Leeds lost cinemas

IMOR · Post by **IMOR** » Wed 11 Jul, 2007 7:39 pm

Wow!What a way to spend a birthday.Now how old was I on the 23rd in 67?

JanCee · Post by **JanCee** » Wed 11 Jul, 2007 7:57 pm

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Wed 11 Jul, 2007 8:33 pm

Strange bit of graffiti there - It obviously says "U.S." and a swastika. I think its a " = " sign in between so I wonder if this is graffiti about the Vietnam war - the picture dates from 1967 according to Leodis. The first picture you posted also has some graffiti - "????? the bosses" ![I'm interested - so that makes 2 of us at least ]

jf · Post by jf » Wed 11 Jul, 2007 8:59 pm

Some of you may have come across this site before, which lists a lot of closed and open cinemas:http://cinematreasures.org/search/query ... arch=cityI finally managed to find my copy of 'flicks a picture album of Cinemas in Leeds and Bradford' by Robert E Preedy which has a lot of nice pictures, including the Merrion Cinema before the rest of the centre was built around it. It's worth tracking down - I got my copy for £1.00 from WH Smiths in the train station a few years ago.This book reports that in 1939, the people of Leeds had a choice of 68 picture halls, which was the peak amount. Doubtless there were others which were opened after that date or closed before it. It doesn't actually list all of them - how many do you think we could get between us? The Cinema Treasures website has 23 listed.

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Wed 11 Jul, 2007 10:20 pm

In the 1980's Robert Preedy published 'Leeds Cinemas remembered ' which has a pretty exhaustive list. If I can count correctly Preedy lists 97 cinemas that have operated in Leeds over the years. The book was printed before 'the Vue' was opened in Kirkstall or the'Light' (Ster Century) in town - so we have a possible total of 99!!

jf · Post by jf » Thu 12 Jul, 2007 12:47 am

Here's one that I don't think has been covered so far on this thread: The Western Picture House on Branch Road, Armley. Now a combined cafe, launderette and amusement arcade.

jf · Post by jf » Thu 12 Jul, 2007 12:49 am

And here's another view of the same:

jf · Post by jf » Thu 12 Jul, 2007 12:56 am

A book I have, 'The Armley Album' mentions the Crown (presumably the one next to the Crown Pub, already mentioned I think), plus the Plaza on Wellington Road and the Lyric on Tong Road (already covered) and The Western (see above). It also mentions the 'Palace'. Anybody know where this might have been? There is a building on Whingate (now Whingate business centre) which looks like it might have been a cinema - could this be it?

Post by **tyke bhoy** » Thu 12 Jul, 2007 11:16 am

jf wrote: It doesn't actually list all of them - how many do you think we could get between us? The Cinema Treasures website has 23 listed. I should think and I haven't gone back and counted that this thread has more than 23 mentioned and I suspect there are some mentioned on other threads mentioned here. Hyde Park, Cottage Road.....