On Sunday evening whilst I was checking the spammy comments the site receives every day I nearly deleted a brief comment from Nick Lester about the old Hoylake Cinema.
That prompted me to start searching for information about the Hoylake Cannon and the result was the above photo by Ian Grundy. Ian has a wide range of photos of old, neglected cinemas in his excellent photostream. Ian comments on his photo:
The Hoylake Cinema in 1996, not long before demolition. It had a long career starting out in 1911 (having replaced an earlier temporary structure) as the Lighthouse Pavilion. Although short films formed part of the variety entertainment presented, it was not until 1920 that the theatre became the Pavilion Super Cinema. However over the succeeding decades the name and switches from theatre to cinema were common. Winter Gardens, Classic and Cannon were all used until the final Hoylake Cinema name. Demolished circa 2001.
Judith Irvine replied to the Nick’s comment stating that a Mrs Mottram from Caldy was the last owner of the cinema. But can you offer any more information? Leave a comment.
dear sir
surely the main cinema(and to my mind the best) was the kingsway cinema.
b jones
No, the ‘Kingsway’ was up on the main road. Not far from the old ‘Woolworths’.
Sorry, I misread what you said., so please disregard how I answered you..
I saw the classic “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?” there in about 1963, plus loads of others as this was a favourite “flea-pit’ with the lads around that time. Oh happy days.
The entrance on the left was the lower car park, there was a narrow path wide enough to take a car going behind the projection booth end of the Cinema. This went through to the land area in front of the row of coastguard cottages which were set well back from the Prom. Lots of old boats were stored there. I also remember the stump of the lower lighthouse was still visible half way along this link pathway.
We went to the “tanner rush” on Saturdays, Flash Gordon, the emperor Ming, and a glamourous queen whom I always fancied! I think the other serial was Superman, I remember one episode where a boat drilled through to one of the New York tunnels, Superman saved everyone by shutting some watertight doors at each end of the tunnel.
This was during the Winter Gardens realm, and they also had Christmas parties for the Saturday kids.
By the way, if you sat down in the stalls, the older children would suck the flavour out of the penny lollies and throw the ice down on top of you from the ranked seats! I am sure one of the Hoylake cineamas had double seats at the end of the row, very popular when you became aware of girls!
I was one of the ice lolly brigade: – Sorry!
Apparently the Winter Gardens was the location of the first appearance by a young Morecambe and Wise (1939) – who failed to go down very well….
I think it was just Eric Morecombe and it was at the baths, as you say in 1939
No, Eric Morcombe met Ernie Wise at a talent contest at the Kingsway on the main road, opposite the late Blue Anchor (now the Co-op).
My most embarrassing moment ever: In 1969 the Winter Gardens showed a feature-length sex-education film called ‘Helga’, forbidden to unaccompanied minors. My friend Trevor and I, 14 at the time, heard it had a full-frontal childbirth scene and tried to sneak in – partly to get our first cinematic view of a Lady Garden (yes, gross, I know) and partly for the thrill that the challenge of getting past the box-office presented. We were turned-away.
I must have spilled the beans to my Mum, because she insisted on taking us both the next evening. Two hours of agonising embarrassment followed and, after we sheepishly schlepped home in Mum’s footsteps, the incident was never mentioned again.
Does anyone remember playing marbles in the foyer of the Kingsway Cinema on the way to and from Market Street School? It was a lovely surface on which to play.
Is this the same Margaret Couchman who lived in Groveland Avenue?
And yes, I also played marbles at the very same place.
Didn’t your Aunty run the pub at the roundabout at Heswall? Sorry, I’ve forgotten the name.
Some names from the past..
Barbara Booth
Bobby and Penny Atherton
Alison Ryding and the Ryding Clan
Mr Fleet the blacksmith
Whitley’s chippy
Cliff Davidson
Les Blackwell
Paddy Wakefield
Ken Dean
Marchbanks funeral home
Joe and Barbara (Broster)
To name but a few!
Paddy Wakefield is my grandad!!! X
Referring to the ‘Trackback’, I have numerous photos of the Lighthouse Pavilion / Winter Gardens and architect’s photos of the Kingsway when it was rebuilt in 1935.
