As the Talisman restaurant it was used as an overflow lunch venue for dayboys from the Kings School. The original full height ceiling and balcony is now revealed again.
Proprietors included Mrs Russ until October, 1954, Herbert Kean from 2nd August, 1959, who re-seated, redecorated with a new sales kiosk and lowered foyer ceiling and new lighting. Panton Film Distributors bought the cinema in 1972 and re-carpeted foyer and stalls.
The architect was FW Pamplin of Abbey Wood. John Watsham who took over in 1946 discovered the cinema was used as a morgue in the war. This was to dampen down patronage so he tried to dispose of it!
Owned and built by local businessman James Harding. The name changed in the late 1920s to Picturedrome. Takings were hit by the newer super cinemas and survival depended on the children’s matinee. Samuel Krop obtained sound apparatus in 1930 on Hp, but takings failed to rise enough and Mr Krops faced bankruptcy in February 1931 The cinema closed and became derelict.
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Cinemaon
Jan 12, 2014 at 12:51 pm
The Cinema opened on 23rd January 1930 seating 270 on one floor. C Cripps and W Fletcher were local builders based in Albany Road. Talkies began on Monday 7th July, 1930. The cinema was managed by Roy Cripps, son of C Cripps. Closed on 3rd December, 1960.
The Empire was owned by Randolf Meech, but manager Bob Coleman took over in 1942. An unexploded bomb landed in the car park closing the cinema for a week from Whit Monday 25th May, 1942
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Cinemaon
Jan 6, 2014 at 12:40 pm
The Bute Hall was licenced on Nov 23rd 1910. Also showing films a wooden building built by the United Presbyterians in 1864 who used it until 1877, but was a paint store in 1975.
In 1945 the lessees of the Town Hall Picture House were the LCV Circuit of Glasgow.
The Palace closed as a cinema on 2nd Feb 1964, becoming a bingo hall 4 days later. However due to increasing overheads, films returned part week on Tuesdays, Thursday and Fridays from 28th Nov 1972 until the Regal resumed the following Easter. The strip lights for bingo
players were abruptly switched off on film nights!
The cinema closed in 1981 according to Histoire des cinemas Bruxellois
As the Talisman restaurant it was used as an overflow lunch venue for dayboys from the Kings School. The original full height ceiling and balcony is now revealed again.
Proprietors included Mrs Russ until October, 1954, Herbert Kean from 2nd August, 1959, who re-seated, redecorated with a new sales kiosk and lowered foyer ceiling and new lighting. Panton Film Distributors bought the cinema in 1972 and re-carpeted foyer and stalls.
Drawing taken from an old Witney guidebook
Interiors courtesy John D Sharp
The Bingo interior taken in July, 1987
The original architect was FTW Goldsmith. I have a laminated ticket giving a discount in the nearby McDonalds
I understand the cinema closed in October 1914 and became part of the New Era laundry.
The architect was FW Pamplin of Abbey Wood. John Watsham who took over in 1946 discovered the cinema was used as a morgue in the war. This was to dampen down patronage so he tried to dispose of it!
The architects were Bowden and Brock. Demolished in August, 1934.
Owned and built by local businessman James Harding. The name changed in the late 1920s to Picturedrome. Takings were hit by the newer super cinemas and survival depended on the children’s matinee. Samuel Krop obtained sound apparatus in 1930 on Hp, but takings failed to rise enough and Mr Krops faced bankruptcy in February 1931 The cinema closed and became derelict.
The Cinema opened on 23rd January 1930 seating 270 on one floor. C Cripps and W Fletcher were local builders based in Albany Road. Talkies began on Monday 7th July, 1930. The cinema was managed by Roy Cripps, son of C Cripps. Closed on 3rd December, 1960.
The Empire was owned by Randolf Meech, but manager Bob Coleman took over in 1942. An unexploded bomb landed in the car park closing the cinema for a week from Whit Monday 25th May, 1942
Exterior Coloured Photo taken 31st August, 1975
Coloured exterior taken 31st August, 1975
The Bute Hall was licenced on Nov 23rd 1910. Also showing films a wooden building built by the United Presbyterians in 1864 who used it until 1877, but was a paint store in 1975. In 1945 the lessees of the Town Hall Picture House were the LCV Circuit of Glasgow.
The Regal closed during the winter of 1972-73 when the Palace added 3 nights of films (qv) This did not happen again, as CAC confined patrons to the balcony of the Regal. A playgroup used the first floor café in later cinema days, and two integral shops were last to leave,.
The Palace closed as a cinema on 2nd Feb 1964, becoming a bingo hall 4 days later. However due to increasing overheads, films returned part week on Tuesdays, Thursday and Fridays from 28th Nov 1972 until the Regal resumed the following Easter. The strip lights for bingo players were abruptly switched off on film nights!
Both colour photos take in 1987, the interior shortly before its last Christmas
Partly on site of Co=op supermarket car park. Never turned to bingo.
Now a Baptist church but no original features remain
Now demolished and replaced by flats and a ground floor charity shop (2013)