Picturedrome
Alma Terrace, Taibach,
Port Talbot,
SA13 1TN
Alma Terrace, Taibach,
Port Talbot,
SA13 1TN
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Functions: Daycare Center
Previous Names: Workmen's Hall, Taibach Picture Palace
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A not very attractive building situated off Alma Terrace, Taibach, Port Talbot. The outside of the building had rough cast cement walls that left it looking more like a warehouse than a cinema. The entrance was via an open porch that was closed off with railings when the cinema was shut. Its main outside form of advertising was a triple quad hoarding on the outside wall.
The Workmen’s Hall was opened in October 1872. It was converted into a cinema in 1911, and gained a stage show licence in 1913 when it was re-named Taibach Picture Palace. After the end of World War I in 1918, it was re-named Picturedrome, and had a 30 feet wide proscenium. It was still open in 1966, but soon went over to bingo use, which closed in 1984. After standing derelict for a while, it re-opened as a cinema on 12th December 1986 and closed in June 1988 with Peter Ustinov in “Appointment With Death”. The building was converted into a nursing home.
Contributed by
Editha Pearce, Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
And it re-opened in 1986 due to the successful re-opening of the Plaza in 1985 just down the road which I imagine then became the reason why the Picturedrome eventually closed.
And as the “also known as” it was known locally as “The cach”
There was a big war which erupted between Plaza and Picturedrome in 1987 on who would have the main films for Port Talbot. It made all the front pages and Screen International (the trade press). There were London hearings and appeals, but in the end Plaza won the right to have “first pickings” or all new releases and after Plaza added extra screens in 1988, this finished of Picturedrome.
The difference being that Plaza was run by cinema people, Picturedrome was run by people that wanted to make a fast buck on the back of Plaza’s success. They also ran bingo as well as films, whereas Plaza was solely a film operation at the time.