Advice on how to start search - cinema ownership..

[tyler11]

Not sure how to begin a search so anyone's input would be appreciated!

I have been told that my great grandfather owned/co owned a cinema in Manchester. His name was John Ashworth Tyler (b. 1898 d. 1983). I'm not sure on a date range but it would have been between 1930 - 1950 at least. Potentially slightly later. It's a wide range i appreciate but how would i start to look into this?

[ev]

Hi ,

Does the 1939 register give an occupation  ?
I've never looked at a paid entry   



ev

[dawnsh]

To prevent duplication of effort, the same topic can be found here

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=772947.0

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=772949.0

[Girl Guide]

Understood Dawn but I'll pop my reply on here;

I've come across some photos of cinemas in Manchester link below:-

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/nostalgia/gallery/the-way-we-were-cinemas-6217239

I'm assuming you don't know the name of the cinema that he managed?

Have you considered contacting Manchester City Council to see if they can point you in the right direction?  Link below

http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/448/archives_and_local_history

[Barbara.H]

I've looked in the 1940 Kellys/Slaters directory for Manchester but without success I'm afraid. Some of the listings under Cinemas give the manager/owner/proprietor's name, but I couldn't see a Tyler in there.

Do you know what area of Manchester he was based in?

  Barbara

[tyler11]

Hi,

In 1939 John was listed as 'Returning Officer Local Authority' but the family was in Blackpool at the time. My father believes the cinema could have been a sideline and not necessarily an occupation but i do know that John changed jobs often after completing war service.

No idea of the cinema name, sorry. Here lies the crux of my problem!

Thank you for your pointers, i will try looking there and its probably prudent i search Blackpool and Cheshire as i know he lived in these areas too. Manchester was the location my father believed it to be in but he could be mistaken.

Apologies again for the post duplication

[Girl Guide]

I've come across the below named book which may or may not be of help.

The Golden Years of Manchester's Picture Houses: Memories of the Silver Screen 1900-1970 Paperback – 6 Jul 2010
by Derek J Southall

I would strongly recommend you try and get it from a library rather than buy it.  I had a browse through some of the pages and there are mentions of the people who ran them.  However there is no guarantee that your relative's name will be in there.