A new book contains pictorial records of 139 Irish cinemas, including ones in Greystones, Arklow, Wicklow town and Bray.
‘Irish Cinemas: A History in Photographs’ by Jim Keenan is illustrated with over 200 images and includes an assorted array of buildings, ranging from luxurious urban picture palaces to modest, provincial cinemas.
The Royal (Bray), the Ormonde (Arklow), the Ormonde (Greystones), and the Abbey (Wicklow) are just some of the many old cinemas that feature in the book.
The 675-seat Ormonde Cinema in Greystones opened on May 5, 1947 and closed in 2007. Bozo the Clown (aka Max King) performed at a show there in May 1970. At one point during the show he appeared to somersault off the stage. The feat was greeted with enthusiastic applause from the hundreds of children in the audience.
Unfortunately, unbeknownst to them, the incident was an accident; Bozo landed on his head onto the floor six feet below the stage. Ever the professional, he staggered back onstage and completed his performance. He later had to have seven stitches to his head wound.
Source: Wicklow cinemas appear in photographic history – Independent.ie