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Photos of Wigan
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Wigan Album

Gidlow Lane

26 Comments

Gidlow Lane Picturedrome
Gidlow Lane Picturedrome
Photo: Steven Buckley
Views: 6,346
Item #: 25740
Anyone have memories of this Cinema on Gidlow Lane? My folks used to go in the 1940's/50's - this looks like it's from the '20's.

Comment by: RON HUNT on 20th November 2014 at 19:07

Fantastic photo Where did you get it? Never seen it before anywhere...
I first went there in the mid 1950's with the lad who lived next door to me, Raymond Catterall, and his mother and father. I remember during the film some man came around spraying us with something??? out of an old fashioned spray can, the ones with a round tank and a plunger..

Comment by: t on 20th November 2014 at 19:13

i remember the man with the spray as well ron, could it have been for the fleas!!!

Comment by: Brian B on 20th November 2014 at 21:24

Happy days, remember it well!!

Comment by: Ernest Pyke on 20th November 2014 at 22:41

This was my local cinema. Some of the films shown gave me nightmares! Particularly those that had robots in!

Comment by: J Glover on 21st November 2014 at 05:26

Is this the Kitchen showroom now

Comment by: Maureen on 21st November 2014 at 09:37

J Glover...yes it is.

Comment by: Giovanni on 21st November 2014 at 11:50

I remember the flea-pits, the colloquial name given to local cinemas. Each area had their own and an alternative to going into town to the more plush picture palace! Who remembers the double seats for courting couples?

Comment by: Maureen on 21st November 2014 at 12:30

Giovanni..double seats...oooooooh yes.

Comment by: Colin B on 21st November 2014 at 13:22

Remember it we'll. Saturday mornings at ABC minors and afternoons at the Gidlow. Saw "Lassie Come Home" there in the late 40s and cried all the way through

Comment by: Cyril on 21st November 2014 at 13:48

In the late 1960s it had been turned into a Co-op supermarket - Krazy Kuts.

Comment by: Albert. on 21st November 2014 at 15:06

You would certainly make a bob, or two now, if you knew then, what you know now. Saving the film posters, and the photographs of the stars displayed along the aisles.

I remember them being displayed in the aisles, at The Regal,in Lower Ince. During the war years, you could write off to the various studios, requesting a photograph of a particular film star. I received one from Clarke Gable. He was in his U.S. Air Force uniform. I believe he was a pilot during the war. I also received one from Paul Henried, and one from Leslie Howard. Long since been lost.

Comment by: Ken R on 21st November 2014 at 16:49

There was a good "chipie" near here, same side as the cinema.

Comment by: Richard on 21st November 2014 at 19:11

This was my local cinema as a boy, I was in the yo yo competition to win a push bike and was there when it was presented to the winner ( not me )
on the stage in front of the screen, happy days

Comment by: DerekB on 22nd November 2014 at 14:41

KenR the chippie next door to the Gidlow was Kennards, the lady owner was affectionately referred to as Ma Kennard. She lived in Ryland St. Anyone remember the uniformed commissionaire who worked at the Gidlow? I seem to remember he had some form of disability but can't remember what it was.

Comment by: Giovanni on 23rd November 2014 at 10:15

It could have been Tourettes, DerekB! Keeping the young uns in order on matinee days!

Comment by: Keith Guest on 23rd November 2014 at 10:59

I remember Kennards chippie more like a youth club than a chip shop. Ma Kennard was a lovely lady.

Comment by: Pauline Denman on 23rd November 2014 at 12:45

I remember the man you mentioned DerekB. His name was Mr Halibone,(not sure of the spelling), his wife Gladys was the usherette.

Comment by: DerekB on 24th November 2014 at 15:50

Thanks for the info, Pauline. The name you mention doesn't ring any bells, but I can picture him now stood in front of the ticket booth.

Comment by: Stuart Naylor on 25th November 2014 at 17:07

I wonder if they ever showed 'Gone Wit Wind'

Comment by: Johnny on 26th November 2014 at 23:39

The facade is reminisant of the cinema in the film "The Last Picture Show". Anyone agree?

Comment by: aggie on 28th November 2014 at 21:00

pauline denman did you go sacred heart school i think i remember you if you did. i was agnes stonehouse

Comment by: Pauline Denman on 29th November 2014 at 12:13

Yes Agnes I was at Sacred Heart School & I remember you too. There are a few photos of "our" school on this web site, I hope you look at them.

Comment by: Peter Francis on 30th November 2014 at 23:39

We used to go to the Saturday morning matinee , 3 pence a time. I was a bit of a rascal ,we played cricket outside Kennedies chip shop and broke the big shop window. Mrs Kennedy just said thank you for admitting it and that was it.

Comment by: Giovanni on 2nd December 2014 at 10:14

Now youre talking Peter!
Dustbin lid for a wicket kept up with a housebrick playing in the road! Corkie ball being smashed everywhere! Where was the H&S brigade?

Comment by: Doreen Pukitis on 8th April 2015 at 21:25

Hi Ron, was Raymond Catterall's mum Jessie? I used to work with her at coops and she had one son Raymond.

Comment by: RON HUNT on 2nd July 2019 at 19:16

DOREEN YES THAT WAS HER.

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