From the day of its grand opening in April, 1940, the gorgeous art-deco Plaza cinema on Talbot Road in Port Talbot town centre was the place to watch a film. Hundreds would flock through the grand entranceway and queue at the ticket booth before taking their seat in the plush, red velvet cinema chairs - excited to feast their eyes on the big screen.
A trip to the Plaza was a popular evening out for people from across Port Talbot for years - frequented by couples on dates and also much loved by families and groups of friends too. For more stories about Port Talbot, go here.
But despite its popularity, the Plaza was shut down in 1999. And it wasn't long before the once-beautiful structure fell into a state of disrepair. And without much-needed refurbishment and investment, the Plaza continued to deteriorate - prompting a campaign to save it and turn it into a space for the local community.
