OT- WIGAN RITZ/HIPPODROME/ABC
Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 12:31 amHad a bit of a sad moment last week, as I was having my lunch break sat in the town centre. I was watching the machines pull down one of my favorite buildings, the old cinema/theatre here in Wigan ,The Ritz (or ABC, or Hippodrome). This magnificent old theatre once hosted concerts from all the big stars of the 50s and 60s like The Stones, Buddy Holly, Clif Richard, all the merseybeat bands and many many more, including THEM (see my post on intros)
I worked there at weekends when I was at school, and later full time when I left, until it closed in 83. It briefly reopened a few years later but it wasn't the same, soon closed and has been derelict since
I always hoped that someone would restore her to her former glory, so that we could have our own concert venue (instead of travelling to Liverpool or Manchester) and that Styx would one day play there
How ironic I was playing Paradise Theatre on my ipod, ahh well
heres a link to the live webcam (they have just pulled the front off)
www.grand-arcade.com/webcam.htm
I worked there at weekends when I was at school, and later full time when I left, until it closed in 83. It briefly reopened a few years later but it wasn't the same, soon closed and has been derelict since
I always hoped that someone would restore her to her former glory, so that we could have our own concert venue (instead of travelling to Liverpool or Manchester) and that Styx would one day play there
How ironic I was playing Paradise Theatre on my ipod, ahh well
heres a link to the live webcam (they have just pulled the front off)
www.grand-arcade.com/webcam.htm
