Gerald Parkes

He joined the cinema industry in October 1960 as a “rewind boy” at the ABC Regal, Wakefield.

From there he worked his way up to projectionist and worked for a time at the Ritz in Barnsley. He progressed into management, becoming assistant manager at Dewsbury in 1964 and the youngest manager in the ABC Cinemas company at the Ritz, Keighley, in 1969.

By 1971 he had become manager of the ABC Harrogate and then in 1980 the ABC Doncaster.

At that point,Mr Parkes decided that he wanted to run his own cinema company – Parkway Entertainment Limited being established in 1983 – and bought the Regal, Worksop in 1985.

In 1987, his firm acquired the Majestic, Scunthorpe, and after adding further screens, this was a very successful cinema until
UCI opened a multiplex in the town.

All of this was at a time when cinema-going in the UK was at what still remains an historic low, and represented a significant financial risk for Mr Parkes and his family.

After opening the Playhouse in Louth in 1996, he embarked on ambitious plans to build a new multiplex cinema in Cleethorpes.

Competing against rival bids from the major circuits, his vision for not just a cinema but a focal point for the local community won out.

After a great deal of effort and following significant investment at huge financial risk, the new site opened in 2004.

Such was its success that in 2011 it won an industry award for best UK independent cinema site. 

In 2007, Mr Parkes was approached by cinema engineer Rob Younger, from Barnsley,
who was upset to see the town’s only surviving cinema, the Odeon, closed and boarded up.

They spoke to the landlord and came up with a deal to re-open the cinema as another Parkway, as a joint venture between
their two companies.

A relatively short lease was agreed as the town centre redevelopment including a multi-screen cinema was said to be imminent.

The cinema continues to trade almost six years after re-opening, with still no sign of the new cinema.

Mr Parkes was presented with an MBE in the hospice at Grimsby shortly before his death, having been recognised for his service to the cinema industry.

Throughout his life, he had been a showman and a huge advocate for what he calls “the theatrical experience”, believing that all customers should expect – and deserve – “a show”. 

In 2011, he won a RAAM industry award for his (then) 50 years contribution to cinema. He involved all his family – his wife Denise and his two sons Richard and Gerrard – in the business. 

Although Mr Parkes will be sadly missed by all who knew
and worked with him, the business will carry on as usual.

All three cinemas (Barnsley, Cleethorpes and Louth) will be unaffected.