Kenneth Andrews 1926 -
2014
Theatre
executive. Born 10 June 1926. He began his professional career in cinema
management at the Odeon and Gaumont cinemas in Weston-Super-Mare, Cardiff,
Swindon and Bristol. He assisted in the development and operation of first
cinema advance booking exercise in England and reintroduction of live shows
into the Empire Cardiff.
By 1961 he managed the fourth Tenpin Bowling Centre opened in England at
Kingswood, Bristol and subsequently managed the largest Tenpin Bowl in
Europe, the forty-lane Top Rank Bowl in Streatham, London. During his
three-year tour he devised and operated a training school for Bowling Centre
managers.
Kenneth progressed through area management from 1964-1967 as Assistant
Bowling Controller to Circuit Controller of Dancing and Bowling Division of
Top Rank, administratively in charge of twenty-four bowling centres,
twenty-seven ballrooms and two ice rinks.
A change of venue and company
in 1967 took him to the Fortes empire where he became chief executive of
Belle Vue (Manchester) Ltd which comprised a large entertainment complex of
80 acres including zoo, fun fair, eight banqueting suites, ballroom with
5,000 capacity, exhibition hall of 100,000 square feet, speedway/stock car
stadium with a capacity of 20,000 and Kings Hall with a capacity of 5,800
which housed boxing, wrestling, circus and political rallies. Belle Vue had
permanent staff in excess of 300, which rose by part-time employment to
1,200 in the peak season. |
Kenneth was also director on joint operation of Belle Vue/Granada
32-lane Tenpin Bowl adjoining the site. During this period he renovated and
operated New Brighton Pier, Merseyside. He built and operated the 1,250-seat
theatre restaurant 'Golden Garter' in Wythenshawe, which presented top star
billing.
In 1972 he spent two years as project executive at Fortes head office in
Jermyn Street, London and project managed the building of 'Night Out'
theatre restaurant in Birmingham.
Granada Theatres beckoned and in 1974 Kenneth moved across as commercial
manager. The company operated thirty-six bingo clubs, twelve cinemas, two
bowling centres and a night club. He was responsible for all legal licensing
applications and renewals, for maintenance and development work connected
with expansion (during this time fifteen new bingo clubs were opened) and
for all purchasing. He was asked to stay on after official retirement in
1986 and produced a marketing report recommending expansion in tenpin
bowling, which was subsequently accepted by the board.
For two years from 1989 Kenneth operated a leisure consultancy company
giving advice on all aspects of leisure development and operation.
Kenneth Andrews was initiated into Chelsea Lodge on 18 March 1988 and ten
years later became Worshipful Master. He was Chaplain from 2001-2002.
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