Hippodrome Cinema

In Leyland, to the south of Preston, Lancashire, the Hippodrome Cinema is thought to have opened just prior to Christmas 1911. Back in January 1911 John Green had applied for a Cinematograph Licence for the premises he had built, out of corrugated iron sheets, at a cost of £500. The licence also allowed for variety performances.

This was a substantial building, but there does not appear to have been a balcony. Instead, the most expensive seats were on a raised platform at the back of the auditorium. Those were covered in chintz; as the seating went forward it became less comfortable, culminating in wooden forms at the front.

Supporting an early opening date, Bioscope magazine reported on 14th January 1915 that “the Hippodrome might not be the finest, but it is a good building, well suited for its purpose.” At that time, the main feature film was “Joseph in the Land of Egypt”, with variety acts and short films making up the two hour programme.

By the early-1920’s the Hippodrome Cinema had been acquired by James H. Thwaites. There was, by then, one show nightly, with two on Saturday, and three changes of programme each week. This suggests the variety element had ceased.

In the late-1920’s A. Smethurst took over as lessee and manager, but the Hippodrome Cinema was never wired for sound, and it closed in the very early-1930s. (It’s final appearance in the Kinematograph Year Books was in 1931.)

It is not known what happened to the building in the immediate aftermath of its closure as a cinema, though it is highly likely that this very basic structure did not last much longer.

It was certainly demolished at some time, and the site, at the junction of Derby Road and the main Preston Road, is now the car park of the Leyland & Farington Club.

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