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Dear visitor,the aim of this website is to provide interesting information on cinemas and movies. In the wake of the recent sad news that our local Odeon is set to close, I have started documenting events and capturing its unique interior through photography. I hope this will help people understand the importance of preserving these wonderful buildings in the future. It was a pleasure to visit this cinema with its friendly and attentive staff, something that's often missing at multi screen venues.
To start with I will be featuring local cinemas that have come and gone including photos and your stories.Please feel free to add your comments.
A special thanks to Allen Moore for allowing us to use the photographs taken from his book "The Picture Palaces of Gloucester and Cheltenham"
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From a young age my father used to take me and my sister to the local cinemas to watch the latest films. I remember the ABC, Coliseum and Odeon very well. All of the cinemas were single screened at this time. I’m talking BIG screen entertainment!! I believe that my interest in cinema and films goes back to my parents who again loved going to the cinema’s in Cheltenham. Their frequent stories of their visits to other long gone venues such as The Ritz, Palace and the Daffodil always interested me.
ABC , My Mum once worked here as an usherette. Saturday morning kids club, the spacious beautiful high ceiling foyer with chandeliers,elegant red carpets with sweeping stairs up to the balcony are still clear in my mind. I also remember that the foyer was regularly decorated to match the film theme i.e. Jungle Book with the vines and snake charmers. It was an understated elegance that you do not see today. The sound system at the ABC would knock you out of your seat, especially when the Pearl and Dean advert came on. However it seemed that with the expansion of the Odeon from 1 to 3 screens plus the 70’s slump in film sales the ABC's days were numbered. It finally closed it's doors and was unfortunately demolished. I remember feeling really sad seeing the inside from the outside during its demise.
Odeon .... It's sad news to hear that the only traditional remaining cinema in Cheltenham is going. I took my son Max here regularly to see films. A true "Cinema Paradiso" spirit existed here, right down to the kind manager who especially re-opened the cinema doors for my son to look for his lost cards.. found!! . My memories of this cinema go back to the single screen days. Both the ABC and Odeon were amazing buildings inside and out. I hope to photograph and document as much of this cinema as I can before it falls into the hands of the new developers.
Thanks to Nick Eggington and his staff for their kindness throughout the past years and we wish you the very best in the future.
Coliseum – My memories of this venue are a little sketchy, however I do remember this venue having a balcony as well as being the cheapest cinema in town. This was due to the fact that the films showed here had already done the rounds at the Odeon and ABC. A smaller venue however once again a wonderful décor.
The Ritz, Palace and the Daffodil – Unfortunately these cinemas were operating before my time. Luckily the Daffodil's interior remained unchanged after it closure. After being used as a furniture shop the Daffodil building was carefully restored back to its original décor; it’s now serves as a high class restaurant. An interesting place to visit with fantastic food and memorabilia.
The Ritz at the lower end of town has been a bingo hall for some years now, however the manger obviously takes pride in preserving the original interior décor of this building; this is also well worth a visit. The Palace.. Hum.. this is a difficult one. This cinema stood where the back food halls for Marks & Spencers are. The small cinema entrance is where the small shop to the right side of the main M&S entrance is (from the front).
Anyhow.. hope you enjoy this part of the website and dont forget to check by regulary for new features.
If you have any photographs or stories you wish to add it would be great to hear from you. I'm always interested to hear stories about the cinemas.
Jeff
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