Following on from the last post we’ll have look at some of the eleven (yes it’s hard to believe) cinemas that were in the borough in the mid 1900s, but have since been demolished.
Merthyr Electric Theatre
Opened in 1910, it was Merthyr’s first ‘purpose-built’ cinema.
Palace Theatre
Merthyr’s second cinema, opened in 1912.
The Castle Cinema
Opened in 1929, it was built specifically to show the new ‘talkies’, and was Merthyr’s grandest cinema.
The Cosy Cinema, Penydarren
Opened in 1914
The Victoria Cinema, Dowlais
Opened in 1910, it was Dowlais’ first, and only ‘purpose-built’ cinema.
The Oddfellow’s Hall
Built in 1876 as a meeting hall, it housed a cinema for many years.
The Picture Palace, Troedyrhiw
Opened in the 1920s
The Electric Cinema, Aberfan
The Palace Theatre, Treharris
Opened in 1891 as the Treharris Public Hall, it later became the Palace Theatre.
Do you remember visiting any of these cinemas? If you do, please share your memories.
Living in Troedyrhiw in the mid-1950s I was a regular there on many a week!!! As very few people had a TV in those days the cinema there was a must for many people. An aunt of mine worked in the cinema in Aberfan so we often went there and were allowed in (free of charge) I still recall the prices in Troedyrhiw 9d in the front and 1/- in the middle and then 1/6d in the posh part at the back. The end came when TV became
more popular, but happy times.
I don’t see The Temp, here! The Temperance Hall was later renamed The Scala in the sixties, after some much-needed refurbishment, but it was still known as The Temp and it still is, for me.
The Castle may have been the grandest interior, but its sound-system was not good.
In my youth I went to The Temp, The Castle and the Theatre Royal ( also concerts, there). We were taken to see The Ten Commandments at the Theatre Royal in a large group from Twyn Junior School.
It’s another world!
The Temperance Hall (and the Theatre Royal) isn’t included because it hasn’t been demolished.
The temperance hall used to have great stage shows.
The subject matter of your e.mails are facinating, but none of the photos download for me
A lot of the photos I use are copyrighted and I have been given permission to use them. Others belong to specific archives and also need permission to use.