Tales of the Urban Explorer: Moston Cinema

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“A cinema you say, and it’s open?”

@anidiotexplores, my eyes, and ears of the Manchester underground was telling me an interesting tale of an archetype I had constantly failed on.

Should it be named so? 'Genre' doesn't quite fit what I am trying to get across.

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Having failed at Astoria Bingo, Bacup Bingo Hall, Preston Odeon, Manchester Victoria Theatre, and Burnley Odean amongst others my record of exploring old cinemas, theatres, 18th-century gambling venues and whorehouses was nothing short of abysmal.

I hastily added Moston Cinema to our largish rota for the day and we commenced yet another massive explore session.

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If it wasn’t for all the damn Karen’s walking around we would have been inside the grounds a lot quicker. Biding our time and looking extremely suspicious we hung around waiting for a chance to climb the wall between us and derelict cinema deliciousness.

For once, it wasn’t so difficult, and carefully bypassing some rusty barbed wire on the wall top we were inside the grounds and out of view.

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What has happened here in the past is a mystery but there may have been an accident involving some sticks of dynamite as there were two massive holes in the outer wall.

Not complaining we were in, but what the fuck was this?

Isn’t this supposed to be a cinema, where’s the screen, where the seats, and most importantly... I see no popcorn?

I was talking out loud to @anidiotexplores who was also staring around at the unexpected sight.

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Gone were the velvety seats we were expecting replaced by fresh.., er no stank air.. and what looked like chicken coops at the top.

What had we stumbled on this time, a few thousand dead chickens left to starve? I was hoping not and as that stink was no stench of rotting animals.

We made our way up from where the old screen should have been, now replaced by a huge hole in the wall to investigate these ‘coops’.

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Yeuch, runny, sticky grey goo was stuck on one of these hooks. I kept well away.

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It looked like a storeroom, a burnt one at that with goods strewn everywhere.

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DIY materials? I should have guessed by what was stuck on the outside of the ex-cinema.

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...I finally manage to get inside a vintage authentic cinema and it’s a fucking DIY shop.., that’s just great...

Nonplussed, I climbed to the top of where the seating used to start and made my way into the back area.

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This wasn't a total bust; they had left some Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother. I wasn't going to take a swig but that's damn good stuff if you can drink it, diluted of course and preferably not with your Shredded Wheat.

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It was quite the maze behind what used to be the cinema, and I came quickly upon what looked like an old office teaming with junk.

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Deanway Plumbing and Heating Supplies are in a state of Liquidation but are not struck off the national register.

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They are an old company, registered in 1983 and I guess times took a turn for the worse.

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It appears they had been habituating this old cinema for some time; 1989 receipts.

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High-Density floppy disks, suitable for IBM PCs and compatibles around the same time; I wonder what data is on those?

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You should not leave all your accounts hanging around, it’s a terrible idea. I could go have a look for instance.

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2013 was about the latest date I was seeing. The outside tells of a new address, so they had moved.

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Yet they had left half of their stockpile hanging around in here.

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That's a big arse drill and might still work if powered up.

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Was all this junk not worth taking? It's little wonder they are in a state of liquidation.

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Leaving the ‘office’ or ‘storeroom’ I passed by the cinema area again and noted the extensive burning. Was this the reason for the evacuation?

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I guess burnt goods don't sell very well, even using BOGOFF sales tactics.

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This receipt is dated 2017. Maybe they had not been gone so long then.

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It was looking more and more like the back shop at my old Kwiksave. I could use these images for my autobiography to install a sense of realism.

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We found what used to be the front door after navigating through the maze of corridors and rooms. This month’s special offer did not appeal much.

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Ancient relics on the shelves, probably rare, priceless, and should be auctioned off at Sotheby’s of London.

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One area was so dark I couldn’t see it very well. After a tentative step and finding murky water beneath my feet, I hastily retreated.

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It’s hardly antique furniture, and quite beat up.

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I would say that’s fair enough. If you want fancy shit then you must pay.

