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Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



Wigan Album

Cinemas

8 Comments

COURT CINEMA STAFF, 1950's
COURT CINEMA STAFF, 1950's
Photo: FRANK HEALY
Views: 6,797
Item #: 3541
This photograph was probably taken in the mid 50's. My mother, Clare Healy, is the lady furthest right on the front row and the gentleman with the bow tie is my great uncle Charles Bradley who was the manager. Given that I was a frequent visitor to the cinema, with my two sisters and brother, I should be able to remember the names of some of the other people in the photograph. This particularly applies to the lady back-row right whose first name was Doreen and was a close family friend. However, time has dulled my memory.

Comment by: RON HUNT on 11th June 2007 at 19:50

Great photograph. This is what the site is about... Not photos of peoples relatives on holidays etc.

Comment by: Mercury on 11th June 2007 at 21:54

What a fascinating photograph! Nice to see the two manual 7 rank Compton organ. Is that John Abbott, the organist, sitting on the organ bench?

Comment by: Chris on 12th June 2007 at 10:24

I agree with Ron this is just the sort of photo we want to see on WW.

Comment by: (Doreen) Elizabeth Walmsley on 20th March 2009 at 17:18

Hi, I am Doreen Taylors (nee Garswood) daughter. I often heard of Clare Healey but as far as i can remember we never met, unless we did when i was young. My mum used to talk about her alot, she was very fond of her.

Comment by: Frank Healy on 23rd March 2009 at 09:53

Hi Elizabeth. It's really great to hear from Doreen's daughter; we remember your mother very well (by "we" I mean my two sisters, brother and myself). Have you any sisters (or brothers)? If you can let me know then I might be able to tell you whether you met my mother or not.

Comment by: elizabeth walmsley on 23rd March 2009 at 22:24

Hi Frank, thank-you!! your reply was very welcome. I am the only one unfortunately. I always wanted a brother or sister!! my e-mail address is elizabethwalmsleyuk@yahoo.co.uk if you would like to keep in touch. I would love to hear more about my mum when she was young!! my aunty cecilia says that mum used to treat her to an ice-cream when she visited the court cinema (in the interval!) she sounds like a childs dream come true!! i look forward to your reply.

Comment by: Alan Ashton on 19th September 2016 at 17:00

The organist is in fact RONALD CURTIS, who later went into business in Darcy Lever and owned the Paramount Organ Studio. He installed three cinema organs in there - two of which still remain. He died in 1995

Comment by: Mercury on 8th March 2017 at 20:36

Thanks Alan for the information. You probably know that the Court organ pipework and console were removed and relocated in a church in Walkden. The console was destroyed by fire and a repalacement found.I believe that the church purchased an electronic organ recently and that the Compton was for sale.

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