"I actually lived in flat No. 2 in the Coliseum between the years 1954 and 1962. My father being the projectionist at that time (Billy Ball).
The flat was spartan to live in. For instance, we had to bring our own coal up in buckets, as it was dumped by the alley adjacent to Lovelocks Cafe as was in those days. My brother and myself experienced what can only be described as supernatural happenings.
In my own case a chair actually moved on its own accross the bedroom floor in the small hours. Other experiences by members of my family included voices and footsteps when there was nobody there. The flat above us was unoccupied at that time, but noises were heard coming from there.
The building was dark and frightening to a young school boy of 9. It was shabby and cold and in desperate need of decoration and repair. One wall poured water every time the weather was wet due to a faulty lead valley. It got so bad that there was fungi growing on the wall.
The kitchen of No. 2 was composed literally of a sink and a heap of coal dumped in the corner. The whole building was musty and dirty. I have a vivid memory of sitting on the windowsill of the living room looking down at Tusons Amusement Hall watching the people."
Article written by Jeff Jones
Read more about the history of the Coliseum A profile of Coliseum pianist Charles Clements
your comments
Dave, ex Aberystwyth
There were certainly lots of spirits in the Coliseum in the 50s. Sometimes so many got in, especially on a Saturday night, the film would burn and there would be a natural break until 'normal service' was resumed.
Sun Aug 16 20:45:10 2009
Gerald Yandell, st neots, ex Aber
Did i, oh yes, I can remember around 15 years ago when my mother got one of the flats at the top, there was one flat each side of the coliseum which had been renovated.
I did not like it from day one, I always felt someone was watching . In the two years I lived there sometimes you can hear voices and it was not just in the day time it was mainly at night when the museum was closed, often I used to get very cold as if someone froze was near you.
Well there was a lot of things going on there I can go on and on, if you live in Aberystwyth go to the old Coliseum, now the Museum and have a look around. Think to yourself what is in there at night when your all alone.
Fri Jan 12 18:03:17 2007
Lance Simcox
My girlfriend and I - the young lady who was then destined to become my first wife - would go to the Coliseum most Saturday nights to watch a film as for some reason, the Coliseum always seemed to show what we deemed to be the best films, except for the very occasional weekend. We would sit (looking down the cinema from the screen end) up in the first balcony as youngsters do, right at the back, on the right of the building, kind of on the corner as the seats curved around. Looking to our left, right at the other end of the balcony, to the left of the screen, there were two double fire escape swing doors with concrete steps leading down to the Bath Street exit, protected at the foot of the stairs by two doors that could only be opened from the inside, to prevent us sneaking in to watch the programme for free (there was a little cafe tucked in the jitty I recall). So, to get to the point of this post, the double doors leading out on to the balcony, would very often slam back open all on their own accord during a film, for no one ever appeared to come through them. The right-hand door making a loud bang as it hit the wall. At the time, we put it down to wind rushing up the stairs, but thinking about that now, how could that have been? The stairway only led to Bath Street, those doors were locked from the inside, so it isn't possible they were opened by a passer by. I just wonder if the spirit the projectionist's son tells us he saw, had anything to do with this phenomenon?
Tue Jan 31 11:40:33 2006
amy from londen
wow dude that is totally weird!!!
Sat Oct 29 16:00:49 2005
Did you ever experience any ghostly goings on at the Coliseum Cinema? Perhaps you have a similar experience to relate? If so why not get in touch and we'll add your comments to the site.
Jeff Jones lived above the Coliseum cinema in the 1950s where his father Billy Ball was the projectionist. He wrote in to tell us about some strange goings on which he describes as 'supernatural happenings'.