As regards Ian Powers’ remarks on the 20th October, the ‘stump of the old lighthouse’ was never visible after it was demolished in 1922. What I believe he may be thinking of is the old lookout station, immediately behind the Sailing Club in one corner of the cinema car park,which was still at its full height in the late 1950s but was gradually demolished / fell apart until it had all but vanished in the 1970s
Loved coming here when I was little must of been late 80s when my mum jackie was the cleaner here have so many lovely memories. Sad its not there any more.
I well remember the Winter Gardens Cinema. The Hoylake Light Opera Co. amateur dramatics used the stage there for a week every year. In about 1961/2 and after working at the Royal Court, Liverpool, I was involved in lighting these shows, under ‘Taffy Williams’ (Electrician) and Mervin Henderson (SM). Under the stage there were dressing rooms for the cast, and up above the stage there was a ‘shelf’ for the lighting controls hired from Strand Electric. This was the only theater in the area to have proper working ‘flys’ where the scenery could be ‘flown’ and the new set dropped in to the acting area. Before I worked there as an electrician, I would frequent the Projection ‘Box’ (did the Winter Gardens have Ross Arcs & Mechs?) to keep in touch with what was happening on the cinema scene. I had previously worked in the Box at the Kingsway (Peerless Arcs & Kalee Mechs.) in Market Street under Evan Roberts and ‘Bob’ who were Chief and second respectively. Evan had been Chief Electrician at the Empire in Liverpool before health problems overcame him. I was one of the operators to put on the last show at the Tudor Cinema in West Kirby. Over the years I enjoyed many happy hours on the ‘back row’ of The Kingsway and The Winter Gardens cinemas.
Martin,
I replied to an earlier post of yours but maybe you missed it. I remember you doing the electrics for the WKLOS in April 1963 and I well remember Taffy and Mervyn. I didn’t know your connection with the Kingsway and Tudor, however, and would very much like to talk more to you about this as I want to update my history of Hoylake and West Kirby’s cinemas.
Incidentally the Winter Gardens had Ross GC1 projectors, RCA sound and Peerless arcs (all replaced in 1981); the Kingsway had Kalee 20 mechs, BT-H sound and, I believe, Acme Sturgeon arc lamps. The Tudor had Kalee 20 mechs, Western Electric sound and Peerless arcs. I have the Tudor’s mechanisms and now use them in one of my cinemas.
I think “Bob” at the Kingsway was Bob Clough who later started Naomi printers.
Please get in touch; I’m sure John will give you my email address
Hello Martin,
Just saw your post regarding the old cinemas in Hoylake. I work in a care home in Hoylake and we have a gentleman in our care who used to be a manager at the Hoylake Cinema. His name is George Bell, do you recognise this name?
Anyone interested in seeing a revival of the cinema experience in Hoylake, why not try out Hoylake Community Cinema, the last Friday evening of every month?
At The Parade, Hoylake Community Centre – our next Friday night special is 28th September – to see the classic Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall film ‘To Have and Have Not’. Doors open at 6:30pm with Hoagy Carmichael tunes played live on piano…
Check out http://www.hoylakecommunitycinema.co.uk/ and buy tickets online £5 or at Urbane, Market Street or Hoylake Community Centre. Or pay on the door on the night. Film starts 7:30pm.
Cinema is alive and kicking again in Hoylake!
I still volunteer for Hoylake Comunity Cinema, we are starting our 6th season on 28th Oct 2016 with Love & Mercy a film about the Beach Boys Brian Wilson.
Tickets are now on sale from Jill’s Cookshop, Market Street: Staacks, Banks Road West Kirby & the Community Centre Hoyle Road as well as on-line.
The price is still £5 per ticket and its a great night out, with locally produced snacks, wine, beer, tea & coffee served before & after the film as well as a free to enter quiz about the film with a prize too.
I worked in the Kingsway and the Winter Gardens around 1958 when I was 17 years old. I remember working with Evan and John McKenna at the Kingsway, Tommy Knox was the manager at the time. I was there when they Played “The Robe” in wide screen cinema scope. I also worked with Brian Winzland at the Winter Gardens.
