I have attended quite a few of these.The Focus Cinema in Crewe used to run shows regulary in the seventies.Also,seen a fair few in theatres.The problem was because the fans were not 'four sided' it affected the atmosphere of the show.Sometimes fans would be seated on the stage which made it a little better but this seemed to stop years ago. Therefore,the majority of the fans were a good distance from the ring and some in the balcony.Has anybody attended shows in cinemas or theatres?
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I saw some Paul Lincoln shows at The East Ham Granada and also Dale Martin shows at the Romford Odeon.
I went to a show at The Gaumont Doncaster.Bill Topper was Haystacks versus Tony StClair.Also on the bill was Johnny England v Mick McMichael. As previous posts say.Too far from the action.
The Wryton Stadium had no investment. You could tell it had been a picture house. Same seats and ash trays and the wrestling at the front with a slope down to the front.
At least there were no pillars though and that was a great advantage.
Loads of old cinemas were used from about 1960 onwards , each one short lived in the main.
Came across plenty when I wrote the Manchester series.
The Globe has been mentioned only last week concerning the Ghoul fighting there.
The Wryton had a rival in 1958.
Wryton had been the Palladium and another promoter ran the Palace Stadium , both old cinemas.
The promoters knew all the likely cheap venues , Drill hall , Skating Rinks , Cinemas and a good few more. Town halls could be rented cheap sometimes. Even Market halls. Even Canteens.
I believe the whle Paul Lincoln circuit was based on "Stage Wrestling" in cinemas.
I certainly used to see these shows at the Granada Tooting.
Later I would see a similar thing at the White Rock in Hastings, with a very exciting ten feet drop audience-side, where Pat Roach and Kendo Nagasaki once got memorably entangled for over ten minutes.