PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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GRAND THEATRE AND PICTURE PALACE Eventually the Grand Theatre, in Union Street, Stonehouse, found its role in the new scheme of entertainment. On Monday March 1st 1909 it re-opened as the 'Three Towns New House of Pictures and Vaudeville' under the ownership of the United Counties Theatres Ltd. The Resident Manager was Mr Harry Dean. Performances commenced at 8 each evening, with matinees on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and on the first night the Western Daily Mercury newspaper reported that: 'There was a capital attendance in all parts of the house to witness a series of cinematograph pictures descriptive of incidents in various countries. They were both amusing and pathetic and from beginning to end the company were thoroughly interested whilst the hundreds of pounds which have been spent on redecoration of the theatre rendered it a most attractive place of entertainment'. Films shown included the opening of Parliament; the visit of the King and Queen to Berlin and an historical story of the Count of Monte Christo. Variety turns were included in the show to relieve the eyes! The films were supplied by Messrs Enterrpsie Imperial Pictures and the show was based on that at the Alhambra, London. The films were well received by the reviewers, the Western Evening Herald newspaper commenting on Tuesday March 9th 1909 that: 'The pictures were very realistic; some were humorous and others pathetic, all of them interesting. A feature of the programme was a performance by De Vere's life-like Marionettes, which were well manipulated'. A week later, March 16th 1909, the review said that in addition to the marionettes -- 'A charming show of animated pictures, steadily and exceptionally distinct, is presented. The feature is a cinematograph drama "England Invaded". Caught unprepared a group of young Englishmen are overwhelmed by the enemy.' In the second part they defeated the enemy with help from the Territorial Army. This was the first film in which British troops and guns were posed for the camera, with the permission of the War Office.
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