Leeds lost cinemas

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Thu 12 Jul, 2007 8:08 pm

jf wrote: 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? Erm ...No.The Palace building is still there - its Bingo, or was until very recently. Its on Eyres Avenue very near Stanningley Road - I'll get a picture of it posted ASAP.There were other cinemas in Armley (I,d call the crown and plaza Wortley anyway) -1. Carr Croft Cinema at the bottom of the road of the same name. It closed as long ago as 1931 but incredibly is still there. Again I'll get a pic up here as soon as I can. It doesn't look much like a cinema to be honest, more like an old Chapel - I think it was originally an old sunday school conversion(according to Robert Preedy.)2.There was also a 'Pictodrome' near Whingate on Wortley Road. it closed in 1958 and has been pulled down

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Thu 12 Jul, 2007 8:12 pm

The lyric in Armley, previously mentioned but without any photos. This pic from Leodis is from 1965. It survived to the late 80's - I remember seeing 'Beetlejuice' there so it can't have been that long ago!

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Thu 12 Jul, 2007 8:16 pm

And here it is in 2007. Remarkably the 'LYRIC' sign survives.

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Thu 12 Jul, 2007 8:21 pm

Here's the 'Western' from Leodis [compare with JF's first pic on page 6 of this thread for that 'Then and Now' effect we all know and love...]

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Fri 20 Jul, 2007 10:56 pm

This thread seems to have gone cold recently which I think is strange.I'd particularly like to know if any of the people who made a plea for more information (e.g. Hunsletguy JF and others) ever checked back to the site. If so a little feedback would be more than welcome!!

rikj · Post by **rikj** » Fri 20 Jul, 2007 11:45 pm

It's a little difficult drapesy, as a forum like this isn't necessarily the best place to be gathering info. It's designed more for communication between members, rather than the longterm accummulation of information.For example, if I want to check if a painted wall advert has been put up here before, then the only way is to trawl through all 13 or so pages of posts! Likewise with the lost pubs.I'm not complaining about the forum, but I think we're maybe pushing the limits of what it can physically do.It would be nice if with feedback there might be some evolution of the forum to cater for things like this.Just my 2p.

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Fri 20 Jul, 2007 11:57 pm

You're right of course Rikj - but surely the site is about SHARING information and reminiscences. Also if a specific question is asked and answered it's nice for the original person to check back and respond I think - I always try to if I've asked something - but I realise they're may be perfectly good reasons why sometimes it doesn't happen

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Sat 21 Jul, 2007 10:54 pm

As promised here are pics of 2 former cinemas in Armley This is the former Palace on Eyres Avenue. Confusingly this is called" New Western Bingo" - although the "(New) Western" cinema was round the corner on Branch Road ! - (see pics earlier on this thread)

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Sat 21 Jul, 2007 11:04 pm

The Palace was a converted building - previously Armley Rink. it opened as a cinema in 1912 and closed in 1964. This picture from Leodis shows the building in 1970. Obviously The strange tower above the entrance has subsequently been demolished.

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Sat 21 Jul, 2007 11:05 pm

The entrance to the Former Palace.