I suppose you have to be a certain age but back in the 1950s and early 60s, the Saturday film show aimed at children was a fantastic institution. The films usually had a Hollywood B movie feel to them, with a preponderance of ‘cowboys and indians’. For adults, the 1950s were, at the start, difficult years as the country adjusted to post-War life but talk to most of those (now 50+) who were kids at the time and a different picture emerges – of freedom to roam, play in the streets and be your own age.
The Gaumont, in Camden Street off London Road, was one of four to bear that name in Liverpool (the other three were at Dingle, Anfield and Allerton). Originally named the Trocadero, it was renamed the Gaumont in 1950 and was the first cinema in Liverpool to install CinemaScope with stereophonic sound (in 1954). Its close proximity to the Odeon on London Road was its undoing. The final straw came when the Odeon converted to a multi-screen (four screens by 1973). The Gaumont limped on until its final performance in May 1974. It had a brief life as a snooker hall but was demolished in 1996. It may have gone but for a generation of kids it was a magical place for a few hours every Saturday morning.
The Gaumont on Camden St that I went to to watch Saturday morning matinees in had one oblong doorway entrance, not 2 arched ones like in this photo..and there were 3 paving flags at the most between the entrance and Camden St roadway area..not the 7 paving flag area as shown in this pic…unless the 2 arched doorways were changed into a single oblong entrance..and the footpath was shortened by 4 yards then I’m sorry to say, this is not the Gaumont on Camden Street.
And just for the record..I was in there almost every day and night when it was a snooker hall..was at the opening night when Cliff Thorburn opened it..(Sorry, cant remember seeing others in there who say they went there when it was a snooker hall..)..I used to practise with John Parrot on table 3…and when I was Merseyside Pool champion and captain of the Merseyside Pool team Jonh Parrot and I gave a pool exhibition match for the regulars…I beat John 6-0.. a little something I’ve never ever mentioned before in this me me me attention seeking Internet land..never mind eh !!
This was the Gaumont Camden Street..the redbrick oblong area was the entrance..as it always was.
If the link does not work the go to Google Images and search for “Gaumont Camden Street”
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://farm1.static.flickr.com/132/331930528_c6f9451b92.jpg%3Fv%3D1202723235&imgrefurl=http://flickr.com/photos/12494104%40N00/331930528&usg=__tCteXupMcxHlCu6bOvqdltodMuE=&h=500&w=339&sz=147&hl=en&start=34&itbs=1&tbnid=vStMi86vjgmwFM:&tbnh=130&tbnw=88&prev=/images%3Fq%3DGaumont%2BCamden%2BStreet%26start%3D21%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D21%26tbs%3Disch:1
And this one Colin looks like your pic…easily made mistake mate, getting Liverpool mixed up with Northampton..lol…
Who takes your pics mate ?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4384524396/
Hope you dont mind my mentioning the above Colin..just delete it if you wish mate, I was’nt being funny..it was an easy to make mistake..its locals like me from this area who would spot it is not The Gaumont…anybody worth their salt who knows this area should be able to tell its not The Gaumont anyway..
Sorry Ged – but it certainly isn’t Northampton – just look at the pillars, they are not remotely the same.
No probs Colin, looks like you are correct mate, my apologies…its deffo not the Camden St Gaumont though Col.
It was interesting to see the excellent picture of the Paramount/Odeon cinema. I have been looking for a picture of the site of the Boxing arena,’The Pudsey street stadium’ as it was called. Be grateful anyone could direct me to were i may obtain one.
Kindest regards, Terry terrykavanagh1@hotmail.co.uk
I dont think this is the Gaumont Camden Street, I was assistant Manager there for a period in 1956, and i do not remember arches and steps at the front, other photos do not have arches at the front, the entrances were square .
Hi John,
I think it was most likely the Gaumont at Brougham Terrace.
I have compared the above photograph with that of the Northampton Gaumont/Odeon,the frontage is different, the gap between the doors on Northampton photo is much narrower than the above, I cannot see anyone altering this.The northampton is now a Hard Rock Cafe
I hope to get a reply from anyone in the CTA, I have entered it in the next edition of their magazine