algy Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 The Ritz Cinema at Bridge Foot Warrington in it's heyday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harry hayes Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 Absolutely brilliant pictures Algy. 1 and 9's at the back. Cafe upstairs for posh people, but not us Orford scruffs. Probably a bit superior to the Odeon and Empire. They started doing Saturday morning childrens films after the success of the OCC (Odeon childrens club - who had their own song to which all the urchins delighted in giving the wrong answers e.g is everybody happy? - No. Happy days, very much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stallard12 Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 Ahh, I remember it well. I also believe that it had a slightly 'posher' aroma than all of the other movie houses as you walked across that vast foyer - better that is. I wonder why such wonderful things and places fall out of favor. Same with big bands and swing music - everybody loves them, but they still die. I know, it's economics, but just saying...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 I remember queing round the block for hours with my dad to see Jaws¬!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 Great pics Algy...and it looks very eerie in there eh. No doubt H&S would not allow such an upstairs balcony these days. I can't actually remember ever going inside there though. When did it close as a 'cinema' ? I wonder what happened to the strange organ in the photo's too was that after the days of the cinema or did it drop down into the stage floor? Sorry for all the questions. I saw Jaws at the one which became Mr Smiths Baz. That had an upstairs balcony too and we used to lean over and lanch popcorn and sweets at people. Childish but seemed fun at the time for some reason. Was that one the ABC or Odeon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
algy Posted July 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 Diz, yes it did rise up out of the floor, when the ABC (previously the Ritz) was sold the organ was purchased by a Bill Witt who imported it to Melbourne. Australia, follow this link for details:- http://www.theatreorgans.com/southerncross/Victoria/Ballarat.htm The Odeon also had a balcony but in my opinion was not as 'posh' a cinema as the Ritz. What makes you think the H&SE would not allow a balcony now Diz if the design and structure was capable of taking the load, I don't see a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 The ABC became Mr Smiths..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 Gosh I am so STUPID... My other half has just pointed out rather sternly that your picture IS the cinema I went to to see Jaws at which then became Mr Smiths. Blingingly obvious really. For sopme reason I thought your picture was of whatever it was that became the bingo hall near the Postern Gate I don't remember 'my' cinema being like that inside at all though and I remember the balcomy being bigger and more rounded. Why would H&S not allow the balcony on your pic Algy... well think about it, someone could trip and fall and go over the edge. Imaging the compensation claim. It would probably have to have barriers and safety netting these days ha ha. Saying that upstairs of the Par Hall is still open and no-one has fallen from that in all these years 'yet'.... scares me though not that I have been in there many times in all my years other than a few times to watch my uncle perform when I was younger.. then to see a show a few years later held in memory of him after he sadly died, once to watch my sister sing there and once to watch my son. Like Harry would say... Happy Days (mostly) ..but back to the cinema and sorry to digress but I seem to be now having a 'memories' night tonight. It's your fault PJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 ...your post wasn't there when I started typing and reminiscing ... sorry Baz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 Dizzy, the balcony is not much different to those in theatres all over the country which are still used now.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harry hayes Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 If the Ritz was dangerous you should have tried "the Gods" at the Royal court Theatre - the only part open to the impoverished. T'was the nearest this writer will get to heaven. If memory serves, the Palace,mentioned earlier, was also pretty high. Happy days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stallard12 Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 Watched many a wonderful pantomine from those lofty wooden benches Harry. Do you remember when word went around town like a buzz saw that they had a nude in the variety show. The line to get in stretched around the corner and almost up to the back door of Woolworths. Believe me, it wasn't worth the trouble - lady stood still as a statue in a pose, the curtains opened for five seconds and then closed. I was an hormonal fifteen year old and even I wasn't impressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harry hayes Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 Don't remember that, but (as old policemen told) you could go past the front or the backs of the theatrical 'digs' in and around the bottom of Cairo street, and see a moving one. (how did the song go "Too young") (Ancient) happy days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleopatra Posted July 30, 2011 Report Share Posted July 30, 2011 I worked for some time in the kitchen of Ritz cafe, frying fish and chips etc.,. I remember one Saturday afternoon a waitress bringing back a meal and saying that the customer had complained that the chips were cold. Every person in the kitchen (about 10 people)all had to feel the chips. Every one was agreed that they were not cold. So the head of the kitchen asked for a clean plate and transferred the meal to it then told the waitress to re serve it. The waitress came back barely able to prevent herself from laughing before entering the kitchen. She told us, "She (the customer) said they were much better and was happily tucking into the meal". