The Kino Cinema – Six Bells

The Kino Cinema – Six Bells.
The Kino Cinema at Six Bells, Abertillery, opened in 1913. It was located in the Alexandra Buildings down behind Alexandra Road in the old Alexandra Skating Rink building originally constructed by the contractors Messrs Skidmore and McWhirter of Six Bells.

The Skating Rink closed in about 1911 and in 1912 the old skating rink building was planned to be converted into a cinema, planning applications under the name of Mr E. J. Skidmore was published in the South Wales Gazette (as seen in the clipping above) and the cinema opened in about 1913 under the name of “The Kino”.

The Kino Cinema.
In June 1914 it was reported that The Kino Picture House at Six Bells, under the direction of Mr Jack Nightingale had a programme of variety and pictures with two matinees per week for miners. The aged and miners on sick leave through accidents were admitted free of charge on production of their union cards.

Mr Nightingale stated that 25 per-cent of gross takings were devoted to local charities.

The Closure of the Kino Cinema.
The Kino Cinema at Six Bells was not open for long and closed after only a short while.

Lucania Billiard Hall.
In February 1915 Mr John Jeremiah of Merthyr Tydfil applied for a billiard license for the old Kino Cinema building. It was approved and it became known as the Lucania Billiard Hall.

The Lucania Dance Hall.
The building was also used as a dance hall called the Lucania Dance Hall.

The Skating Rink.
At some time in the 1920’s the Lucania Hall once again housed a skating rink, used for roller skating. The pastime of skating at the Lucania extended into the 1930’s, 1940’s and 1950’s. 

Mr Emlyn Everard Purnell.
During the late 1930’s Mr Emlyn Everard Purnell was the licensee of the Lucania Hall, he was living at Gwern Berthi Road, Cwmtillery.

Boxing Tournaments.
On Monday the 4th of December 1939, a boxing tournament was held at the Lucania. The South Wales Gazette reported that it was the first venture by the owner Mr E. E. Purnell. The first boxing match held was between Albert Williams of Abertillery and Darkie Williams of Gelligaer, it was billed as “The Fight of the Williams’s”.

Regent Ballroom.
In 1930’s the building was known as the Regent Ballroom, part of the Lucania. The Regent’s Ballroom Orchestra was conducted by Mr Emlyn Everard Purnell.

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