Regal Cinema

In Penzance, Cornwall, the Central Hall was a conversion of a former Baptist chapel that had been built in 1836.

On 5th December 1910 the Hall was converted into the Picturedrome by Robert Thomas' Penzance Cinemas Ltd.

The cinema was accessed down a long narrow vestibule from Market Place, which lies at a right angle to the much narrower New Street.

Plans approved in July 1914 suggest a reconstruction of the hall with a new façade on Market Place. A new auditorium was created, with fine decorative plasterwork and a curving balcony front, with boxes at the corners.

British Talking Pictures(BTP) sound was installed in the early-1930’s.

In January 1936 the Picturedrome was renamed the Regal Cinema. By this time there was seating for 500.

The Regal Cinema was acquired by Sound & Movement Cinemas Ltd. by 1942 then, by 1945, by Cornwall Circuit Ltd. By 1955 the seating capacity had been reduced to 408.

The Regal Cinema closed on 8th February 1958. The blame was laid squarely on Entertainments Tax; indeed, a mock tombstone was placed outside the cinema, at closure, bearing the inscription “Here lies the Regal Cinema, killed by tax.” (Ironically, this tax, on cinema tickets, which had been introduced in 1916, was abolished just two years later, in 1960.)

It is assumed the Hall has since been lost during the various redevelopment projects in this tightly-developed area.

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