Built in an Italianate style, the Theatre Royal was opened on 12th March 1877 at a cost of £10,000. The architect was Edward Potts. Initially there were also four shops within the property, but these were all later taken over and became a Post Office from 1890.
Sadly, the fire was such that the building was fully demolished shortly afterwards. As of 2022, there is a vacant plot of land where the cinema once stood.
Hi jonboywalton,
Mr Whale had those projectors, along with others, stored in the Plaza. I have no idea as to what happened to them all when he left the property I’m afraid.
Owners when opened were Rothwell Empire Ltd.(they also operated the Outwood Empire), passing to Rothwell Public Service Ltd. by 1933, the building then turned into the Empire Ballroom by 1935.
Rothwell Urban District Council purchased the Empire Ballroom from Rothwell Public Service Ltd. in 1959, and in just 14 days renovated the run down building with new tables, chairs and strip carpets to then re-open as the Blackburn Hall. It is thought to be named after a forner chairman of the UDC, Arthur Blackburn.
Proprietors in 1937 were Porters (Sandown) Ltd. The sunburst entrance was added to the building after January 1937, as the earlier Oddfellow’s Hall had a glass and wrought iron canopy still showing in a photograph of the building on the cover of a monthly programme booklet issued for that month.
The cinemas was opened on 17th November, 1928 with the silent film Ben Hur, accompanied by the sounds of an orchestra. Seating 448 in the stalls, and 162 in the small balcony, a total of 610 seats. There were no stage facilities, the screen being mounted on the rear auditorium wall, the orchestra seated below, with cloakroom and storage in the ‘wings’ either side of the screen in an angled proscenium opening. Plans for the Palladium are dated 8th May, 1928. Closure came two days short of the Palladium’s thirtieth birthday on 15th November, 1958.
After closure by Star, the auditorium area was flattened and used as a municipal workshop to repair and service the fleet of bin wagons and the like operated by the council.
With the demise of the Woolwich Building Society as a separate financial institution, the branch was closed some time ago now. Currently on the site in 2025 is ‘Palace Amusements’, a slot machine emporium.
The building continues in use serving the local area and is now known as the Denholme Community Centre.
The 1944 KYB has the owners as Cornwall Cinemas (Newquay) Ltd., with seating for 250.
Middle section with the white canopy edge was the entrance to the cinema, later a bingo club. Now unused.
Built in an Italianate style, the Theatre Royal was opened on 12th March 1877 at a cost of £10,000. The architect was Edward Potts. Initially there were also four shops within the property, but these were all later taken over and became a Post Office from 1890.
Sadly, the fire was such that the building was fully demolished shortly afterwards. As of 2022, there is a vacant plot of land where the cinema once stood.
The architects of the Flavel Centre were LSI Architects, it was completed in 2003. The location is also known as The Flavel Arts Centre.
The ceiling was a glass bottomed pond with real fish in, rather than a painting. This area was disused when I worked there.
Hi jonboywalton, Mr Whale had those projectors, along with others, stored in the Plaza. I have no idea as to what happened to them all when he left the property I’m afraid.
Owners when opened were Rothwell Empire Ltd.(they also operated the Outwood Empire), passing to Rothwell Public Service Ltd. by 1933, the building then turned into the Empire Ballroom by 1935.
Rothwell Urban District Council purchased the Empire Ballroom from Rothwell Public Service Ltd. in 1959, and in just 14 days renovated the run down building with new tables, chairs and strip carpets to then re-open as the Blackburn Hall. It is thought to be named after a forner chairman of the UDC, Arthur Blackburn.
Slated to be demolished in 2026 once the lease on the bowling alley below the cinema complex expires.
Proprietors in 1937 were Porters (Sandown) Ltd. The sunburst entrance was added to the building after January 1937, as the earlier Oddfellow’s Hall had a glass and wrought iron canopy still showing in a photograph of the building on the cover of a monthly programme booklet issued for that month.
Granada bingo according to the signage over the doors…
The cinemas was opened on 17th November, 1928 with the silent film Ben Hur, accompanied by the sounds of an orchestra. Seating 448 in the stalls, and 162 in the small balcony, a total of 610 seats. There were no stage facilities, the screen being mounted on the rear auditorium wall, the orchestra seated below, with cloakroom and storage in the ‘wings’ either side of the screen in an angled proscenium opening. Plans for the Palladium are dated 8th May, 1928. Closure came two days short of the Palladium’s thirtieth birthday on 15th November, 1958.
Map location is completely wrong!
The retained facade now has a Co-Operative supermarket behind it. The Tivoli signage has also been retained.
After closure by Star, the auditorium area was flattened and used as a municipal workshop to repair and service the fleet of bin wagons and the like operated by the council.
Architect was Charles Mitchell.
Architect was Martin Pietzsch.
The ghost of the Warner Bros. shield logo can still be seen on the tower. Architect for the new Vue signage was Geddes Architects.
And, in 2025 it is still a vacant plot of land. What a waste of a good little cinema!
Built on the site of the former Green’s Playhouse, later known as the Apollo (which has its own entry here on Cinema Treasures).
Proprietors in the 1944 KYB are given as Thomas and Lewis W. Davies at Glamorgan House, Cymmer.
Photo taken c1984 apparently.
With the demise of the Woolwich Building Society as a separate financial institution, the branch was closed some time ago now. Currently on the site in 2025 is ‘Palace Amusements’, a slot machine emporium.
In 2025 this is a H&M Store.