Fishguard Cinema / Sinema Abergwaun

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Mae gan yr adeilad sy’n dwyn yr enw ‘Theatr Gwaun‘ heddiw, hanes hir a diddorol. Neuadd Ddirwest oedd yn wreiddiol. Bu disgyblion yn derbyn eu haddysg yno wedyn. Ond, ers dros ganrif nawr, mae trigolion yr ardal wedi mwynhau gwylio ffilmiau yno.

Yn 1910, cafodd pwyllgor ei ffurfio gyda’r bwriad o drefnu ‘cinematographic exhibitions‘ yn y Neuadd Ddirwest unwaith pob pythefnos. Mae’n bosib mai llwyddiant yr ymgyrch hon wnaeth arwain at newid enw y Neuadd, maes o law. Yr ‘Electric Picture Palace‘ oedd yr enw arno yn 1919. Am ddwy noson yn Ionawr, y flwyddyn honno, dangoswyd “Still Waters – the fascinating Picture Play – at great expense” roedd y drysau yn agor am 7yh, a’r adloniant yn dechrau am 7.30yh. Cost tocynnau i oedolion oedd 9c / 7c / 5c. Cost tocynnau plant oedd tair a dwy geiniog.

Erbyn yr 1970au, roedd newid enw eto, â’r Neuadd erbyn hyn yn ‘ The Studio Cinema‘. Mae taflen hysbysebu o 1973 yn disgrifio’r lle fel “The West Coast Luxury Cinema”.

Yr oedd y deml hon i’r sgrin fawr yn lle pwysig dros ben i bobol ifanc bryd hynny. Ar fore  Sadwrn, roedd y ‘Clwb Sinema’ yn llawn cyffro a Mr a Mrs Smedley, gyda’u mab, John, a’u merch Denise, yn gyfrifol am bopeth. Roedd cost tocyn i eistedd yn y ‘circle’, ar y llofft, 10 geiniog yn ddrutach na thocyn i’r ‘stalls’, lawr steire.  Roedd y seddau yn fwy esmwyth, ond gan bod hufen ia yn costio 10c ar y pryd, ni fyddai  llawer o blant yn talu i fynd i’r llofft!

The building which bears the name ‘Theatr Gwaun‘ today, has a long and interesting history. It was originally a Temperance Hall. Pupils later received their education in the hall. But, for over a century now, residents of the area have enjoyed watching films there.

In August 1910, The County Echo printed the following –

“Recreative.—We are credibly informed that a syndicate is in the process of formation, having for its object the establishment of bi-weekly cinematographic exhibitions in the Temperance Hall. ”

Possibly, it was the success of this syndicate that led to a change of name for the Temperance Hall.  It was called ‘The Electric Picture Palace‘ in 1919. For two nights in January, that year, “Still Waters” was shown –

“a fascinating Picture Play – at great expense” was shown. The doors opened at 7pm, and the entertainment started at 7.30pm. The cost of tickets for adults was 9p / 7p / 5p. Children’s tickets cost thrupence and tuppence.”

By the 1970s, there was a further change of namse  ‘The Studio Cinema’. An advertising pamphlet from 1973 describes the place as “The West Coast Luxury Cinema”.

This temple to the big screen was an extremely important place for young people in the 70s. On Saturday morning, the ‘Cinema Club’ was full of excitement and Mr and Mrs Smedley, with their son, John, and their daughter Denise, were responsible for everything. The cost of a ticket to sit in the ‘circle’ upstairs was 10 pence more expensive than a ticket to the ‘stalls’, down stairs. Admittedly, the seats were more comfortable, but as the cost of ice cream was 10p, many children would not choose to pay the difference!