Monaco Ballroom, Hindley

Anyone remember when this used to be the REX cinema?

Showin' your age there, must be about 53/4 years ago when it was gutted & turned into the Monaco

My much-older brother, (19 yrs. my senior), used to talk about it being The Rex.

in the fifties the price to go in the best seats was 10 old pennies managers name was cellini,

OK ©art© I guess you got the timescale right but then you must remember it too.

Yep....I used to play in a dance band, sometimes at Hindley Public Hall late dances (over t'top o' the Co-op). We were invited to audition for the job at the Monaco, one Sunday morning.
When we turned up, the place was full of workmen, painting, papering & sawdust & shavings all over the floor.
anyroad, we didn't get the job cos at the time Jeff Greenough was running three bands, & picked the best players of the 3 to audition....End of story..

The band I was in was called "The Skyrockets", run by a chap, name of Whittaker. A 15 piece traditional danceband.

I remember Gloria. We loved going to the Rex and after that the Monaco Monday nights. Loved those days.

Tricia Harris

Hi tricia - are you Pat Chapman? Last I heard of you you were in Canada! Email me through Brian or whatever means there is on this system. In answer to your question about Hindley Green I always thought it was Wigan although legal documentation for certificates etc. comes under Leigh. I'm new to this site. What became of Marie, I would love to get in touch with you both.

I'm not really finding this an easy site to use so I hope anyone of you out there will persevere if I have been trying to contact you.

Lancs Lass, for better response to your posts, put them on 'general'. It's 'wear it's hat'. If you know what I mean!

While you guy's are on the topic of old hindley cinema's.Can anybody remember a cinema on market street next to the conservatve club, and I don't mean the palace which was higher up the street.

There was a cinema called "The Castle," this was above the tory club, it was also referred to as the "Vic."

The Rex,Vic and Palace,we used to roller skate on the flagged area of the Rex,it was Mr Cellini who owned it,and he had a daughter with blonde hair,she was a beauty,it was 7d in the front seat's,10d in the other ones,the film's changed every two day's at all three cinema's.

The Vic was also referred to as the Flea Pit and it was good to go up in the Gods. I think it closed long before The Palace.

Up above the Conservative Club used to be the snooker/billiard rooms. Next door used to be a greengrocers shop which I remember as having a daughter who was VERY pretty with blonde hair. She was gorgeous and I was so envious.