PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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ANDREWS' PICTURE PALACE Plans for a new Picture Palace in Union street, Plymouth, were approved in May 1910, when the projected cost was given as £15,000. On July 20th 1910 the licence was granted to Mr Arthur Harry Andrews. This 'Magnificent New Picture Palace' run by 'Andrews World Renowned Pictures' opened its doors on Monday August 1st 1910 with prices ranging from 3d in the pit to two shillings in the balcony for '2½ Hours' Continuous and Refined Entertainment'. It had taken only twelve weeks to demolish the old building and erect the new. Read description..... The cinema was one of many owned by Arthur and Horace Andrews, whose company, Andrews Pictures Ltd, traded from Cine House, 49 Greek Street, London. Its general manager was a Mr Charles Gaston while Mr Mont Gilpin was the resident manager. The orchestra was led by Mr Coppyn Baxter and the vocalist was Miss Margaret Payne. Films shown at the opening performance included "Buffalo Hunting in Indo-China", "Tongue of Scandal", "Cow-puncher's Ward", "Fruits of Vengeance" and "Hubby's Triumph". The stories were related by a person termed the 'lecturer', a Mr T Jones. Read more about some of the films shown at the Andrews' Picture palace..... The Andrews brothers were more involved in the industry than merely owning cinemas. On Saturday November 11th 1910 they filmed the laying of the foundation stone of St Martin's Church at Peverell and this was soon advertised as being for hire. By then the brothers were claiming to have 'the Most Magnificent Picture Theatre of the West'. For some reason at the beginning of 1911 the licence passed to Mrs E Linsdell but Plymouth liked to issue its licences to the "actual and responsible managers" so by the end of the year it had been transferred to the manager, Mr Auguste Denton, who held it until 1915 when it passed firstly to a Mr William Gregory and then to Mr Herbert Cecil Fontaine before settling in 1917 back with Mr Horace Edward Andrews. After a couple of minor licensees, it passed in 1922 to Mr Jack Barclay Binmore and in 1925 from him to Mr G Kasoni. At the beginning of March 1929 it was announced by Messrs Provincial Cinematograph Theatres Company that they had definitely decided to build a new 'super kinema' to seat 2,000 people on the site of Andrews' Picture House. At the start of July 1929 the licence was transferred to a Mr J J Deeny. The last advertisement for the Andrews' Picture Palace was published on Thursday October 2nd 1930. The building was replaced by the Gaumont Palace.
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