PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
|
|
REGENT CINEMA The Regent Cinema in Frankfort Street was opened on Saturday November 21st 1931. The story goes that a year or two earlier Mr G E Prance had been walking to the Western Evening Herald offices to place an advert when he saw a notice to the effect that certain property in the area was for sale. Realising the value of the site concerned, he immediately contacted Mr W Mumford and they were later joined by Mr W Firth and Mr D Bliss, both of London and directors of the Hippodrome at Devonport. Together they formed the Regent Cinema (Plymouth) Ltd with Mr Firth as chairman and Mr Bliss as managing director. In October 1930 they received Council approval of their plan. Before work could start on building the cinema there was a small problem to overcome. Drake's Leat ran across the site. This was soon diverted so that Mexboro & Company, the principal of which was another member of the Mumford family, could commence erecting the 757,478 concrete bricks and 40,427 cubic feet of concrete blocks said to have been provided by Messrs F J Moore of Cattedown. The architects were Messrs Chadwick, Watson & Company of Leeds. The decor was aluminium and ivory. Seating was provided for 3,500 people, of which 1,390 were in the balcony. There was a large waiting area furnished with deep-sprung couches to enable tickets to be sold in advance to 2,000 people who could then be let into the auditorium as quickly as the previous audience was leaving. In front of the curtains were placed three fairy water fountains and a HMV Panatrope system provided the incidental music although there was room for an orchestra. The first manager was Mr E B London. Admission prices were: up to 4pm: 2,500 seats at 7d and 1,000 seats at 1s. After 4pm: front ground floor 7d; back ground floor 1s; front circle 2s; back circle 1s 6d. The opening film was Charlie Chaplin in "City Lights" which most people had not realised was a silent film with only sound effects and music. Attendance was much boosted by the publicity surrounding the visit to Plymouth earlier in the week of its star. Although he did make a brief appearance on the stage at the Palace Theatre he left on the night train for London and thus did not get involved with the opening of the Regent. But there was a predator lurking in Plymouth waiting to pounce on this successful cinema. He was Mr Oscar Deutsch. Read about The Regent Cinema and Mr Oscar Deutsch.....
|