Dear Bill,
I would very much like to talk to you about your memories of the Winter Gardens and Kingsway. I now run six cinemas myself but it all started at the Winter Gardens. I saw my first film there, Lady and the Tramp, in March 1958. It closed in January 1959 but reopened in May 1960 and at that point I became acquainted with Bryan Winsland and, when he left, John McKenna with whom I was friendly for many years. I did a lot of unpaid and some paid work at the Winter Gardens for a long time and at one point I organised a petition to prevent it from going to bingo. I have also researched its history at some length and have knowledge of all the principal staff who worked there from 1960 onwards, but have little knowledge of those who were there before the 1959 closure, except Arthur Shalless, the manager, and, I believe, Bernard Bagnall the chief projectionist who, like Bryan Winsland and John McKenna, returned some years later. If you can help me fill in some of the gaps I would be very grateful.
Incidentally John McKenna was the nephew (by marriage) of Tommy Knox and that was how he got his first job at the Kingsway. He went from there to the Winter Gardens then back to the Kingsway before doing National Service, after which he came back to the Tudor for a while.
Also, The Robe was the Kingsway’s (and Hoylake’s) first CinemaScope film and it played there in October 1954..
Interesting for me to read about the Winter Gardens. My father was the projectionist Bernard Bagnall.(I have the same name). He passed away in 1974 but worked at the Cinema until it closed. I remember visiting the projection room many times and watching him. I also remember the Manager Arthur Shalless who always greeted the customers in the foyer in an evening suit.
Dear Bernard,
I knew your father very well during the period he returned to the Winter Gardens 1964-1973. I kept the death notice from the paper, October 3rd 1974. I would be most interested to know if you can put any dates to the period your father worked there prior to the initial closure in January 1959.
I think you became a policeman and your brother David went to Cambridge and was then a teacher.
Best wishes,
Charles Morris
Hi…are you the same Bernard Bagnall that went to Wirral Grammar for boys in the 60’s?
Sorry, but I will have to contact you after Christmas.
Might you be ready to make contact now ?
Best wishes,
Charles Morris
Hi, I can’t leave my email address as the site claims it.s spam. So if you give me a contact address I’ll get back to you.
Hello Bill, just wondering if you can help. Just spotted your posted about Winter Gardens etc and the name Tommy Knox. Do you know of a gentleman called George Bell who possible was assistant manager to Tommy Knox? I work in a care home and I am trying to build a memory book for George.
The only person I can remember from back then, was Sue Lawrence the cashier.
I always remember going to this cinema in 1977 to watch star wars with my mum and brother and sister i was only 6 years old but i have never forgotten it. A wonderful place and sadly missed by many people , demolished just to build awful flats.
can remember going to the old winter gardens in hoylake to HELGA, all the lads sat there with eyes out on stalks and most of the girls being sick LOL
can anyone name the manager of the winter gardens cinema 1949-1950 I remember his first name was Percy because he started off the chums club and we all got a chums club badge which all us kids wore proudly on a Saturday afternoon as we went to what was then called The Tanner Rush because it cost just sixpence to get in to see films such as Flash Gordon and the clay men and Tarzan, before the film started he would come onto the stage to tell the kids what the film was about. Brian.
He was Percy Burgess. He married one of the Evans girls from 86 Trinity Road. He was later manager of the Hippodrome cinema, Ellesmere Port (late 1950s) and sometime after that he ran a pub somewhere in Birkenhead.
Do you remember Tommy Knox? He was manager of the Kingsway in the mid fifties. I worked in the projectionist box at that time.
BTW, I’m sure you were in my class at The Parade school.
I met Tommy Knox, but many years later when he was a barman at the Blue Anchor. He left the Kingsway in 1957 (after some altercation with the directors, I believe) and was succeeded by Ronald Horton who had worked in other cinemas on the Wirral and who became the manager of the Winter Gardens when it reopened in May 1960.
I remember your earlier post referring to your time at the Winter Gardens pre-1959; I would very much like to talk further about this in order to help complete my jigsaw of the Winter Gardens’s history. I did in fact contact the site for means of contacting you, but no reply yet. Perhaps you could submit your contact details via the site and we can talk separately.
Best wishes,
Charles Morris
I will give you my email address after Christmas as I have a busy time in the next 3 months. Catch up with you in the new year.
I’ve asked John Cronin to pass it on to you.
