Palace Cinema

In Brecon, Powys, sources differ as to whether the Palace Cinema opened in 1912 or 1913. It was not listed in the 1915 or 1923 Kinematograph Year Books, although early cinemas in small towns (especially) often went unreported.

It was, however, listed in the 1926 edition (I only have access to these early editions). At that time, it was operated by Brecon Entertainments Company Ltd. (managing director M. Ewart Wise) and there were two shows nightly, with two changes of programme each week. By the 1928 edition there was just one show nightly. (There was no circle; it was stalls seating only.)

The Palace Cinema then disappeared from the Kinematograph Year Books until the 1946 edition, when it re-appeared with just the operating company’s name and a note that there were 450 seats. (All this time, Brecon Entertainments Company also operated the other cinema in the town, the Coliseum Cinema: see separate Cinema Treasures entry.)

From the 1947 edition additional information was provided, including that an RCA sound system had been installed and that shows were continuous from 4.30pm.

The 1956 edition contained even more information: CinemaScope had been installed, with a 25ft wide screen set into the 29ft wide proscenium. As a consequence, the seating capacity reduced to 380.

Sadly, this did not save the Palace Cinema, and it closed in 1959, going out in epic style with “The Ten Commandments”, starring Charlton Heston and Yul Brynner.

The building was modernised by the addition of a new, streamlined frontage, and it went into other uses, including a Massey Ferguson tractor showroom and a warehouse for Perry Bros Removals.

Brecon Motors Ltd. occupied the building next door. At some time, that was demolished and replaced by a road - Rich Way - which went through to housing and commercial premises, including a new home for Brecon Motors.

In 2004 permission was sought, and subsequently granted, to demolish the Palace Cinema building. The site is now home to what appears to be a modest (two-storey) office block, which has a storage area for supermarket trolleys beneath it. Beyond this is the supermarket’s car park, then, further back, is the Aldi supermarket itself.

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