Old Aberdare 1
Last updated: 20 July 2007
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Grand Theatre in Aberaman being demolished
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"A boxing club used to be held at this theatre."
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your comments
Bernard Bowen, Penywaun
I totally agree with your comments. Although from Penywaun, I spent sometime in Aberaman, as my mother's family was from Aberaman. I very often went to the Grand to see a film with my mother, after visiting relatives.
Derek Kedward from Neath
I was born and brought up in Aberaman. The Grand Theatre was home to thousands of local children for the matinees that took place every Saturday morning. The place was always packed out and the noise was intense. The usherettes would try to quieten the audience by opening the window shutters thus leaving in the light and spoiling our view of the weekly thriller serial. At the end of the show we emerged in our thousands and galloped down the steep stairs. This was before the current health and safety laws. Miraculously I can never recall anyone being injured. Adjoining the Grand was the miners' institute which was an entertainment centre in its own right. It contained a first-class library which almost all locals used. It had one of the best snooker halls in the whole of the valley, a first class reading room which contained all the daily newspapers and other magazines. I used to regularly read Hansard which was always on display. Downstairs we used to play chess, draughts and dominoes. All provided free of charge. The fire which destroyed the building deprived the locality of a wonderful resource and I am amazed that the locals allowed demolition without a major public outcry.
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