King's Picture House

Situated in one of Gloucester’s main city centre thoroughfares, this building started life as far back as 1559, as Booth Hall. In 1860 the hall was converted into the Royal Alhambra Music Hall. Later on it became a circus then, in 1884, it was converted into a theatre called the Royal Albert Hall.

In 1893 Arthur C. Rogers was manager on behalf of C. W. Poole, who renamed it the Royal Albert Theatre. In 1907, Mr Poole converted it into the city’s first cinema, the King’s Hall Picture House. A newsreel shown in 1909 featured the visit of King Edward VII to the Royal Show in Gloucester.

The King’s Hall closed in 1914. H. G. Beard took over in 1918 and re-opened it as the King’s Picture House, making some major alterations in 1919.

The King’s Picture House was equipped with an AWH sound system around 1930. It was closed on 12th March 1938 with “The Life of Emile Zola”, starring Paul Muni.

The building was used as an ARP store during the war, then demolished in 1957 for extensions to Gloucestershire County Council offices.

Get Movie Tickets & Showtimes

Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.