Sale - Savoy Cinema, Ashfield Road

In the first half of the 20^th century, cinemas played an important role in everyday lives of local people. In 1946 UK cinema admissions totalled 1,635 million.

There were many cinemas in the Trafford area as ‘going to the pictures’ was the main form of entertainment in a world before the internet, or even television. The Savoy Cinema was one of the cinemas in Sale.

There were several other cinemas in Sale at this time. The Sale Palace, opened in 1911 and quickly became a local favourite, offering a range of films to the growing population. In 1912, the Pyramid Cinema opened its doors, providing a more luxurious setting for moviegoers with its unique, grand architecture. Years later, the Warwick Cinema would also made its debut, becoming another significant venue in the town's cinematic landscape.

The Savoy opened in 1913. It was the called the ‘Savoy Cinema-de-Luxe’. There had been more than one planning application to build a cinema on the same plot, or the immediate area, but the one that went ahead was by F H Heath. These plans are available to view at Trafford Local Studies. The building was a relatively simple one with around 700 seats.

Silent films were at this time often accompanied by a live pianist. In 1914 the Savoy were advertising for a ‘lady pianist’ . Controversially in March 1923 the Savoy showed ‘Foolish Wives’ (an erotic drama silent film that had been banned by many cinemas.

In 1928 the Savoy was rebuilt to grander plans. A contract for the proposed alterations to the Savoy Cinema to plans by Robert J McBeath and Sons F/ARIBA, Birnam House, Sale, was awarded to Messrs E B Jones and Rawlinson Limited, of Manchester

Robert J McBeath was a successful architect from Sale. McBeath was born in Aberdeen but educated at the Sale Township School where he eventually became a pupil teacher. Finding this occupation not much to his liking he worked with his father Alexander Gordon McBeath, Engineer to Sale Local Board. He then worked for Messrs Stott and Son, famous mill architects.

In 1886 he started his own practice and is responsible for many buildings in Sale. His works include improvements to Sale Township school, ballrooms at Sale botanical gardens, the public library, many of the business premises on School Road and numerous private residences. The plans for the Savoy came near the end of his life.

The cinema reopened at the ‘New Savoy Cinema and Cafe’ on 1^st August 1929 with 1,300 seats. The new cinema was very opulent, with interiors in white marble, mahogany blue and gold carpets and Wedgewood blue curtains. For a short while it was part of the Union circuit of cinemas. Although the cinema was taken over by Associated British Cinemas (ABC) in 1937, the name was not changed until the 1960s.

More change was to come in 1973. Customers were demanding a more luxurious experience. The Savoy was converted to a smaller more intimate cinema with 580 seats. Apart from the new seating, new carpet was also laid, and the balcony was no longer used. However, the small screen and bingo had gripped the imagination of the entertainment seeking public and the changes could not improve the cinema’s performance. Sadly, The Savoy closed in 1974.

It was re-named the Savoy Cinema from 1st November 1975, when an independent owner took over, and operated using the circle seating area only. Harry Nadler and his partner Ken Shaw re-opened the Savoy and rescued it from 18 months in the wilderness. In an interview in the Sale Guardian Ken said,’ I used to come courting here. years ago, when I was living in Stretford and going out with a girl, the Savoy was where I used to take her I never dreamt that one day I would own the place’

The project was ultimately unsuccessful and The Savoy Cinema closed its doors for good on 26th February 1977. The building then lay unused. In April 1985 plans were approved for the demolition of the building and the erection of a three-storey office building of approximately 10,500 square feet with car park.

Trafford Local Studies hold a quantity of plans relating to the Savoy Cinema from 1911 up to the 1970s. These range from the splendid plans of the original cinema buildings to the more mundane additions and alterations, including new toilets and illuminated signage.

Further research

You can find more building plans and archival records using the Trafford Local Studies catalogue

Sources

MEN

Sale Guardian

Sale and Stretford Guardian

Sale and Altrincham Messenger.

Cinemas of Trafford       Douglas Rendell

https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/

Building Plans, Trafford Local Studies Collection cat.ref. PLA/2/SAL/1928/2/3997

https://www.manchestervictorianarchitects.org.uk/

Northwich Guardian