Wigan Album

How sad to see, been there a few times in my early teens, cheers!!

every time I see a photo of that place I just want to sing
'we are the boys and girls well known as.....

What a sad photo. Remembering queuing up outside with my sister Anne many a time. Has Wigan got a cinema now ?

Wigan has been ruined by planners who dont know what the're doing. All the iconic buildings etc. have disapeared, leaving it just a souless town.

It was a sin to demolish it..but nobody listens do they?..it was lovely.

Such a sad picture. I have several memories of this place, being taken there with my Dad, but the saddest one I have,I can tell you where I was sitting, but not the film or who I was with, early 1945, the film of the British army entering Belsen.

I heard the cinema was offered to all the major operators when in the planning stage. No one wanted it, they all said it was totaly unsuitable for a modern venue. It was an old outdated building in need of extensive repairs and would have been expensive to run and maintain, it didnt meet fire and safety standards, had no car parking etc etc. Probably why it was closed and unused way before the shopping center was built. Yeah maybe it was a pity it had to go but in the end money talks and the building was of no use to anyone.

Helen there is a cinema but it is out of the main part of the town near to the JJB Stadium.

I agree %100 jondav...

I saw The Stones there in the 60s!!

Mick I missed The Beatles at the Ritz because my Dad.and Mum either didn't tell me they were at the Ritz or I knew through school and they wouldn't let me go!! :-( cheers!!

Mick whur it 1964 or 1965? I remember going to that one: coffee in Sam's across road from it afterwards, and chips on Millgate afterwards whilst waking tert bus stop!

They utilized the Canada picturehouse, and it became a successful, well patrnized venue for live entertainment. I concede,the Ritz was a much larger building than the Canada.

I was fortunate enough to see them both times in 64 and 65! Also saw the Beatles there but after the Stones came on the scene I soon lost interest in them!

Good riddance!The building was an ugly eyesore.

We should not judge a book by it's cover..... It is not how a building looks it is what went on inside!! The back seat at the flicks, the Stones the Beatles, all the films that give us memories to hold on to. Yes It may look ugly but for me it held treasured memories. Cheers!!

Albert, when you say Canada picturehouse do you mean the building which now houses Wigan Little Theatre?

Yes, to your question,Loz As I have not lived in Wigan for nearly fifty years,I am not sure as to whether, or not Wigan has a large capacity, live theatre,within the major developments that have taken place. I can only comment,that when my mother was living, I would visit Wigan, and we would go to Wigan Little Theatre, I never saw one bad production. It always had substantial audiences.

MikeW
The Ritz did have a car park. I walked through it every day on my way to school... and if no one was looking I held on to the railings and tippled right over them.. upside down and head over heels!!!

Wigan Little Theatre was officially The Alliance Picture-House....the name is still there in the brickwork at the top of the building. It must have changed to The Canada at some point, as The Ritz changed to The ABC Cinema, (or vice-versa), or it was just known as The Canada by locals.

Irene, I know it was the Canada Picturehouse in 1942-43. My mother, and dad often took me to the pictures,as we referred to them. One film I saw there was "Balalaika" starring Nelson Eddy, as a cossack. I can also remember a memorable song he sang in the film."My lovely Russian rose". Saw one, or two Shirley Temple films there too.

Irene, I have spoken to my wife. She, as a girl was brought up quite close to the particular building we are referring to. She confirms that it was named the Canada Picture House. The first street, on the left into Orchard Street was Alliance Street, probably it was named Alliance Buildings.

Irene to be completely sure relating to the name, I asked my friend (by email, in France) He is a little older than me, and as a schoolboy at W. G. S., his parents' were the licensees of the Baths Springs. His reply after the question, is at the end of my question. "Just a small query. Can you remember the Wigan Little Theatre, in the past, being a cinema named the Canada Picture house. I always remember it as this name. Was it ever named "The Alliance"?His reply. "It was both." So I apologize to you Irene. You are correct.

No need to apologise, Albert. I don't remember it as a cinema at all. I have only known it as Wigan Little Theatre as I help out on the bar and have been in a couple of plays, and I know the name "Alliance" is still there in the brickwork at the top of the building. Cinemas often got more than one name.....anyone in Ince could have told someone where "The Bug" picture-house was, but even locals wouldn't have necessarily know it by its proper name, "The Doric". I love your reminiscences, Albert.....keep them coming!

Irene, I'm pretty sure that my parents frequented Wigan Little Theatre and had the odd "lemonade" or two must have been in the 50s I'm only guessing though they used to talk about who they had seen and met there. Cheers!!

I remember the Court School of Dancing too above the Ritz cinema. it was the place to be on Friday & Saturday nights and where I met my first hubby around 1967-1968