PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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SOME FILMS SHOWN AT THE SAVOY PICTURE HOUSE The first films shown at the Savoy Picture House, Plymouth, were "The Breed of the Treshams", a British-made 6-reeler with Sir Martin Harvey and Mary Odette, Alice Calhoun in "The Dreamer" and Snooky in "A Tray Full of Trouble". Even then they were still supported by a 'full programme'. The house was apparently packed from the time it opened and 'a queue which extended round Manor-street waited for hours', the press reported the following day. On the following Thursday the programme was changed to the American 5-reel "The Woman Untamed" with Doraldina, Jay Morley and Dark Cloud. I expect the story would seem very tame by modern standards. This was followed by Elsie Ferguson in "His House in Order". Whilst the Belgrave's excursion into talking pictures passed by with no press comment, events down at the Savoy certainly caused a stir. The Warner Brothers' film "The Singing Fool" opened on August 12th 1929. 'See and Hear Al Jolson in "The Singing Fool" -- the talkie masterpiece' the adverts cried and there were four shows a day, at 1.30, 4, 6.20 and 8.50pm. Al Jolson enthralled the audience with the song "Sonny Boy" and the film was well received in Plymouth, so much so that it was retained until Saturday August 24th. It was then followed by "The Doctor's Secret", which was advertised as 'the best talkie yet'.
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