LAST week in Yester Years, we told the story of some of the famous lost cinemas in Warrington.

Well this week, we can shine in the light on another long departed picture house.

The Premier Cinema in Latchford had room for more than 400 people and was open for almost four decades.

Tommy Swift, from Houghton Green, wrote in with his memories of the luxury he remembers from the venue.

He added: "With regards to your feature on Warrington cinemas I'd like to say that the Premier at Powell Street wasn't far behind the Empire for luxury.

"In the 1930s St Augustine's held there services there before the church was built.

"My memories growing up in the late 1940s and early 1950s was attending the Premier quite often.

"When cowboy films were shown we would come out and re-enact what we had seen.

"Running across Thelwall Lane and into the field slapping our backsides as horses. (The field is now the site of Lidl).

"When we reached 14 we were allowed into the Premier at night time, but when there was an A film on we would wait in Powell Street for couples to come along.

"We would ask them to take us in with them, we'd give them our entry money.

"Once in the cinema we would sit with the couple for a few minutes before moving to seats on our own.

"Sometimes we'd stay sat with the couple and were well looked after.

"This of course wouldn't be possible today but growing up in the late 1940s early 1950s was great and I think were the best years."

The Premier Cinema opened in the early 1920s. It had an 18 feet wide proscenium.

The Premier was closed in September 1959.

Ron Povey also has fond memories of attending as a primary schoolboy in the 1950s.

He added: "The Premier Cinema in Powell Street, just off Latchford village was built in the early 1920s and was viewed by many as a rival to the Grand Picture House on Wilderspool Causeway, built prior to the First World War. 

Warrington Guardian:

The Grand

“The Premier, or ‘Pre’ as it was affectionately known, was an important part of community life in the rapidly developing Latchford housing estate. It was tucked away in the corner of Powell Street, accessed via Forrest Street (now Kingsway South) or the side of Paterson’s Garage (now Cantilever Car Sales).

“Nothing was spared in terms of the fittings and architecture. 

“New, self-tipping chairs with dark wood backs and arms together with plush gold fabric afforded lavish seating which was thoughtfully spaced to allow for taller patrons. The entrance hall was spacious with wide corridors. 

“The stage boasted deep red velvet curtains either side of the screen with numerous wall mouldings highlighted by the tastefully fitted wall-mounted lights. The exterior was extremely smart with amply sized double doors at both the entrance and exit.

“The seating capacity was about 500 with the cheaper seats located at the front, costing about 2p today. Seats in the middle of the auditorium would be about 4p in today’s currency with those towards the rear, comprising high quality carpeting, being the most expensive, about 8p in today’s money.

“In the mid-1950s as a primary school aged child, I attended regularly on a Saturday evening with my grandfather as a weekly ‘treat’. People from the community would queue expectantly waiting to see their favourite stars and characters on screen.

“If you were prepared to be patient, it was possible to see exactly the same films as were shown in city and town centre cinemas a few weeks or months later for about half the usual entrance price. There was quite a regular turnover of films with programmes changing every few days. 

“A typical Saturday evening programme would comprise a children’s film or cartoon, a main feature film – often a western or thriller of some sort together with serial featuring such epic characters as Flash Gordon. Pathe News kept people informed of national and world events and issues.

“A vivid memory focuses on the interval or intermission. An usherette would walk to the front down the central or side aisle and offer a range of refreshments including ‘Butterkist’ caramel coated popcorn, Chocolate ices, Pendleton’s ‘Twicers’ which was a great favourite – ice cream coated by a fruit flavoured ice lolly.

“Sadly, the puling power of the local cinema waned due to the advent of televisions becoming owned by an increasing number of people. 

“I was among the last cohort to enjoy a trip to the ‘Pre’ since it closed its doors to the public in 1959, becoming a storage facility for Roy Trevor, a furniture removal firm. 

“Since then it has been the subject of various speculation including conversion to a warehouse and even being demolished to be replaced by a block of apartments. 

“As time has moved on, the building looks neglected, unrecognisable compared with its former glory; my recollections of untold childhood pleasures firmly consigned to the memory banks. 
“Too high a price to pay for alleged progress?”