PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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PALLADIUM and PICTUREDROME, DEVONPORT The Metropole Theatre at Numbers 12 and 13 Tavistock Street in Devonport was opened in 1894 as the Empire Theatre. On January 9th 1899 both the Theatre and the adjacent shops were purchased by Mr Arthur Roscoe Carlton, who had previously leased the premises. He appears to have been inspired to turn it over to cinema films and on June 20th 1912 his manager, Mr King, was granted a cinema licnece 'subject completed works'. When the Thetare re-opened on August 5th 1912 it was as the Palladium. This unfortunate choice of name has for decades caused confusion over the opening of the Palladium Cinema at Ford. Its misfortunes evidently continued for by December 29th 1913 it was advertising itself as "The Picturedrome, formerly known as the Theatre Metropole" although it appears that a stage play, "White Slave Trade" was being performed at the time. This did not last, however, because just a month later, on February 16th 1914, it was being advertised as "Theatre Metropole (Picturedrome)". The licencee later that year was a Mr Gwyther Eastlake Prance, 'the actual and responsible manager of the Metropole and the Hippodrome'. A Mr P Pearce submitted plans to alter the theatre to enable its use as a cinema on December 17th 1917. Although the plans were approved by the Watch Committee, a sub-committee visited the premises and on January 23rd 1918 disapproved the plans. They were resubmitted under the names of Mr Pearce and a Mr R Bromhead and were approved on June 19th that year. On September 27th 1923 the Theatre was auctioned at the Royal Hotel, Plymouth, by Messrs Woolland, Son & Manico. However, as no bids were received it was withdrawn from the sale. Messrs Bond, Pearce, Thomson & Pearce were the solicitors for the sale. The Metropole Theatre, despite its identity problems, was destined to live again but under the name of the New Alhambra Theatre.
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