The best seat in the house reveals the dynamite holes and some dodgy bloke in the left corner possibly taking suspicious-looking substances.

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Oops, it’s @anidiotexplores examining in detail the rich exotic mosaic floor tapestry of Moston Cinema.

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Few appear to have visited this one, which is surprising. Maybe it's been sealed up by now. After all, we visited in July 2021. It's been some time.

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If you can disregard Astoria Bingo, which I have now conquered on the second attempt, using the head-first approach, I have still yet to enter a classic old cinema. My search continues...

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If you found this article so invigorating that you are now a positively googly-eyed, drooling lunatic with dripping saliva or even if you liked it just a bit, then please upvote, comment, rehive, engage me or all of these things.



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52 comments
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So many abandoned things, documents that may have been important at the time and are now worthless. The whole place is an abandoned garbage dump. On the outside it looks like a usable building, but inside it looks like it was vacated in a hurry.

My search continues...

Don't stop trying 😉

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They do like leaving their documents crap behind, I have seen it countless times.

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(Edited)

PIZZA! PIZZA!

PIZZA Holders sent $PIZZA tips in this post's comments:
@etblink(1/5) tipped @slobberchops (x1)
stayoutoftherz tipped slobberchops (x1)

You can now send $PIZZA tips in Discord via tip.cc!

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I do like a slurp of Apple cider vinegar!

In one of the jobs I did, my job was to sir in an air conditioned (code for freezing) room and load a hopper full of disks from colleges so that our 'super' computer could speed read them. Depressingly, it wasn't that long ago!!

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I keep forgetting to slurp ours, we have some of that exact brand. Best taken on an empty stomach before your morning coffee.

In one of the jobs I did, my job was to sir in an air conditioned (code for freezing) room and load a hopper full of disks from colleges so that our 'super' computer could speed read them. Depressingly, it wasn't that long ago!!

Sounds boring as hell, but better than Kwiksave (just).

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Thats exactly when I take it!

It might have been ok except for the fact Ishared the small space with another dude doing the same job. He was a bit of a beast and kepot making gay jokes all the time. Most of them about shagging me. After a while I had to tell him to fucking chuck it or he was getting punched. He was all hurt and offended for weeks!

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(Edited)

Thats exactly when I take it!

I will try and remember from tomorrow. It's in danger of expiring.. much like the bottle in that cinema.

Most of them about shagging me. After a while I had to tell him to fucking chuck it or he was getting punched

..chuckle.., I have known and befriended a few gay dudes in the past, and at the time was unaware of their orientation. They all knew mine and never did bugger all. Some of them must be more pushy, like ones in freezing rooms in Scotland.

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I have to check mine actually. Its ancient. I had no idea it might expire. I bought a big giant vat of the stuff.

Lol, that's the thing. I don't think he was. One of my mates is the campest gay man alive and his banter is a thing to behold. This guy was just relentless and one dimensional. I could say, I am gonna go get a coffee and he would smirk and say, aye you wanting me to shag you for it? - Iwas glad when it ended!

I much prefer to put my jacket on for the warmth :OD

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Perfect place for an unsafe rave!

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It's large enough, that's the only positive thing I can think of.

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What a con job! All that work and no friggen popcorn!

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Not even a single projector or old film memorabilia.

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I have to agree, a big disappointment for all the work you must put into it. Can't wait until you actually find a cinema to share with us. I can see it now in my head.
If that drill press wasn't so heavy it should have been adopted.

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It was in one respect, but there was plenty to see so it kind of made up for it. I do love it when people or businesses just take off and leave all their crap behind. There's always something to look at.

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the building has been a long time, from the 18th century until now how many hundreds of years.Appropriately the room is very messy, I think it's a lot of mice in it. have a nice day. Thank you for sharing a very interesting post.

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don't be upset, not many people have done a plumbers merchants 😂

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I thought I had made it, all those miserable Cinema fails and then this. Burnley Odeon is on my doorstep but you need to be an expert climber to get in there. It's full of history too.. Harry Houdini etc...

