Cape Hill Electric Theatre

In Smethwick, West Midlands, the Cape Hill Electric Theatre was opened on Monday 19th June 1911 by the Mayor of Smethwick. A ‘Ladies Tea Room’ adjoined the balcony. The cinema was operated by Irving Bosco, whose activities centred around nearby Dudley. It had 680 seats, shows were initially at 3pm, 7pm and 9pm daily, and the manager was Chas Herrick.

The Cape Hill Electric Theatre was acquired by Mr E.C. Shapeero in 1920 who operated 12 cinemas in the Birmingham, Mansfield & Nottingham areas. It was taken over by Denman Picture Houses Ltd./Gaumont-British-Picture Corp. chain in March 1928

The cinema was equipped with a British Acoustic(BA) sound system. Oddly, but perhaps because this was regarded as a bit of a ‘backwater’ cinema, the by-then distinctly old-fashioned name was never changed.

Then, not too surprisingly, The Rank Organisation closed the Cape Hill Electric Theatre on 29th September 1956, with “Angels One Five”, starring Jack Hawkins.

The building was demolished and replaced by a post office.

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