Best wishes,
Charles
regarding the closing of wirral hospitals, David Allison said no current plans to close all wirral hospitals but he never mentioned anything about plans in the near future, there is no smoke without fire here and this has leaked out so it will not be such a shock later on when it does happen, it has already started with the closure of nursing homes. Brian.
I worked as an usherette at the Wintergardens in the early 60’s. Ronnie Horton was the manager, Sue Lawrence was the cashier, Dot Lawless ( who later emigrated to Australia ) was on the ”sweets and cigarettes counter”, and Albert Marchbanks was our ”bouncer”. Jackie Bird also worked as an usherette. I remember going around the theatre with the ice cream tray strapped round my neck !! It was only open in the evenings, so it was just a part time job for most of us……I worked at the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board during the day.’
Dear Barbara, I would like to make contact with you and would very much like to know if you can remember the names of the projectionists during your time there. Bryan Winsland was there for a few weeks when the cinema reopened in May 1960, but after that I have no definite information until John McKenna came there on 5th December that year. If you are the same person I think you are (nee Barbara Matthews ?) then you once told me there had been “quite a few” projectionists since Bryan. I believe a certain Eugene Fairbrother and a chap called “Dougie” were among these.
I remember all the people you mention except Dot Lawless and I expect you will recall Arthur Shalless becoming the manager (again) after Ron Horton left. You must surely also remember Nellie Ashton and Maureen Radford ?
Best wishes,
Charles Morris
Hi Charles, just reading all of your posts Do you know George Bell? He would have worked at Hoylake Cinema and Winter Gardens.
Charles Morris replies:
Were you originally Barbara Matthews then ?
Best wishes,
Sorry Charles, I have just caught up with this post ( nearly 2 years old now ), but YES I was Barbara Matthews, and I DO remember Maureen ( Mo) and Nellie….both lovely ladies !! I am wracking my brains to come up with the name of the projectionists……..I THINK one of them may have been Billy Crisp ( from Meols, now living in the Isle of man, I think ) and possibly Johnny Carlisle ( althougn I may be wrong on that…..I know he worked at the old Tudor in WK, just not sure if he moved over to the Wintergardens at some point ? ) There was another guy ( and I even went on a date with him, LOL ) but honestly just can’t remember his name, although I can see his face clearly……oh the joys of getting old…..could it have been Brian ? Just not sure. Sorry !!
Dear Barbara,
Thank you for the reply. Billy Chrisp used to visit the Winter Gardens during Bryan Winsland’s and John McKenna’s tenure as projectionists, but I am fairly sure he was never employed there. He was an apprentice projectionist at the Gaumont Wallasey but broke away from it and worked in various other cinemas, ultimately for George Taylor who took over the Royal in Wallasey and the Royal in Neston. Then George took over a cinema in the Isle of Man (at Castletown, I think) and Billy went with him and stayed there.
I never met John Carlisle but I did know of him being a projectionist at the Tudor. I am not aware of his having worked at the Winter Gardens but it’s possible. I did meet Jeff Shear, another projectionist at the Tudor towards its latter end; I believe he went from there to work on the buses.
Other usherettes at the Winter Gardens in the early 1960s included Sandra, a blonde girl who lived in Moreton I think, and Margaret who worked during the day at Dicks’ shoe shop on Market Street.
If any other memories surface please let me know.
Best wishes,
Charles
I just read your comments and I was wondering if you know what happened to George T. and Billy C. ?
Dear Marg,
I last heard of George T selling wigs in the late 1970s and believe he has since died. Billy C. stayed in the Isle of Man and I believe was manager of the Palace Cinema, Douglas. But someone made enquiries on my behalf when visiting recently and the staff had know knowledge of him. I should say he’s about 76 now.
Best wishes,
Charles
To follow on, I do remember Arthur Shalliss very well…….he always called me “”Matty”” !! He was a nice old gentleman, and was very strict with us younger staff who didn’t always take the job as seriously as he would have liked, LOL
My nan worked on front of house and as an usher at the cinema during the 1980’s until the cinema closed. My dad was projectionist here for some of that time too. Many happy childhood memories of this place including seeing Indiana Jones and Last Crusade, Captain Kirk’s last Star Trek with the original cast – The Undiscovered Country…and of course Jurassic Park! What a time to be alive.
