ½ way twixt the Odeon and Empire Arcade. Was it the Plaza? The Ritz? As a teenager, I saw some X rated cult films there - Andy Warhols "Flesh" is the one that springs to mind. "Performance" with Jagger and Pallinberg was another that the mainstream cinemas wouldn't show. I remember the seats being a bit "crusty" EEEEW! P.S. Arry's favourite Chinese restaurant was either above that cinema, or on the 1st floor next door. He used to take our family there (the chinky, I mean!) for special occasions...thinkin back - I wonder HOW he knew it was there!

JanCee · Post by **JanCee** » Tue 03 Jul, 2007 10:49 pm

Post by **tyke bhoy** » Tue 03 Jul, 2007 11:17 pm

Scandy, the first link i posted wouldn't suggest a restaurant above the Plaza or next door towards the Grand. Back down Briggate (the other side of Harrison Street) towards the Odeon is perhaps more likely

Post by **tyke bhoy** » Tue 03 Jul, 2007 11:23 pm

Jancee, Union Street still exists but in terraced terms is more "back eastgate" as other than an entrance to the market car parks, the police car parks and the rear of the buildings on eastgate it has no buildings. Millgarth street is the short stretch of road that runs behind the back of the police station between it and the majority of its car park