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted July 30, 2011 Report Share Posted July 30, 2011 If only she had known eh ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
algy Posted July 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2011 I worked for some time in the kitchen of Ritz cafe, frying fish and chips etc.,. I remember one Saturday afternoon a waitress bringing back a meal and saying that the customer had complained that the chips were cold. Every person in the kitchen (about 10 people)all had to feel the chips. Every one was agreed that they were not cold. So the head of the kitchen asked for a clean plate and transferred the meal to it then told the waitress to re serve it. The waitress came back barely able to prevent herself from laughing before entering the kitchen. She told us, "She (the customer) said they were much better and was happily tucking into the meal". A word of caution to you nice people out there - NEVER NEVER send your food back to the kitchen after complaining, I worked on maintenance for a large international hotel chain and trust me I know what can (not all the time as it depends on the attitude of the kitchen staff) happen to your food before it is returned to you at your table. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 Found a few more photos of the Ritz on the Warrington photos Facebook site.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harry hayes Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 Very evocative Baz. Well done. Garlands on the right of the first one. Happy days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 ....and bottom one makes you realise how naff cars were back then especially the blue on in the forefront Any idea when that one was taken and did anyone go to watch the film that was being shown at the time ie Warlords of Atlantis. Was it any good ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 Warlords of Atlantis was 1978.....Ice Cold in Alex was 1958 so 20 years between them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 ....and bottom one makes you realise how naff cars were back then especially the blue on in the forefront The blue car is a Simca 1000 (GL or GLE) Not reknown for their quality... The line of cars down the side for what I can see is an Austin 1800 (Nicknamed the land crab for their design!!) then a MK1 Escort (worth a good £7,000 at least today for a two door) Not sure of the next one but then there is an Austin 1100 or 1300 and right at the back of the line an old beige Marina Coupe!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 You saddo £7k for a MK 1 escort blummin heck you could but a new car for that. I wonder how much my old brown Truimph 1500TC or white Datsun 1200 coupe would be worth these days... or even my silver vauxhall viva with the black naff vinyl roof. That was like something out of a James Bond movie with all the white smoke it pumped out I have digressed from the main topic again... I'm sorry Algy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 You saddo £7k for a MK 1 escort blummin heck you could but a new car for that. I wonder how much my old brown Truimph 1500TC or white Datsun 1200 coupe would be worth these days... or even my silver vauxhall viva with the black naff vinyl roof. That was like something out of a James Bond movie with all the white smoke it pumped out I have digressed from the main topic again... I'm sorry Algy You saddo I know...... I am just an old petrolhead!! As for your Viva, probably worth about £800.00 to £1000 now. Not much for the Triumph, but the Datsuns command a good price if you can find one that isn't a pile of rust! MK1 Escorts fetch a fortune, especially RS2000 and Mexicos. £20k is not uncommon for cars like that in mint condition. MK Lotus Cortinas can fetch £30k for the right car. Unfortunately Corsairs do not!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 Flippin heck I wish I had kept the viva and dastun in safe storage somewhere now rather than scrapping one and giving the other to my cousin when my mum made me have unlce's brown triumph. Yeuch, but it was a bit of a beastie though in a very ugly 'box like brown leather and wood' sort of way. My flashing lights down the sides of the rear seats brightened it up a bit though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stallard12 Posted August 4, 2011 Report Share Posted August 4, 2011 Ice Cold In Alex - good movie. Simca was actually a Fiat. The French Gov. wouldn't let Fiat (Italian) build cars in France as 'Fiat', so they just went ahead and built the exact Fiat but invented the name Simca for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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