Leeds lost cinemas

[Johnny39]

I left Harehills in 1956 so consequently my cinema choices veered more towards North Leeds - The Kingsway and again the Dominion. For many years of my childhood and early youth the "Dom" was closed, as though there had been a fire at sometime. I seem to remember it re-opening again round about 54/55 and it was quite a swish local cinema with stalls and balcony. You're right about it being on the Canada estate - the local streets being named after Canadian cities and being a very desirable area in its day. If I had to choose my favourite cinema from those days it would have to be the "Clock". Fond memories.

[Horsfordian]

The Dominion became my favourite outer cinema when the Odeon circuit refused to rent stereophonic sound in all their theatres for Fox films.Therefore,after The Robe at the Odeon and How to Marry a Millionaire at the Majestic,Fox cinemascope/stereo films either went to the Tower or the Dominion,which had good stereo installed.The Dominion, especially ,had been renovated and to me at that time was the best suburban cinema.by the way,I had to cycle all the way from Horsforth via the ring road to Harrogate rd.etc.and hope that nobody pinched my bike,parked behind the screen end in the car park.There were 2 other cinemas very similar,which also took over the showing of Fox films with stereo.....Savoy,Stanningley(forgive spelling).....Clifton,Bramley....very similar in outside design,but not as modern inside,but still worth a visit if I had missed a film at the Tower or Dominion.One item which intigued me about the Dominion was the lighting....concealed fluro lighting which used to flicker when the house lights were dimmed !!I had not seen this type of lighting at all in UK,but many cinemas on the continent either built or renovated cinemas with this lighting.Still on the subject of stereo,the old ABC Ritz at the same time showing Warner and MGM wide screen had a system called Perspecta sound which was not as good as the current Fox films.Please forgive my ramblings but I do get carried away thinking of the old cinema days.

[Trojan]

Horsfordian wrote: The Dominion became my favourite outer cinema when the Odeon circuit refused to rent stereophonic sound in all their theatres for Fox films.Therefore,after The Robe at the Odeon and How to Marry a Millionaire at the Majestic,Fox cinemascope/stereo films either went to the Tower or the Dominion,which had good stereo installed. I remember seeing the Robe, the first cinemascope film at the Odeon on the Headrow. I also remember seeing South Pacific the first (only?) film in Todd AO at the Majestic, there was also a film demonstating the Todd AO system before South Pacific. TBH I enjoyed this more than the main feature, but then I was only about 10. One sensation was that we went to see it on a Sunday!!! In my strictly Methodist family this was unheard of!My father had helped the "no" campaign in the referendum held regarding Sunday opening of the cinemas in Morley.

[Si]

When I was at school, I was a member of the film society. We were given a tour of The Odeon on The Headrow by the cinema's manager, about 1974ish. I remember him telling us that he thought there were no true film stars anymore, except perhaps Clint Eastwood. His definition of a star, was someone the public would go to see regardless of the film.

[Cardiarms]

Carr Crofts cinema (I think?) oops picture posting cock up.    

[Cardiarms]

Carr Crofts cinema?Can't do it from a Mac. Grrrrrr.    

[Cardiarms]

!

[deano30]

Hi friends - I'm a new guy.I enjoyed this thread a lot and was pleased to see that my recollection of the cinema on Bramley Town street was reasonably accurate as the picture provided was as I remembered the place.The Lido was indeed a flea pit and the last time I climbed the stairs up to the cinema, which was above the shops it, would have been in the early 1960's to see a film called "Circus of Horrors"One small point - if my memory serves me well the Lido was on the same side of the street as the Unicorn pub. If that is correct it could not have been demolished to make way for Bramley Centre which is on the other side of the street.Regards and best wishes to all who contribute here.

[Hollie]

Parksider if you see this message I remember going to the Saturday morning cinema at the Malvern in Beeston in the fifties (I was born 1952). If you were born and bred in Beeston do you remember the Off Licence on Malvern Road run by Ivy and Dennis Morrell (My Mam and Dad) Its now a Youth Hostel but the last time I went past it had some remnants of a sign painted on the wall. Jubilee Stout? I will go back and see if I can get a picture. I went to St. Lukes School.

[raveydavey]

Time to resurrect this thread with what could be the restoration of The Majestic (from the YEP).http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/n ... 677820.jpA landmark building in Leeds city centre could be restored to its former glory as a cinema as part of a development scheme.Leeds-based developer Rushbond has submitted two planning applications for the former Majestyk nightclub, a grade II-listed building in City Square that has stood empty for the past four years.Built in the 1920s, it opened on June 5 1922 as the Majestic Cinema with a restaurant in the basement.Under Rushbond's proposals, the ground and upper floors could be used as a cinema, concert hall, dance hall, bingo and gym, while the basement would become a live music venue and nightclub.A design and access statement prepared by Rushbond's architects, DLG, as part of the applications describes the building as "uninviting" and "very closed" and it is planned to insert ground-floor windows along Quebec Street and Wellington Street to create a more "lively street frontage."The front flat roof overlooking City Square will be paved and used as a terrace. The canopy over the main entrance will be replaced by one more in keeping with the building's age.The statement says: "The Majestic building is a key part of City Square. "The closure of the nightclub in 2006 and the demise of the building more recently is a cause for concern."However, it sale and purchase by the applicant offer the opportunity to breathe new life into the building and for it to offer a greater contribution to the Leeds street scene."Submitted in recent weeks, the applications will be discussed by the council's city centre plans panel later this year.The Majestic was one of a group of big cinemas opened shortly after the first world war. It had a total capacity of about 2,800 and operated as a cinema until 1969. It then became a bingo hall and was converted to a nightclub in the mid 1990s.Luminar Leisure inherited the club in 2001 when it took over from Northern Leisure. The building was put up for sale earlier this year and bought by Rushond after an application to use it as a casino was rejected by the council and turned down on appeal by Leeds Crown court.Positive sounding news about a criminally neglected building right in the city centre. It would make an ideal cinema / live music venue being situated right next to the railway station. Lets just hope the "lively frontage" that is planned is in keeping with the rest of the exterior.