Leeds lost cinemas

String o' beads · Post by **String o' beads** » Mon 03 Jan, 2011 5:49 pm

That's good news.Ooh - and they might come across the old figures from above the frontage in a back room!http://www.secretleeds.com/forum/Messag ... ighLight=1

Post by **chameleon** » Mon 03 Jan, 2011 7:05 pm

Geordie-exile wrote: That's good news.Ooh - and they might come across the old figures from above the frontage in a back room!http://www.secretleeds.com/forum/Messag ... ighLight=1 Wondered if you might see that

dogduke · Post by **dogduke** » Mon 03 Jan, 2011 9:11 pm

Anybody remember the resturant atthe Majestic - I don't /They had a resturant on the first floor at the Odeon.

edgey2001 · Post by **edgey2001** » Mon 03 Jan, 2011 11:08 pm

The restaurant became a dancehall sometime in the 50's as it was where me mum met my dad. Also, during the war, it was comandeered by the army and used as refuge for returning soldiers.

Arry Awk · Post by **Arry Awk** » Tue 04 Jan, 2011 4:49 pm

edgey2001 wrote: The restaurant became a dancehall sometime in the 50's as it was where me mum met my dad. Also, during the war, it was comandeered by the army and used as refuge for returning soldiers. Hi Edgey2001 and Dogduke!Please go to page 3 on this thread and you should get what I posted on the Majestic Restaurant/cinema,etc also what the dance hallwas used for after the Dunkirk evacuation. (personal experiencesas a 10 yr old in 1940!).

martino · Post by **martino** » Tue 04 Jan, 2011 5:03 pm

raveydavey wrote: 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. Couldn't agree more.

Keg · Post by **Keg** » Tue 04 Jan, 2011 8:51 pm

I do remember arriving back in Leeds late one night to see a large inflatable Marilyn Munro on the roof??. I nearly crashed with suprise. That was a good few years ago mind!

dogduke · Post by **dogduke** » Fri 04 Mar, 2011 12:08 am

blackprince wrote: mym wrote: A lot of cinemas were well before my time - but my mum (in her 60's) has told me of a lot around east Leeds...The Star(?) on York Road (further up from the Irish Centre, other side of the road, Shaftesbury (faintly remember that I think, didn't it close in the 70's?), Hillcrest, The Clock (on Roundhay Road), up at Crossgates (where the Mecca is now - don't know the name(?), and wasn't there one where the station is now at Crossgates???My first visit to the cinema was the much departed Tower on Briggate (one wet Bank Holiday Monday with my mum to see 'Snow White), and always remember my mum crossing the road when I was young, just past the Grand Theatre, because the Plaza was there (X rated films, lol)My son is 13 now, but I used to take him to see films at the Lounge in Headingley. It was a bit of a tradition, sitting on the front row of the balcony. A cinema very sadly missed!! You mention the cinemas in Harehills where I misspent some of my youth. Leodis has photos of the Shaftsbury and the Western ( Florence St) but I've never found a photo of the Hillcrest, the first cinema I ever went to. There was an office block called Hillcrest House on the site when I last saw it but that must have been 30 years ago. I remember the Westen being renamed the Vogue as I commented on Leodis "The Western Cinema in the photo was refurbished and renamed the Vogue Cinema. It reopened in 1954 with a screening of the newly released Cinemascope film "Three Coins in the Fountain" starring Dorothy McGuire & Rossanno Brazzi. Apart from the screen & sound system the seating and carpets were replaced. Unfortunately the seat cushions were filled with foam rubber and were easy to vandalise, and they were in a very poor state after just a few years." This was confirmed by Brian a former projectionist"I worked as 2nd projectionist at the Vogue Cinema (formerly Western) in 1957. Sadly it was destroyed by fire around 1961." We were tailking of old cinemas at a recent family gathering when myaunt(aged about 80) recalled going to the Western on Florence streetAt one time it had a corrogated metal roofwhen it rained you could not hear the sound track.They also had a huge tabby cat that used to stroll upa nd down the aisles eyeing up the customersshe said it looked like small tiger!.In common with other 'bug hutches'there was a guy who went round with the Flit spray.

Chrism · Post by **Chrism** » Fri 04 Mar, 2011 3:45 pm

The Odeon 1979.

tonyne · Post by **tonyne** » Tue 05 Apr, 2011 8:48 pm

AdamJB wrote: First post here so apologies if this has been mentioned before (I couldn't see it if it has) but what about the cinema in the Merrion Centre above Woolworths? It was on the BBC web site a few months ago. The entrance is where the cash machines are now, sandwiched between Woolies and a pawn shop behind the florists. From the pics on the BBC site it looked like a time warp, all gaudy decor and retro telephones. The auditorium is huge with the seats and projection gear gone. Any further info (name perhaps) gladly accepted. Hi the Cinema in the merrion centre was an ODEON it was closed in 1978 when screen 3 opened in the ODEON on the headrow. The entrance is up on the landing behind the mirrors. The door downstairs by the cash machines is the fire escape. It was a fantastic cinema with a huge screen that could show 70mm. It was also the place they used to show the childrens film foundation films for kids on a sat. morning. Apart from being striped out the place is as good as new inside.