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Uploaded on: August 30, 2026

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The Liberty Theatre, later to become The Savoy.

Posted by Wendy on August 5, 2011 - Designed by the architect, Alfred Luttrell, the theatre opened its doors on September 8th, 1917. The advent of the moving pictures business meant that the theatres could be big, such as the Liberty which could seat 1,400 theatre patrons. On a Saturday night, this theatre would be filled to capacity.

The new movie theatres brought about a new trend in ‘courting’ by providing a place where couples could go out together in an acceptable, public area while being able to sit together in the dark and in privacy. Suddenly an opportunity opened up for the younger generation to have the freedom for unsupervised romancing.

Being asked out to go to the movies by a man was the ‘new’ way to date. Being able to sit together, hold hands, put your arms around each others shoulders and enjoy coveted kisses in the dark, was now a norm in the ritual of dating.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -