Would you care to solve a Dublin mystery???

[dublin1850]

The cinema was renamed the Ambassador in 1954. It was used as a cinema from about 1897 and Edison's 'New Living Pictures' were shown on special occasions and holidays. It became a full-time cinema (the Rotunda, the 'Roto' or sometimes the Roxy) under the owner that acquired it in 1908. It was a fairly rough and ready place with wooden benches. The owners that took it over in the late 40s renovated it, putting in boxes and a bigger balcony and substantially increasing the numbers it could hold.

It's now a concert venue.

The Gilbert Library has a number of directories covering all years from about 1810 to date. Next time I'm over there I'll have a look for your Lawlor.

[Bridget x]

Dear Dub 1850, Sorry I do not know your name.  That information (re Rotunda) was really intersting, thank you.  Yes, got to agree with you, it really was a rough place!  I seem to recall you did not get an "admission ticket" but a sort of metal disk that clattered down a type of little slide!. When I left Dublin it was still the Rotunda.  Would you know what date Gt. Britain St. became Parnell St?  Thank you for your offer of having a peep for the Lawlors, most kind of you and much appreciated.  I have not heard of this library, where is it and what records does it hold? I love spending hours in these places and Dublin has such a wealth of them.  Bridget x

[dublin1850]

The Gilbert library houses the Dublin archive and has just books on Dublin. It's upstairs in Pearse Street library.

I might get over there tomorrow (not promising anything).

Great Britain Street was renamed Parnell Street on 1st October 1911 following the unveiling of the monument to Parnell.

Trish

[Bridget x]

Thanks Trish,  I just love finding out little snippets of information about Dublin of years ago.  Last year I was reading a book  "Jew's of Ireland from earliest times to 1910" by Lewis Hymn.   I was amazed to find the St where I was born and reared mentioned in it by a different name. Not only that, but the house (numbered) next door to ours was a prayer house for the Jewish traders in the area. Wonder when Colooney St. became Stafford St, then Wolfe Tone St, and yet again Wolfe |Tone Court. I have an idea Stafford St became Wolfe Tone St sometimes in 1942/3 as I was going to school when it changed . I would take a bet not one person living in that St. knew it was once named Colooney St. Not really important, but nice to know when it concerns a place where one once lived!   Bridget x

[dublin1850]

Sorry for the delay.
I looked for W. Lawlor in the directories in the Gilbert today.
No joy I'm afraid - I even looked a couple of years either side of your time frame.

[Cog]

Hi Bridget

just wondering if you have posted this picture on
any other site ?  for some reason that I cant recall
just yet I have seen it somewhere before !  Sorry
to drive you mad with that but I am sure it will come
to me, also did you notice the other face in the picture
the man between the 3 shoes on the same side as
your grandfather - spooky !  I will rampage through
my Dublin stuff and see if I can find out where I have
seen it before .....

Carol

[Bridget x]

Carol, That is amazing!!!  I have looked at that picture for years and never noticed the other face in the window (side nearest my G.Grandfather) until you pointed it out! I had to look very carefully before I found it!  No, cant say I have ever put it on any other board.  How I would love to know where that shop was situated but sadly don't think I am ever going to find out.  Thanks again for pointing out the face in the window.  (Sounds like the title for a movie)      Bridget x

[Taidquest]

hi bridget,I also had noticed the face in the window when
I zoomed in on the photo but I could'nt make my mind up if it was
 a real person or one of those statues that all shoemenders seemed to have in their windows.
its a great photo,one of those ones that you notice something new
 each time you look at it.I hope you find the info' you need.
                                                                              regards,anne

[Bridget x]

Anne, you have my permission to join Carol at the top of the class for observation  LOL! I still can't believe I missed the face in the window after all these years!  The trouble is I am now worried as to what else these tired old eyes may have missed this past few years? Could this be the reason my Lawlor research not only met the proverbial  brick wall but also a tangled mass  of barbed wire ?LOL  The "face" poses another question. The couple in the picture had two children, a daughter Julia, (my Nan) and a son James who also became a shoe/boot maker. I am now wondering could the face belong to their son James possibly in the shop learning the trade from his father? Then again, am I now desperately clutching at straws?   Bridget