Happidrome Cinema

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The Happidrome Cinema

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Happidrome Cinema

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Interior view

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Rhagfyr / December 1949 The County Echo Roedd Bulldog Bill Garnon yn ddyn 'stunt' ar gyfer ffilmio 'Jamaica Inn. / Bulldog Bill Garnon was a stunt man and extra during the filming of Jamaica Inn.

The Happidrome was a locally run cinema in Goodwick, near the top of Harbour Village Hill.

Firstly called “The Cosy” the cinema  was housed in an old bakery formerly owned  by Albert Lewis. From 1936, the cinema was run by his two sons, Cyril and Vernie Lewis. All films were shown on their trusty Bell and Howell projector. By the 50s, the cinema had been re-named The Happidrome, the name being spelled out using red bottle tops nailed to a sheet of plywood fixed to the outside of the building.

There were 86 seats in total, 46 bus seats on the balcony, and 40 seats in the stalls. Entry prices were 6d, 1/6d & 1/9d. The evening performances started at 7.20 p.m (to coincide with the bus times).  In July 1954, an extension was built onto the cinema’s pine end to house the projector and to provide extra seating. Staff members consisted of Cyril, projectionist assisted by his son Alan from 1952 util the closure in 1959. Vernie took the money, issued the tickets and came around with Walls Ice Cream, Smiths original crisps, and bottles of pop. John Buttery would tear up the tickets, retain them in his purpose built box and follow Vernie to open any pop bottles.

Sadly, following its closure in 1959 the building was soon in a dilapidated state but by 2020, the site had been purchased and the old cinema building turned into a home.