Coventry Cinemas

I remember the incident with the hair, or did it happen more than once. Guessing it was around 1958.

Bit of a small world Heritage. Makes me wonder if we knew each other? The year would be about right, when you said you remembered the incident, were you there or did you hear about it? It was the talk of the school the next day. Hope we can share some more memories. Colin.

Here's an odd fact about the Gaumont, it couldn't show widescreen films. Some films could be masked-off top and bottom to look slightly widescreen and special prints of some widescreen films were made so that they could fill the non-wide screen at the Gaumont. When the James Bond series switched from 'flat' to 'anamorphic' presention starting with Thunderball, showings had to be moved from the Gaumont to the Empire (not my favourite cinema). It wasn't until the Gaumont was refitted as the Odeon multi-screen cinema they could finally show true widescreen films. The sad thing is the Spon End Plaza was equipped for widescreen projection from the outset but closed before the disaster-movie and cult sci-fi boom of the early 1970s. I lived just up the road from the Plaza between 1967 and 1975 and believe me that area really needed a cinema.

I was there most Friday nights for several years, but you are right it is a small world. What school did you go to? I had the long trip each day to The Woodlands at the far end of Broad Lane. The first 11 years of my life were spent in Banks Road opposite Christchurch Road, then we moved to Sadler Road just past the Whitmore.

Hi Dutchman The other sad thing is that the Spon End Plaza was equipped with a lovely theatre organ. I watched it being dismantled & coming out.

Hello again, I went to Barker Butts. So I don't think we were mates as such. We may have been but not knowing. Colin

As we lived in Banks Road I went to Moseley Avenue up to the age of 11. I was in the 16th (St. George's) cubs and scouts before moving to the 29th which met in the school in Waste Lane. Played a lot on the common and remember the big fight in the other topic. Was it 1959?

Did the Savoy have an otgan at one time? Anyone know? Colin.

Yes, it was a Wurlitzer.

Thanks again Dutchman. I was not too sure if the Savoy had an organ or was I thinking about another picturehouse? All I remember as kids we would boo the organist if he was on too long "get on with it came here to see the Bowery Boys not to hear that load of rubbish", no appreciation at that age. Another question, did the organ play during the intermission? Colin.

I'm afraid I wouldn't know Colin as I've only ever read about it online.

There was no sign of an organ at the Savoy during the 1950s.

Forgot to ask Philip, was that after the Plaza closed as a cinema (1959) or after it closed as a bingo hall (1968) ?

Hi Dutchman It came out the year that I was married, 1968. It was in bad condition.

It was interesting what Mike H from Canada said about Coventry's cinemas in past times. There were more than 20 at one time in Coventry (or at least that no.) The Alexandra was the cinema known as a "Flea Pit" & renowned for perverts & paedo's amongst its audience. I would never have classed The Paris as one! Compared to others, it was quite smart & tidy, & you could get a cup of coffee in the foyer (sometimes for free if the manager liked you). A friend of mine, a John Francis, was a projectionist at Theatre One (the old Alexandra) in the 70s. I saw "The Exorcist" from the projection room in 1974. I remember one lady getting up from her seat & fainting in the aisle. They had a chair in the foyer for ones like her. That cinema always through its history showed "seedy" films, but also showed the Italian "sword & sandals" type, like "Hercules" films with strong men such as Reg Parks, a famous muscleman, now deceased. He actually helped train Arnold Schwarzenegger if I remember correctly. Steve Reeves was another fit guy in such films. The "Alex" also used to show Nudist films to titilate those who liked them. The Savoy was where my dad once worked as a doorman in the 40s or 50s. Someone mentioned sneaking in to cinemas for free. Me & my mates often used to do that at The Empire. One would go in, buy a ticket, then let the others in through the emergency exit door.