The Picture House opened on 8th February 1912. Electricity was generated on the premises by a gas engine driving a dynamo. Like many others, it closed for the summer in July and reopened in August or September. A British Thomson Houston(BTH) sound system was installed in the early-1930’s and the cinema renamed Prince’s Cinema. The proscenium width is given as 38ft. In 1937 the Savoy Cinema was built alongside but the Prince’s Cinema continued. It is not clear when it closed; it is listed in the 1944 Kinematograph Year Book but not 1947.
In 2003 it was a Youth Centre and is still so in 2015.
Do you have any memories of this cinema?
Source: Cinema Treasures
5 Responses
During and after the war there was a brick blast wall in front of the entrance.
Please Do you know how long the wall was, where did it start and finish? Please tell us more.
Regards
Geoff
The towns first cinema opening as the Picture House later was renamed Princess, closed due the opening of the new Savoy next on 2nd June 1937. Both cinema being owned and built be George Aspland-Howden.
Thanks for info Regards Geoff
Thanks Maurice,