Magic of the cinema lives again at church
MANY folk have fond memories of the Majestic Cinema in Cradley Heath that first opened in March 1933.
The last film was shown in November 1963 and the building became a bingo club. That closed in March 2000, since when the building has been used as a warehouse but it is currently unused and largely derelict.
The jewel of the cinema in Cradley Road was the Christie organ that was played by the likes of William Sykes, Stanley Harrison, Mel Edwards, Aubrey Burrows and Damon Willetts for cinema and bingo audiences alike. The organ is still in situ in the abandoned auditorium.
The glorious sound of the old organ will be recreated at a special concert at St Peter’s Church, Cradley, on Saturday, March 26.
The concert is free and runs from 2.30pm to 5pm. Four organist will peform on the church’s pipe organ, with live video projection on a big screen. Damon Willetts, who learnt to play on the old Majestic organ, will be joined by Cameron Lloyd, Alec Walters and David Lobban, who until recently was part of the team at the Tower Ballroom in Blackpool. They will play a selection of classic film music, dance tunes and old favourites.
Refreshments will be served during the interval and there will be displays showing old photos of the cinema and a second-hand music stall.
There will be a retiring collection in aid of the completion of the Cradley Tower Heritage Project.
The church advise visitors to use local car parks or on street parking as the churchyard parking will be reserved for blue badge holders.