| Castle Cinema | |
|---|---|
| Castle Cinema.jpg The Castle Cinema as of 2011 |
|
| General information | |
| Location | Swansea, Wales |
| Address | Worcester Place, Swansea SA1 1JQ |
| Inaugurated | 14 December 1913 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | Thomas, Meager & Jones of London |
The Castle Cinema is a former cinema building located adjacent to the grounds of Swansea Castle in Swansea, south Wales. According to Kinematograph year book of 1914 the Castle opend in October 1913.
It was the only building left standing in Swansea's Castle Street vicinity after the Nazi German Luftwaffe bombing raids during the Second World War. It is a grade II listed structure.
In 1963 the the Castle Cinema changed its manager (Mr. Harry Williams who had previously managed The Plaza on Swanseas Kingsway. Mr Williams retireed October 1981 age 79). The cinema was in a terrible state and he had the cinema totally refurbished. New wall coverings and screen tabs were installed along with a cinemascope screen. Two hundred seats were lost from the back of the stalls to create a foyer, this meant the small circle had no overhang. Double seats (kissing seats) formed the last few rows of the stalls.
During the 1970's the cinema was famous for showing soft core porn films. By the end of the 1970's Swansea had only one other cinema (the ODEON on The Kingsway) so the Castle started to exhibit Hollywood Blockbusters once again on a First Release basis. The cinema basically showed what had not been secureed by the Rank Organisation for its Odeon Chain. E.T. Back to the Future, Basic Instinct, Raiders of the Lost Ark...... filled the house. Monty Pythons Life of Brian was banned by the city council.
In the early 1980's the cinema changed its name to "FILMCENTA" and installed a multitrack sound system. Circa 1988 UCI opened a 10 screen multiplex in the town, this meant the Castle no longer showed a film exclusively and its audience chose to go the the multiplex with its modern facilities. The cinema closed within weeks of UCI opening.
The building was converted to use as a laser gun combat-game zone and assault course called the Lazerzone.[1]