Extension: Picturedrome Theatre Market Street, Heywood

The Picturedrome (later the new Picturedrome,  then the Roxy) was built in around 1912 on the site of the stables & cab rooms of the Heywood Carriage Company. It seated 800 people and was managed by Mr Lord. The building may have been re modelled as by 1917-1918 it was known as the New Picturedrome and was owned by Messrs Little and Evanson. By 1920 it was owned by Mr C. Little. As the capacity had been reduced to 700 it is probable that benches at the front had been removed. In 1928 furthe alterations were ubdertaken under the direction of H A Yearsley, including a new balcony. A Western Electric sound system was also fitted around this time, for the "Talkies."  In 1945, it was still known as the Picturedrome, but in 1956 or 1957  it was purchased  by the Savoy (Romiley) Ltd. Co., whose Directors, G. S. Smith and F. S. Eaton owned a number of other cinemas. They upgraded the cinema and re named it the Roxy. Like many other cinemas of its era it closed in the 1960,s and was eventually demolished.