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Ye Olde Birmingham of Yore


Follyfoot

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10 hours ago, John said:

Talking of cinemas, this one had the largest screen in Europe:

Gaumont Cinema | Birmingham city centre, City of birmingham, Birmingham  england

In the 1960s (pre-home video era), its main claim to fame was that for several years (yes, years), it showed nothing but "The Sound of Music". Several screenings a day. Every day. There were people (mainly old biddies) who competed with each other, bragging about how many times they'd seen it. Mad. 

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36 minutes ago, mjmooney said:

In the 1960s (pre-home video era), its main claim to fame was that for several years (yes, years), it showed nothing but "The Sound of Music". Several screenings a day. Every day. There were people (mainly old biddies) who competed with each other, bragging about how many times they'd seen it. Mad. 

Did this continue into the 70s? 

My mate told me that when he was younger his mum took him to watch The Sound of Music about 8 times at The Cinema. 

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Just now, sidcow said:

Did this continue into the 70s? 

My mate told me that when he was younger his mum took him to watch The Sound of Music about 8 times at The Cinema. 

Maybe it did! 

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5 minutes ago, sidcow said:

Did this continue into the 70s? 

My mate told me that when he was younger his mum took him to watch The Sound of Music about 8 times at The Cinema. 

 

4 minutes ago, mjmooney said:

Maybe it did! 

Quote

Over two million people saw the 70mm roadshow presentation of “The Sound of Music” at the Gaumont when a 168 week run began in 1965, and ended in July 1968.

Cinema treasures

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31 minutes ago, bickster said:

Over two million people saw the 70mm roadshow presentation of “The Sound of Music” at the Gaumont when a 168 week run began in 1965, and ended in July 1968.

Yeah, that would be when I remember it. My Mom went to see it there - she loved the film, but had no interest in multiple viewings, she thought people who did that were nutters. 

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The ABC Cinema I did used to go to was Bristol Road, now a McDonalds. 

I do remember that it had rainbow coloured decals running down the side of the auditorium which seemed pretty funky at the time. 

7280-0.jpg

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Trying to remember the name of the shop I spent all my money in during my youth. I think it was on Stephenson Street by the back entrance to New Street station. Full of all the (then) cool 90s brands like Hooch, Mambo, Stüssy etc. Every Saturday I was in there and then up to Oasis to grab some vinyl. 

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10 hours ago, sidcow said:

The ABC Cinema I did used to go to was Bristol Road, now a McDonalds. 

I do remember that it had rainbow coloured decals running down the side of the auditorium which seemed pretty funky at the time. 

7280-0.jpg

The sheer delight of getting in there to see Top Gun when I wasn’t old enough. I remember being gutted when they pulled it down. 

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13 hours ago, mjmooney said:

In the 1960s (pre-home video era), its main claim to fame was that for several years (yes, years), it showed nothing but "The Sound of Music". Several screenings a day. Every day. There were people (mainly old biddies) who competed with each other, bragging about how many times they'd seen it. Mad. 

My nan took me there to watch Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music and Lawrence of Arabia (once each, I hasten to add). As I recall, a lot of young children were there with their nans at those matinees. Happy days for all of us to look back on now.  

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14 hours ago, sidcow said:

Did this continue into the 70s? 

My mate told me that when he was younger his mum took him to watch The Sound of Music about 8 times at The Cinema. 

I remember Emmanuel being on for about 5 years straight at the Jacey, Station St.

Apparently The Electric now.

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1 hour ago, rjw63 said:

I remember Emmanuel being on for about 5 years straight at the Jacey, Station St.

Apparently The Electric now.

Oh yeah, the Jacey. Was it originally all kids' cartoons and then switched to porn, or was it the other way round? 

Either way, another casualty of home video. 

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30 minutes ago, John said:

Gallery: behind the scenes at The Electric Cinema - Birmingham Live

Isn't it the oldest cinema in the UK. I well remember it looking like that, it's a little more up market now. Gentrification Pffhh

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14 minutes ago, sidcow said:

Isn't it the oldest cinema in the UK. I well remember it looking like that, it's a little more up market now. Gentrification Pffhh

I believe so, first opened in 1909. 

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