[Sharon]

The Elysium Cinema opened on High Street Swansea in 11th April 1914 its single auditorium was designed by Ward & Ward of the Strand, London and seated 900 in Circle and Stalls. The Cinema was equipped by Kalee who also provided the cast iron seats the auditorium was also equipped with a stage for variety acts which is still there today.

The building was also home to the Swansea Dock Workers Hall, a working mans club and later home to the labour party in the City. The Cinema closed in 1960 and became an independent bingo club which had closed by 1994. Leaving only the labour club open in the ground floor of the building which also closed in 1998 and the building has been boarded up ever since.

Exterior


Rear


Lobby which was later used as an amusement arcade


Change booth - odd how bikes are left there


Bingo hall reception with wood paneling and suspended ceiling


Above the suspended ceiling was a plaster work dome topped with a stained glass window


Sinister auditorium EXIT doors


Bingo hall


Bingo hall


Bingo callers console


When Bingo modernised with a computer system





Assorted Bingo equipment


Above the suspended ceiling, the cinema Upper Circle seats are still in place



They have been there unused for 48 years


An abandoned arcade machine


Behind the auditorium in the offices was an arcade machine graveyard


Projection room full of old cinema seats and bingo desks


Close-up of cast iron cinema seat


Possible old projection room equipment


From the projection booth door a stairwell leads down...


Little boys room

[Faline]

Sadly this is how most our working mens clubs end up now

[Sharon]

Originally Posted by Kelly ↗

Sadly this is how most our working mens clubs end up now

I know it's awful, a social culture now disappearing. One near us is now derelict and about to be flattened for yet more housing

[Faline]

Originally Posted by Sharon. ↗

I know it's awful, a social culture now disappearing. One near us is now derelict and about to be flattened for yet more housing

One by mine was leveled a few years back, houses are being built on it now.

[Photoplay]

It’s sad to seeing these Wonderful turn of the century buildings abandoned till demolishing is the only way left.

[Kelseecat65]

Space Invaders!!!

[Jere]

ii can still see all the old gals sitting around the tables getting drunk and screaming BINGO

[OhJstFkOffAlrdy]

Originally Posted by Sharon. ↗

I know it's awful, a social culture now disappearing. One near us is now derelict and about to be flattened for yet more housing

So if housing = apartments; and apartments = flats; does that mean it's being flattened for flats? Even better, would the demolition of an apartment building be known as a flat flattening?

[kellyhound]

luv the arcade machine

[William May]

Would love to see what kind of cinema equipment is in the projection booth. Can it be saved?
Also, the cast iron seats are AWESOME! They could just be stacked outside until some theater restoration needs them.
Nice post. Would like to see more of this type!