Rialto Cinema

47 Briggate,
Leeds, LS1 6HF

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Provincial Cinematograph Theatres Ltd.

Architects: Reginald Naylor

Firms: Naylor & Sale

Styles: Neo-Classical

Previous Names: Picture House

Nearby Theaters

Rialto Cinema

Located in Leeds city centre. The Picture House was built by the Provincial Cinematograph Theatres Ltd.(PCT) chain and opened on 4th April 1911 with Sir Henry Beerbolm Tree in “Henry VIII”. It was designed by architects Reginald Naylor & Sale of Derby.

Advertised as ‘The most luxurious cinematotgraph theatre in Yorkshire’, there were two tea lounges, one decorated in a Wedgewood style for the use of ladies, the other in a Jacobean style for the use of gentlemen.

It was taken over by an independent operator from 4th February 1927, and re-named Rialto Cinema. The Rialto Cinema was closed on 11th March 1939 with George Raft in “Woman Tamer” and Will Hay in “Oh, Mr. Porter”.

The building was purchased by Marks & Spencer Ltd. and was demolished to build their city centre store on the site. It remains open as a M & S store in 2012.

Contributed by Ken Roe

Recent comments (view all 3 comments)

JohnGn
JohnGn on January 4, 2016 at 8:59 pm

A minor correction – the title of the last film to be shown was “Woman Tamer”, a 1935 film starring George Raft and Joan Bennett, which played in a double-bill with the Will Hay film “Oh Mr. Porter”.

HJHill
HJHill on December 12, 2018 at 10:13 pm

The Yorkshire Evening Post of 28 Dec 1928 reported that Western Electric sound equipment had been installed at the Rialto. It catered for sound-on-disc (Vitaphone) and sound-on-film (Movietone). There were four horn speakers behind the screen covering almost all of the screen. Two were optimised for speech. Valves in the amplifier cost £30 each. The horns and the gramophone parts were manufactured by HMV (The Gramophone Co Ltd of Hayes). The whole installation cost £7,000.

rivest266
rivest266 on October 25, 2021 at 7:12 pm

Grand opening ad posted.

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