Picture Palace Keighley 1911

[interested]

Can anyone help me with the following research.
My Grandfather was a Cinematograph operator at the Picture Palace in Keighley in 1911. His name was Robert Plows.
Is the Picture Palace building still standing.
Who owned the Picture Palace.
What kind of films did they show.
What did it cost to see a film.
I would appreciate any other information about this early cinema that anyone has.
Best Regards.
d-filey

[robin]

I suspect the cinema you refer to was the Russell Street Picture House, a single-deck structure built and run by Leicester-born Walter Pallister. I was the first purpose-built cinema in the town. It opened in 1911 and did well for a time. When the 'Talkies' came, this cinema became unsuitable. It was closed down and became a bedding warehouse.
The town's cinemas read like this:
ABC Ritz, Cavendish Palace, Cosy Corner, Mechanics, Oxford Hall, Picture House, Regent and Russell Street. Of course they were not all on the go at the same time. The Ritz was the latest built in the late 1940s and opened with the film 'Lost Horizon'.

[kellytica]

The Picture Palace in Russell Street opened on 27th December 1909.
The image below contains lots of detail re the original programme.
Monarch Animated Pictures finished a short season at the Municipal Hall on the same day.



Source: Keighley News 25 December 1909.

Walter Pallister was also responsible for he Picture Palace in Cavendish Street opened 10th December 1910. This eventually became known as the Palace & much later the Cavendish Cinema.

The Theatre De Luxe in Market Street was opened by John Watson of Keighley two days before the Cavendish Street enterprise on 8th December 1910. This became the Empire during 1920.

[interested]

Hi Kellytica.
Thank you so much for your reply,I can now had this information about my grandfather to my family tree.
Thank you once again.