Victory Palace Cinema

In the Grimesthorpe district of Sheffield, on Upwell Street, between Wincobank Lane and Birdwell Road (and almost opposite the Picturedrome/Regent: see separate Cinema Treasures entry) construction was halted on this cinema in May 1920 as a result of a council embargo on the post-war building of new cinemas, given the shortages in both labour and materials.

Revised plans were eventually approved which made a greater use of concrete, which resulted in an undistinguished façade with a plain, cement-like finish. A canopy with a plate glass cover provided sheltered waiting accommodation, and “Victory” could be seen in red coloured glass, illuminated at night. Seating was provided for 900, with 530-seats in the stalls and 370-seats in the circle. There was also a lounge and a billiard hall with five tables.

The Victory Palace Cinema eventually opened on Thursday 27th October 1921, following an unusual amount of newspaper advertising: “A West End Theatre at East End Prices”. For the first three days admission was free, though this might have been because one of the promised opening features “The River’s End” failed to turn up!

Thereafter, shows were twice nightly, at 6.40pm and 8.40pm, from Monday to Saturday, with matinees on Monday and Thursday at 2.30pm. The first manager was J. B. Brown, and it was equipped with a ‘grand organ’ upon which organist J. Percy Hall gave recitals in addition to accompanying the films. From time to time there were special nights with a vocalist as an added attraction: one such was Iris Roberts, a soprano who sang to her own accompaniment on the piano.

The construction delays led to the cinema making losses in its first few years and, in October 1924, the controlling company, Victory Palaces (Sheffield) Ltd. was subject to a winding up order in the High Court.

In January 1925 the Victory Palace was acquired by a syndicate of Leeds exhibitors. Mr Brown was retained as manager, but replaced in August 1927 by James Stamps. Later managers included Barney Goldstone and Harry Lee.

Western Electric(WE) sound was installed by April 1930 (although silent films continued to be shown at children’s shows for some years afterwards). Projection was via two Kalee Indomitable projectors and the stage was altered to provide space for speakers behind the screen.

Sunday opening had been agreed by the Sheffield Watch Committee on 21st February 1946.

The Victory Palace Cinema’s final Sunday show, on 2nd June 1957, was “The Devil Bat”, starring Bela Lugosi, and Harold Warrender in “The Six Men” (a particularly poor double, even by Sunday-for-one-day-only standards).

The Victory Palace Cinema closed on Saturday 6th July 1957. During the final week, Laurel & Hardy’s “Saps at Sea” played on Monday and Tuesday, “Desert Legion”, starring Alan Ladd and Richard Conte, was screened on Wednesday, while Tony Curtis in “The Square Jungle” was the final attraction, from Thursday to Saturday.

The building was demolished and the site became a petrol filling station. In the mid-1990’s a used car dealer occupied the site.

(Principal research by the late Clifford H. Shaw.)

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