Here we look back over the decades at some of Shropshire's cinemas - nearly all now lost - and recall the moments and faces that made them special.
You can enjoy this and more with our weekly FREE Nostalgia Newsletter - with scores of archive pictures and exclusive features on the history of Shropshire and Mid Wales - all sent to your inbox every Friday. Sign up here.
Mr Barry Willis outside the old Clifton Cinema, aka Essoldo Bingo, in Old Street, Ludlow. They were the Clifton Buildings. Incidentally the Shropshire Star used to be housed in the part of the buildings on the left with the big window. This picture accompanied a story used on December 8, 1986, in which Mr Willis, owner of the Majestic Cinema in Bridgnorth, was trying to save the old cinema and restore it to its former glory. In the event the buildings were demolished.
Demolition work under way on the Clifton buildings at Ludlow on April 1, 1987. The story was: 'Ludlow's former cinema held its last picture show some years ago. Now the building is heading for High Noon as a demolition crew gets to work on the steel-framed furniture. The Clifton has been at the centre of a local campaign aimed at saving it for community and arts use. Its fate was sealed when district councillors gave permission for flats to be built on the Old Street site.'
New Street, Oswestry, looking towards the Century Cinema, with the Cross Market on the right and the Grapes Inn on the left. This picture is used in the book Oswestry Through Time by David Trumper which says the cinema opened as the King's Hall in 1914. The caption gives no date but it looks to be about 1960. The book caption says the cinema became the Granada Bingo Club and in 1998 was converted into a Wilkinson hardware store.
The Regal cinema in Oswestry. The photo was likely taken in the 1950s.
The Town Hall Cinema, Wellington, in the 1930s. The film being advertised is Kay Francis in Sweet Aloes. Sweet Aloes was a 1936 film. This picture was shared by Mrs Lynne Purcell, and is from the collection of her late father Fred Brown, who came from Wellington and was a historian of Wellington area. On leaving school at 14 in 1937 he was an assistant projectionist at the Regal cinema at Hadley, and then was projectionist at the Clifton cinema in Wellington from 1938 for 24 years. Later he was projectionist at the Grand Theatre in Wellington until it closed down.
Staff at the Grand cinema, Wellington, in 1938. The page in the scrapbook gives the caption: 'Pat Ford and Mary Taylor.' Also the 1938 date. It also appears in a memories booklet captions: 'Pat and Mary, two members of the Grand staff in the thirties, by the combined sales kiosk and pay box.' This picture was shared by Mrs Lynne Purcell, and is another from the collection of her late father Fred Brown.
Clifton cinema staff in 1941. The album caption is: 'Some members of the staff at the Clifton cinema, Wellington, in 1941. Fred Brown, Edna Taylor, Helga Rosenberg, Fred Jones, don't know, Ron Rigby. Front: Mary Taylor, Molly Butler.' This picture was shared by Mrs Lynne Purcell, and is another from the collection of her late father Fred Brown.
Staff at the Grand cinema, Wellington. Undated, but likely to be c.1948 as the movie Paleface on the poster in the background was a 1948 film. They are obviously cleaners or similar. This picture was shared by Mrs Lynne Purcell, and is another from the collection of her late father Fred Brown.
The Clifton cinema, Wellington, in the 1950s. This picture was shared by Mrs Lynne Purcell, and is another from the collection of her late father Fred Brown.
An undated picture of the Grand cinema in Wellington. This is among memorabilia owned by cinema enthusiast and historian Bob Paddock.
Staff at the Grand cinema, Wellington, in 1959. The page in the scrapbook gives the caption: 'Grand Theatre, Wellington. Pat Turner, Pat Chatham, Anne Weaver (manageress), Hilda Jones, Elsie Royale.' Also the 1959 date. Obviously it must have been around Christmas given the decorations in the background. This picture was shared by Mrs Lynne Purcell, and is another from the collection of her late father Fred Brown.
The projection room of the Clifton Cinema, Wellington, taken on June 16, 1979. Pictured is Mr Nigel Howard, chief projectionist at the cinema.
The queue at the Clifton cinema, Wellington, on Friday, December 10, 1982, to watch the opening night of the blockbuster movie ET.
Demonstrators at the Clifton Cinema in Wellington, on April 2, 1983. The Clifton was closed later that month but reopened in a reduced form about four years later, but closed again after 18 months or so.
The closure of the Clifton Cinema, Wellington. 'Members of the morning staff gather in the foyer to chat with manager Mr Duncan Willmott (centre) at the last performance at the Clifton.' The photo was taken on April 27, 1983. The story with this began: 'The Clifton Cinema in Wellington will close after tonight's show. An estimated 30,000 people have signed petitions to try to save the cinema - the only purpose-built cinema in Telford - which has been sold to Shrewsbury supermarket company Morris's, which owns the Saverite supermarket next to the Clifton. The firm will take possession of the building tomorrow.' The Clifton reopened a few years later in altered form before closing again.
December 8, 1984, the day after the gala charity premiere of the film A Christmas Carol at the Empire cinema, Shrewsbury, on December 7, 1984. One of the stars, Edward Woodward, went shopping in Shrewsbury and was besieged by autograph hunters.
Christmas lights in Mardol, Shrewsbury, in November 1987, showing the Empire cinema.
The Empire cinema in Mardol, Shrewsbury, immediately after its closure. This picture was taken on January 26, 1998. It closed on January 22, 1998. The valedictory message on the building reads: 'That's All Folks - 1922-1998.'
Iconic Media encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.
