PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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SAVOY PICTURE HOUSE
The Saint James's Hall closed on October 20th 1920 in order to be reconstructed. The work took some nine months and cost about £60,000 but on Monday August 1st 1921 it reopened as the Savoy Picture House. It was situated on the north side of Union Street, just a short distance from the Octagon. Owned by the Savoy Picture House (Plymouth) Ltd, of London, 'Plymouth's Super Cinema' not only had a full orchestra but also tempted patrons with its cafe and tea lounge, which could be entered without paying admission to the theatre, and its 1,400 armchairs. The cinema was managed by Mr G Mudge. It was an imposing reinforced concrete building, some 160ft long and 60ft high with an operating room that could be shut off from the rest of the house when necessary. The circle was 60 feet long. The usual claims were made that the screen was visible from every corner of the house. The interior decor was of black, cream and old-gold which the press described as 'aesthetic and restful'. The auditorium was lit by both gas and electric lamps controlled centrally and in addition to a system of fans to keep the air in constant motion, a spray of cold air could be added to keep the atmosphere crisp and refreshing. In winter, hot air could be introduced to aid the radiators. The Savoy had Western Electric projection equipment, which could be leased from as low as £525. Seats in the front circle cost 2s 4d, in the centre circle 1s 6d while the back circle were 1s 3d. The front stalls were 9d, the back ones, 1s 6d. Children were half-price until 4pm. The Savoy's first films 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'. The licence was transferred from Mr H T Underwood to Mr R G Mudge and then in June 1929 to Mr G F Price. When the Warner Brothers' film "The Singing Fool" opened at the Savoy on August 12th 1929 the cinema belonged to the Gaumont-British Film Corporation. The licence then continued to be transferred, from Mr Price to Mr J J Newey, and finally, in June 1933, to Mr E W P Peall of Gaumont-British in London. Mr Reuben Ernest Eady was made manager of both the Savoy and the New Palladium. It is said that he made a point of using his local knowledge to cultivate the goodwill of the patrons. The Savoy Picture House was destroyed in the Second World War. Sources:
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