Your Llanelli Cinema Memories

By Jonathan Williams

Now that The Entertainment Centre, Theatr Elli or just ‘the cinema’ has closed its doors for what could be the final time, the town now finds itself without a cinema till the widely anticipated opening of the Odeon in October.

But what of the old building, we thought we would ask our Facebook friends what memories they have .

Me, some of my favourite are:

• trying to get in to AA films (that’s a 15 these days)
• walking out after watching Ghostbusters to find it snowing
• trying to sneak in through the fire exits because you didn’t have enough money.
• Saturday morning cinema and wishing I had the winning ticket for a bag of sweets, I never did though!
• Watching Superman, the old Spiderman and Star Wars films and walking home afterwards down Station with friends trying to recreate them.

The cinema became a part of our lives. When a new film came out we all wanted to see it unless of course the queues went around the corner into Lloyd St, then we’d wait till a quieter showing.

But that’s enough of my memories, what did our facebook friends say? We asked, how they felt, did they have any memories of the place, did they remember Saturday morning cinema, and did they have any favourite film memories?

This is what they said:

Jan Aikhionbare: Many many memories…. My Mum worked there too…. Sad sad sad!!!!

Lisa Turner: Aw man! I was gonna take my daughter to see Brave on Saturday!! Change of plans then, it’s actually kinda sad:-( X

Becca Rosenthal: Saturday morning cinema was great….as kids we used to love it when the guy threw sweets into the crowd of kids during the interval….absolute bedlam but lots of fun!!

Faye Davies: I used to love Saturday cinema and remember the man throwing sweets in the interval with all the kids tramplin on each other to get a penny sweet! My favourite sat cinema film was chico the rain maker! I also have good memories of being a munchkin in the wizard of oz with Llanelli youth theatre!  I remember watching ET when it first came out and the whole cinema crying!

Corrina Price: end of an era, was cheap and cheerful. Odeon is going to me more expensive and I don’t know if I will go as often for that reason.

Linda Dillon: Saturday morning cinema was great never missed

Paul Michael Morris: I remember going there in the 60s on Saturday mornings and watching the 3 stooges and abbot and costello movies

Ashley Taylor: Saturday Cinema in the 80’s haha Bloody great stuff

Ashley Williams Great memories from Saturday cinema to junior school productions, does anyone know what is happening to the building?

Ann Williams Used to go every Sat. morning in the 50’s, also remember entering a yo yo competition there, happy days !!!

Kelly Wood worked there for a long time.. very sad.:-X

Rachel Dunne Wasn’t is like 50p to get in and the workers threw sweets on the stage at the end…..

Tim Reilly Lots of good memories of the back row in cinema 2! Hot dog and a packet of poppets. Lost Boys!

Elizabeth Dee Bridal Collections lots of memories my gran being an usherette, and Ron Freeman working on the reels.. and free tickets…

Richard Taff Jones Those orange plastic drinks, sitting in the back row pretending to yawn to put your arm around some girls shoulders. Sitting with seat still up so you could se over the person in front. Getting told off for putting your legs over the chair in front. Practicing your date of birth for AA films

Sharon Evans So sad…..end of an era 🙁

Karen Collins-Hypnotherapist Gutted it’s closed, it was excellent value for money and the staff were all friendly and helpful 🙁

Rob Nicol Yes I do and loved them throwing sweets from the stage. Brilliant times

Rachel Nicol Great memories of Saturday cinema with my friend Hayley John.. Good times…Went to see natural born killers with my brother Tony Thomas about 18 years ago..

Liz Nurse Huball i remember it we used to sing come along on a Saturday morning lol

Adam Day Our first date December 3rd 1987 – The back row cinema 2 – The film, Inner Space. Now been married 19yrs ha ha ha.  Also Sian winning Miss Llanelli 1991 Theatre Elli. Great times, great memories. Also all the Llanelli Youth Theatre Productions.

Ashley Taylor Ah the sweets man on stage once he came on ALL HELL WOULD BREAK LOOSE lol just for a toffee lol

Elisa Phillips I remember Sat mornings watching Lassie, champion the wonder horse, and Flash Gordon and the clay men that was back in the 70’s, and a mars bar was about 10p then those were the days eh !!!

Anne Smith End of an era, went for the first time there to see Walt Disney film ‘Bambi’ when I was 8 years old with my lovely daddy, whom I miss so much – sweet memories.

Sharon Aitken I had a Saturday job at the cinema. Every Saturday morning lots of fond memories. My mum also worked in the cinema for years.

Alan William Sanderson Fond memories include Ghostbusters 2 when I was 8. Thought it was the best thing ever. Saturday club comes to mind too. Remember getting chucked out for doing forward rolly pollys down the slope to the cinema.  Or was it for chucking sweets? Probably both. Will miss the place tho

Ciné Mini How sad, say goodbye to film as we know it… Jurrassic Park was awesome a few weeks back though, original print, £3 a ticket!