NOSTALGIA: Old Portsmouth cinemas brought back to life
But there's someone out there who cares so much about our old cinemas that he makes intricate scale models of them.
Model-making supremo David Barber contacted me about his hobby.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdNow 73 he tells me: 'I am a great cinema building enthusiast, of the wonderful but sadly now all gone art deco cinemas that used to be in Portsmouth.
'˜I also have built two working models of them, with LED lighting and they also take a seven-inch screen DVD player. '˜Â
David says he belongs to Portsmouth premier model railway club, Victory Model Railway Club, and has shown these working models at its exhibitions in the city and other locations to which they get invited.
He adds: '˜The models have caused sensations with members of the public, who say it is something very original, as most model cinemas on model railway layout are just the front of the building in the high street. It goes to show what can be achieved.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad'˜In 2011 I did an exhibition of four models I made which went on show at the Aspex Gallery. They were the Odeon North End, Majestic, Kingston Road, Essoldo, Albert Road and the Criterion Gosport.
'˜In 2010 I also made a broadcast on Express FM with Robin Kay all about the cinema wonderful interiors. My models are all hand-made from scratch, copied from photos and my photographic memory. I am planning to build two more, the Odeon Muswell Hill in north London and the Gaiety, Southsea.'
And David made this plea. 'What I am trying to find, for my own personal use, for model-making purposes and my own record, are photographs of the auditoriums of the following Portsmouth cinemas. I have searched everywhere without success for photos of the stage, and looking back at the projection box.
'˜The cinemas are: Tivoli, Copnor Road; Classic, Commercial Road; Essoldo, Eastney; Gaiety, Southsea; Shaftesbury, Kingston Road; Forum, Stamshaw; Curzon, Waterlooville; Rex, Fratton Road, and the Plaza at Bradford Junction.'
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdIf anyone can help David in his mission please contact him via [email protected].
'¢I have no idea what year the choir on the facing page might have been singingin but I am sure there must be someone who can enlighten me.
They are boys of HMS Vernon cadets in the years most of the local establishments had there own cadet section. Any information and names would be appreciated.