Spot the Difference

[slotalot]

If like me you subscribe to the Mechanical Memories Magazine you will have seen the photo of The Casino Cafe Brighton on the front cover of the April 2009 issue, I was down in Brighton a few weeks ago and managed to find the location of this once great attraction, if you look closely at the 2009 photo you can see a rust stain running down the wall next to the notice board, this is from one of the screws that once held one of a row of Allwins to the outside wall of the cafe, also the right hand arch is in fact the entrance to a subway the takes you under the main road and up in to the town and at one time must have been lined with vintage machines as part of the arcade, not sure what health & safety would make of that today!
I know which one I like! what about you?

[badpenny]

I'm sure it's only the angle the photos were taken at or a trick of perspective but the in the older photo the building looks much taller and the right hand arch a slightly different shape.

[slotalot]

I'm sure it's only the angle the photos were taken at or a trick of perspective but the in the older photo the building looks much taller and the right hand arch a slightly different shape.

Hi BP , Thanks for your comments, I could not get the perfect shot as a deck chair store now stands on the spot were the older photo was taken from so I had to stand at the side of it, but I am 100% sure that this is the same location, not sure about the date 1959??? anyone know if the date is right??

[slotalot]

PANAMA HOUSE WHITLEY BAY
Panama House was a refreshment pavilion and home of Mr Stephen Fry, who is said to have constructed the building in the 1890s from the decking of a wrecked ship the 'Panama'. Stephen Fry died in 1913 the building was destroyed by fire in the 1940s. Note the row of 12 penny viewers outside the entrance.
Can anyone find/take a photo of what stands here now?

[john t peterson]

I cannot tell you where Mr. Fry located his establishment. I can, however, tell you the source of his hamburgers.

[AnDyC]

...

[bryans fan]

PANAMA HOUSE WHITLEY BAY
Panama House was a refreshment pavilion and home of Mr Stephen Fry, who is said to have constructed the building in the 1890s from the decking of a wrecked ship the 'Panama'. Stephen Fry died in 1913 the building was destroyed by fire in the 1940s. Note the row of 12 penny viewers outside the entrance.
Can anyone find/take a photo of what stands here now?

I haven`t got a recent picture but I have got a postcard of a different view.

[slotalot]

they are definitely two different places - if you zoom in and count the bricks from the top of the arches to the walkway above, the original pic has more, but I'm sure if you went further along you would match it up. I'll take a look next time I'm in town.

Hi AnDyC , welcome to the forum. I think you will find that it is the same location; an extra gutter has been added above the archway. This makes it look as if there are less rows of bricks. Also if you check out the detail on the two close-up photos, you will see a notch in the brickwork and the metal disc that once held the sign; also the spacing of the arches is quite unique and I could not find anything like it anywhere along the front,

[AnDyC]

Well slap me silly, you are right! Apologies.

[slotalot]

Hi AnDyC ,
I wish you wouldn’t make brash statements like "you are right", Having been married to the same woman :adore: for just over 30 years I am not used to it. LOL....

If you are from this area maybe you could find out the dates that it operated from/too? or who owned and ran it, it would be nice to put some names and dates to the photo

[slotalot]

PANAMA HOUSE WHITLEY BAY
I haven`t got a recent picture but I have got a postcard of a different view.

Nice one Bryans fan , This looks like an earlier photo as there are less machines outside, it is a better photo than the one I posted as you can see more detail, it looks from this angle a little like a Mississippi river boat with the wheel house on top

[slotalot]

Well I have just been told by a friend that a skateboard park now stands on the site of the old Panama House Refreshment Rooms and not a machine in sight!

[badpenny]

.................. hooray for progress!

[john t peterson]

Oh - Oh! There is a certain Aussie collector and Pennymachines member who is a skateboarding fanatic. That photo is sure to set him off!!
Take a deep breath and step away from the computer, son.

John Peterson
Your American Psychiatrist