PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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The St James's Hall in Union Street, Plymouth, was built by Mr Henry Reed, musical directoir at the Theatre Royal, and Mr John Snawdon and was opened on Monday November 12th 1866. It could seat some 2,500 people and at first was home to a continental circus. At that time the general maganing director was M(onsiuer) De Leon Kinnear. Among the artists who appeared here was General Tom Thumb (otherwise Mr Charles Stratton) and his wife, in February 1872. In 1893 it was advertised as the "Palace Theatre of Varieties" and was being leased by the Livermore Brothers, Horace and Lechmere. Their acting manager, Mr Tristram Shandy, who was later replaced by Mr E J Dexter. It was to the Palace of Varieties that Mr Robert Paul brought his Theatrograph while on a tour of the provinces. The date was Monday November 9th 1896. Read more ..... When the Lechmere Brothers became involved in a project to erect a new theatre in Union Street they decided to close the Hall in order to cut out some of the likely competition. The last show took place on Saturday November 6th 1897 and the company moved to temporary premises off Union Street. The new theatre was to be called the New Palace Theatre of Varieties. Although the Hall had closed down for theatrical purposes it was still in existence and was converted into a more modest public hall. Its new manager, Mr J W P Mundell, was not to be outdone by the New Palace Theatre, however, and on Monday November 18th 1901 the large audience welcomed an almost entirely new programme of entertainment. Read more ..... During the week of March 15th 1909 Mr Mundell shew the film of the famous Burns versus Johnson boxing match. Read more ..... In July 1910 Mr Henry N Phillips, proprietor of the Aberdeen Picturedrome in Scotland, acquired the lease and after extensive alterations and redecoration it reopened on Tuesday August 2nd 1910, the day after the Andrews' Picture Palace. In October 1910, some two months after its opening, the plans were approved for a 'cinematograph enclosure' on the roof over the waiting-hall and it was not until March 1911 that approval was given for Mr A N Coles, the builder, to implement his amended plan for the reconstruction of the Hall as an electric theatre. By 1913 it was quoted as being owned by the Electric Theatre Company. Read more ..... Still known as the St James's Hall, it closed on October 30th 1920 in order for important structural alterations to be made. The work took some nine months and cost about £60,000 but on Monday August 1st 1921 it reopened as the Savoy Picture House.
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