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hmm! I saw a b post for the ABC doncaster this last week, too far for me, have you tried? it looked untouched in side

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wow your photos are amazing, I really like your post, it's a great job, congratulations!

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Cinemas seem to be having a revival now, but so many closed down. I remember when there were 3 in Bedford. They have all gone, but now there are two multiplexes. Seems this one found another use. Some of the old ones were really grand, but this looks a bit low rent. Ah well, the search goes on. Are you having to travel further on your quests?

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It's slim pickings around here now. @anidiotexplores is looking for some as I need to get out a bit. He's a resourceful chap. I do the driving and he finds most of the places, it works out well.

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Would probably have to travel further here with the lack of big towns nearby. The Idiot should really do his own posts :) Yeah, I know...

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The Idiot should really do his own posts :) Yeah, I know...

He's a Facebook image and video poster. Not everyone can do this writing stuff we do.

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I get it. Not everyone wants to read long posts either. This is why there may be a need for simplified front ends even if some people don't like that.

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Those are some interesting photos and a fun little journey you took us on. And for that you deserve some more !PIZZA

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(Edited)

I love stuff like this and would love to do it myself but the main buildings I want to get into are frequently visited by vandals and are watched often. One such place even had a dog inside...
Not sure if it's still there.

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Have you ever had close calls with stuff falling or floors you are walking on giving way when exploring?

These photos are really interesting to get a glimpse into the past. Do you think those floppy disks still work or would they be too damaged or old by now?

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The disks looked in good shape, but who uses them now? I threw out my 3.5' FDD long ago. I have not had any close calls yet but am very careful in these places. I know of others who have been injured or have been left hanging on the edge.

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Agreed, no one uses them now. I'd have a curiousity to see what data if any remained on them.

Good to hear you haven't had close calls! Can imagine things going wrong if someone was incautious or unlucky

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There you go again @slobberchops down the amazingly trashy gooey dark old buildings' rabbit hole world that was once a well run cinema business where people sat, ate popcorn and watched movies. So thank you for the treat of seeing inside, I will never wonder anymore about what an old closed up cinema looks like inside.

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It was not what I was expecting, but little is when it comes to this. Expected the unexpected I say!

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(Edited)

A plumbing business? How odd is that to take up residence in an old cinema! I was truly disappointed to see all those glorious red velvet seats pulled from their stations. I didn't even see a projectionist box.

It redeemed itself with the business and left all those records behind. Nice chaps. :) They just don't know who will come behind them and take a peek. Has any business ever seen your posts on FB or here? What a shock that would be, to see their own mess they left behind? Although, I am sure it was the homeless wandering in that left it that way.

It is quite the thing to renovate the old cinemas, especially in the older towns that never went to the cineplex and stayed with the older ones. There is something quite upper-class about them. I hope you find one that is a real show-off!

Happy New Year! Health, Happiness and Prosperity... and maybe a few good urbex shows to go to!

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(Edited)

HIVE is so insular so I doubt anyone has seen these, though I post all these on Facebook deliberately around 4 months later. As uncaring about FB as I am, I appear to be gaining ground there and have around 600 followers now.., not that I give a shit!

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The only reason I cross-post on there is to draw attention to HIVE, not for all those 'valuable' likes which are worth a big nothing.

Happy New Year to you!

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That is awesome. :) I haven't been on FB in years, well, that is a lie. I posted a Christmas greeting two years ago, because all my friends' IRL are there. Seriously. They don't need the money, so they won't come someplace they have to work. LOL Hurt me.

You will never get anything as good as a FB like. 😂

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The place seems to be suitable for a new project.

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My guess is that place might be structurally sound... I'll be surprised if nobody buys it once this Covid mess is over.

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Epic explore, that 2013 invoice is being factored. Never a good sign for a business when they have to resort to that...

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This is an incredible place. There is something frightening in your photographs. I would love to visit this cinema. I love places like this. If you come to my country in Slovakia, then I will arrange for you an excursion to an abandoned psychiatric hospital. Some people claim there are ghosts.

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Floppy disks like flairs are making a comeback. 🤣

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