Thursday, 22 October 2009

THE REGAL # 1

Regal CinemaEarlier this month on this blog there was mention of the Regal Cinema, High Street. The colour photo above shows the site as it looks today with the Co-op on the left and Lloyds Pharmacy right. The Regal opened in 1937 and was owned by Rhyl Entertainments Limited, the company that owned already the Queens Theatre & Ballroom, Plaza Cinema and Cinema Royal.

Architecturally the Regal had one or two nice touches including the exterior details shown above. It also had a pleasant foyer and usually there was a doorman. The Regal was equipped for technological changes in the business in 1940s and ‘50s (colour, widescreen etc) but by the end of the ‘50s television had become so accessible and fashionable that the end was nigh for a lot of cinemas.

The photograph above (CENTRE) is from the collection of Rhyl Library.

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SUN 15th OCT 2017 UPDATE: A few weeks ago the Co-op premises shown above changed to a British Heart Foundation Cymru (charity) shop. The photo below was taken today by Yours Truly.


The phrase Siop Nwyddau'r Cartref translates as household goods shop. The stock includes large items of furniture.


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FRI 27th OCT 2017 UPDATE: Today it has been reported that Lloyds Pharmacy, 103-105 High Street, to your right of British Heart Foundation, is closing down. See story by Owen Hughes in Daily Post:
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/business/business-news/lloydspharmacy-closing-one-north-wales-13818945

There is a smaller branch of Lloyds Pharmacy at Clarence Medical Centre, No.1 West Kinmel Street. Tel: (01745) 353343.

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