Picture House

In Chipping Sodbury, south Gloucestershire, the town’s first cinema, the Picture House, was built after World War I at the rear of 58 Broad Street.

It was operated by John Penglaze. He doubled as the manager, and this was known informally as Penglaze’s Cinema. By the early-1920’s there was one show nightly, with two changes of programme each week.

Although listed in the 1934 Kinematograph Year Book, no sound system is shown, and the Picture House is not listed in the 1935 edition. By that time, the Picturedrome had opened (see separate Cinema Treasures entry) and it is assumed the Picture House had closed down.

It is not known what happened to the building. If it is still standing, presumably it has long been incorporated into the main building fronting onto Broad Street, which is home to Poppy’s Café.

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