Palace Cinema

DavidSimpson on September 16, 2018 at 2:31 am

According to the book ‘The Cinemas of West Wales’, written by Alan Phillips and published in 2017, the Palace was first equipped with a hand-cranked Kalee projector, later replaced by a motorised version. The seats were basic wooden benches. Films were shown nightly from Monday to Friday, with two changes of programme each week. He says the Palace closed in 1928/29 – as Editha suggests, most likely when faced with the coming of sound.

Alan says the building is in retail use, and the cinema frontage remains. However, on a visit to Aberaeron in June 2018 I was unable to locate the building. I subsequently e-mailed Alan courtesy of his publishers, but received no reply.

I then contacted Frances Owen, of the local history society. She canvassed her members and, although no one could recall this cinema as such, one member did find a reference in a brief report in the Welsh Gazette of 2nd March 1916, which said that entertainment needs in the town are now being met by “Mr Cheetham’s Cosy Cinema in Market Street, where bright and entertaining programmes help to counteract the gloom occasioned by War and Worry”. No further address details were provided, but this must surely be the same building. Although the licence was issued to “The Cinema”, this indicates it opened as the Cosy. Assuming it adopted the name Palace later on, this could have been following a refurbishment or, possibly, a change of ownership.

I will report further as and when more information comes to light!