Plymouth, Theatres | New Palace Theatre of Varieties

PLYMOUTH
DATA

The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History

A SECOND LIFE, 1962 to 1965

Plymouth's New Palace Theatre of Varieties had closed suddenly on Saturday February 7th 1959 during the pantomime "Little Miss Muffet".

In 1961 a new management, Messrs Palace Theatre (Bingo) Ltd, took over and the Circle lounge bar became a club

The Circle lounge area of the New Palace Theatre of Varieties in the 1960s

The new theatre manager was Mr Geoffrey Wren but a Mr Reg Sully became the resident manager and moved in to the Hoyle's old flat at the top of the Theatre, which, it is said, was 73 steps from the ground floor entrance in Phoenix Street. The directors were Mr George Roseman (managing director), Mr Ken Powell, Mr Stafford Williams and Mr Jack Lang.

It was during this period that the Palace Theatre developed a reputation for being haunted. Lights were switched on and off and chained doors were found to be unlocked.

In 1962 the theatre reopened with the Edward Hick's panto "Sinbad the Sailor" using seats from the old Theatre Royal at Exeter. In November 1963 the local group, the Carmenians, presented "Oklahoma" followed the following year by "Kiss Me Kate".

Then in March 1965 Mr Arthur Fox, a Manchester businessman and club-owner, paid £50,000 for the Theatre in order to present Star Bingo, wrestling and strip-tease. The Carmenians cancelled "Showboat" that year and moved to the ABC Plymouth Cinema.

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