Charles, I’ve read your comments on here with interest and still have a booklet at home which I think you wrote!.. on the Cinema’s history up to the point it was owned by Cannon. Your knowledge of the cinema is fascinating and I wondered if you had any other pictures of the interior as most of it is just in my memory now!! Best Wishes Chris Bird
Dear Chris,
I remember your Nan Norma (is she still around ?) and your Dad Gary very well indeed. What is your Dad doing now ?
I took copious photos of the cinema from 1969 onwards, finally on the closing night when I took a series of pictures recording the events during the evening. Your Nan and your Dad feature in other pictures I took at different times. I could copy some of these for you if you would like.
Best wishes,
Charles
Dear Charles, apologies for my very late reply, I would be very grateful for some post 1969 and closing night photos of the cinema, of course any with my Nan and Dad in would be a bonus!
My Nan is 86 and still going strong! Still living at home in Hoylake and my dad works full time for the RNLI and is coxswain of Lytham Lifeboat. I can’t seem to add my email address to send them in the usual format on this site: it’s chrisb41 at hotmail dot com if that makes sense or please let me know of a cinema I could call to get in touch with you.
Best wishes
Chris
I remember Norma ! She was (and still is, LOL) a little bit older than me, and lived over near the gasworks (Carr Lane?).
She was fairly recently married (very early sixties), I think, and I remember going to a party at her house.
Can’t remember what the occasion was (birthday ?), but remember the dress I wore ! Typical, eh ?
She was very nice…….glad to hear she is still doing well !
The age you mentioned for Billy C. fits….he was about a year younger than me.
Funny to think of George Taylor selling wigs, but maybe not too surprising…..he would turn his hand to anything, LOL !
Wonder what happened to Jackie Bird, who worked with me as an usherette ?
The Birds are an old Hoylake family, so I am sure someone will know……I THINK (not sure) that they lived on Trinity Road ?
I think it was Strand Road or Clydesdale Road where Jackie Bird’s family lived.  It’s donkey’s years since I saw her but at that time (1970s) she had a corner shop in the Wood St / Rudd St area.
I think the Birds lived in Strand road, she was friends with my sisters. I remember seeing her working at a petrol station in Greasby. Jackie was also involved in a serious collision with 2 lorries a believe, but got squeezed out of the back window of her car (no seat belts then) and happily survived.
Glad to hear Jackie survived okay, that must have been a scary experience. She was such a nice girl, we used to have a good time working together……..we all did really ! Seems like a very long time ago, now (and it IS ), but nice to get some news ! Thanks !
Hi Charles, Long time no see!
I have just been reading the latest ‘junction’.
I can just remember John Carlisle (I think) working at the Tudor with Jeff Shear.
At the time the Tudor closed John got another job and they asked me to work with Jeff for the last week / show. Jeff did go on to work on the buses – Crosville.
Many thanks for all the info you sent me, some time ago.
How far is it from Blackpool to your nearest cinema, I go there dancing about every 6-8 weeks, but its a long trip there from Anglesey.
Hope you are keeping well? Martin Snow
Dear Martin,
The Roxy Ulverston is about 56 miles from Blackpool and the Royalty Bowness about 52.
I would be very pleased to see you. You have my email address so give me a couple of day’s notice and I can also give you my phone number.
Best wishes,
Charles
My Grandfather George Waring died at the Tudor Cinema on 21 Feb 1942. If anybody has any information regarding the event I would very much appreciate it.
Regards
Clive
The Mrs Mottram was the wife of Bob Mottram who was one of the group behind the 1980s buyout of Premier Brands based at the Cadbury works in Moreton. He used to live in the Roundhouse at Caldy
My father Fred Steggles was projectionist at Winter Gardens from 1938-1951 when he died suddenly
Dear Brenda, Many years ago your mother gave me a picture showing your father and yourself in the foyer of the Winter Gardens at a children’s Christmas party. I believe you had a brother Norman and I note in some of the programmes for the West Kirby Light Opera Society that a N. Steggles was one of the crew; would this have been him ? You may note from other posts that I have an ongoing interest in the Winter Gardens, extending to the people who worked there. Is there any more you can tell me about your father, for instance where he may have worked before coming to the Winter Gardens ? I wish I had asked your mother more questions at the time (1976). Best wishes, Charles Morris