Ep 8: The Ritz, Belfast - LIVE with 88th birthday cake at the Belfast Film Festival
Send us a textIn this special episode of The Wonder Cinema Podcast, recorded live from the Black Box at the 2024 Belfast Film Festival, hosts Brian Henry Martin and Dr Sam Manning celebrate the 88th birthday of the Ritz, which first opened its doors on 9 November 1936. They discuss how the cinema quickly became a landmark in Belfast city centre and hosted stars such as Gracie Field, Cary Grant and even The Beatles. The cinema later faced more turbulent times during the Troubles, including a firebombing in 1977 and a reimagining of its identity, before finally closing in 1993. Brian and Sam dive into the history of 'Ireland's Wonder Cinema', hear personal memories from those who were, and unveil Stuart Marshall's new model of this iconic cinema.Written and presented by Dr Sam Manning and Brian Henry Martin Music by Score Draw Music https://thewondercinema.buzzsprout.com
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Bonus Episode: Mark Kermode shares his favourite cinemas in London, Cornwall and Belfast
Send us a textIn this bonus edition of the podcast, Brian chats with old friend and the UK's No 1 film critic Mark Kermode at the Cinemagic Festival in Belfast. Mark shares his love for the Phoenix Cinema in London, the Plaza Cinema in Truro and the Queen's Film Theatre in Belfast. Mark also reveals the best place to sit in the cinema. Classic movies mentioned include Passport to Pimlico, The Man in the White Suit, The Exorcist, The Devils, Moon, 71 and The Life of Brian. This podcast was recorded at the Queens Film Theatre in Belfast. Written and presented by Dr Sam Manning and Brian Henry Martin Music by Score Draw Music https://thewondercinema.buzzsprout.com
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Ritz Day LIVE EVENT at the Belfast Film Festival 2024
Send us a textJoin Brian Henry Martin and Dr. Sam Manning, hosts of The Wonder Cinema podcast, to celebrate the 88th anniversary of the Ritz, Belfast’s long-lost picture palace. If you have memories of the Ritz, come along and let us know. Enjoy a slice of birthday cake and join us for a discussion of the cinema’s history, where we will also unveil Stuart Marshall’s new model of the Ritz. Be there for the chance to win exclusive Ritz memorabilia and to see never-before-seen images from its storied past.The Black Box18-22 Hill StreetBelfastBT1 2LANovember 9, 2024, 2:00pm GMTWritten and presented by Dr Sam Manning and Brian Henry Martin Music by Score Draw Music https://thewondercinema.buzzsprout.com
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Ep 6: The Ritz, Belfast - 1990s End Game, The Vanishing and Spielberg's Fax
Send us a textIn the sixth episode of the Wonder Cinema podcast, we look at how the ABC reimagined and reinvented itself in the 1980s, before eventually shutting its doors for the final time in 1993.Following the 1977 firebomb, the ABC remained closed until 1980, when the original auditorium was subdivided into four screens and the exterior saw substantial renovation. The glitz and glamour of the 1930s was now long gone, giving way to a more functional space at a time when cinema exhibitors struggled to attract audiences away from the lure of home video. Later in the decade, the cinema became part of the Cannon chain and rumours emerged that it would be replaced by a new multiplex cinema. The Cannon lasted until 1993, with one of its final films, The Vanishing, representing the eventual demolition of the building. The new MGM cinema celebrated its opening screening of Jurassic Park with a fax from Steven Spielberg, but how did that compare the to the grand opening of 1936?Links:Flickr - exterior of ABC, 1980Belfast 35mm - exterior of ABC, 1986Belfast 35mm - Great Victoria Street, 1992Written and presented by Dr Sam Manning and Brian Henry Martin Music by Score Draw Music https://thewondercinema.buzzsprout.com
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Ep 5: The Ritz, Belfast - Cinema in flames! Jaws, The Exorcist and the Troubles.
Send us a textIn the fifth episode of the Wonder Cinema podcast, we go back to the 1970s. This was a difficult decade for cinema exhibitors across Britain and Ireland, but especially so in Belfast, a city that also had to navigate the civil unrest of the Troubles. Despite the chaos, big American films such as The Godfather, The Exorcist and Jaws attracted large audiences and queues were seen outside the Ritz (now renamed the ABC) for the first time in several years. Billy Connolly even came to the cinema to provide much-needed comic relief, a performance captured in Big Banana Feet, the documentary of his Irish tour. The Wombles stage show was less successful, resulting in angry complaints and eventual refunds. But all performances came to an end in 1977 when an IRA firebomb forced the cinema to close. Links:Flickr - Army patrol outside the ABCBBC Rewind - The Wombles at the ABC (1974)BBC Rewind - Firebomb attack on the ABC (1977)Written and presented by Dr Sam Manning and Brian Henry Martin Music by Score Draw Music https://thewondercinema.buzzsprout.com
Take a trip from The Wizard of Oz to Reservoir Dogs in the Wonder Cinema of Ireland, the Ritz, Belfast. Join hosts, filmmaker Brian Henry Martin and cinema historian Dr. Sam Manning in a new six-part series exploring the remarkable story of a long lost super cinema.
Ireland