Coventry Cinemas

As soon as I clicked the button I realised what a stupid question it was. Norman

Norm K, Would it have been a newsreel full length of the fight, did they do that back then Like the Opera cinema did of Randy Turpin. Now you have jogged my mind, I remember about five of my uncles having a noisy friendly argument one day about a big fight they were going to see, I was about seven at the time. Believe Carnera was a giant of a man, in those days, and a pro wrestler, my god that was seventy years ago Where has it gone. P.S I went to the opera to see the Randy Turpin fight, and sitting in front of me was Randy himself, all alone.

Norman both, I'm confused, I thought the Alex in the photo was half way along Ford Street. and it was open in 1960 because my wife and I decided to get married after seeing a film in there, Love is a many splendoured thing

You are catching us up Kaga, sorry but that's life. I too remember the Alexandra and always envisaged it on the corner. Not sure the name of that road though (up the side) but wasn't there a dancing studio situated on the other side of the road. I went there a few times just to make an idiot of myself in my teens. Edited by Midland Red, 6th Oct 2015 11:19 am (This post has been copied, and subsequent responses moved, into the "Coventry Dance Halls and Studios" thread)

Corner of Cox Street and Ford Street.

That road there used to run straight into Pool Meadow didn't it? Always remember the Alex and the cafe there, always smokey inside with the bus drivers, crew and their ciggies.

Although I lived in Birmingham I was almost on the A45. I had a part time driving job with Goodwin, Foster, Brown. If they were a driver short and I was on the right shift I would do a bit of driving for them. Yes, Cox St did run to Pool Meadow and yes I remember the smokey café I met my wife to be at Goodwins so have rather fond memories of the place. I don't know if you are aware of this but the site of the Alex' is earmarked for the construction of a block of student flats with retail premises on the ground floor. Bearing in mind the capabilities of Coventry planning department, I expect it to resemble the same boring corn flakes box shape that most Coventry central post war buildings have...... Norman

Dreamtime, well the smoke as gone for you know, you live in the cleanest city on the planet. Norman Conquest, 'Goodwins' was that the flour mill people? The last time I was in Coventry to look around, the market place was the thing that stood out for me, wish we had one half as good. best regards. p.s just wrote about the fire station, pht its disappeared.

Goodwins was once a flour mill but I knew it as wholesale grocers...View of Goodwins is from Wheatly St corner....Norman

Not sure about that Kaga, the bush fire season has started, and it is going to be a long hot summer. Ooops back to the cinema topic.

I think the guy's name was Neville Dent, I have feeling he owned the hotel in Allesley Village as well.

If I remember correctly the manager's name was Mr Powell when I once went there with my then girlfriend. He was previously the manager of the Ritz cinema top of Windmill Road / Dovedale Avenue. I know this because he once threw me out of the Ritz when I was younger for being obnoxious, he had every right to, I was thrown from the top of the steps to the bottom and deserved it. From then on I learned to respect him and we then got on very well.

I think Dent owned the cinema, maybe he had a manager, I may have got his Christian name wrong.

My father who lived in Coventry all his life wrote the following about the Globe Picture Theatre: "Now the outstanding film - or rather the day - which I remember so well was Charlie Chaplin in "The Kid". The manager hit upon a very good idea and advertised that the best impersonation of Charlie Chaplin would win 1st Prize, in those days about 10 shillings - roughly a week's wages.The day was fine and the message got around. The Saturday morning film started at 10 o'clock. By 8 o'clock Primrose Hill Street was full of juvenile Charlie Chaplins. They came from miles around swaggering about with walking sticks, bowler hats, bit boots, short jackets and trousers very crumpled and jumbled round the legs, not to forget the moustaches Well it was a fine stampede when the doors opened and we raced down that passage, Charlies and civilians alike. The noise and the laughter was deafening, but it was worse inside - Charlies running up and down three aisles, lights going off, coming on again, hoorays and cheers, whistling and clapping, sword fights with canes, bowlers knocked off, lost moustaches. I wish all could have been there for the laugh of a lifetime. Who won I do not know, I seem to remember he was a stout little boy..."

I was going to add something but then realised i was having a "senior moment".