The Commadore Picture House, Stanley Road, Bankhall, Liverpool

Many new picture theatres have made provision for the installation at some future time of the wide screen, which a large number of exhibitors think is bound to happen. That being the case, it is not a matter of surprise that the proprietors of the Commodore Theatre, Liverpool, have taken time by the forelock and put in a wide screen at the outset

Situated in Stanley Road Liverpool, this handsome theatre, which opened to the public on December 22nd, has a proscenium opening 54 feet wide. The projected picture is, I believe, the largest in any Lancashire picture house, the size being 34 feet wide by 22 feet deep. when the disc system of sound reproduction is employed. Designed by Gray and Evans of 51, North John Street, Liverpool, the Commodore has been built at a cost of £50,000 on a commanding site near Bankhall Street

The main frontage to Stanley Road is modern in character and detail being built of red brick and white glazed faience, the latter being also used in the entrance hall. Ample waiting room accommodation is immediately available. The waiting room has textured walls treated to resemble draperies in a colour scheme of peach and green. The balcony lounge is in pale green. From the entrance hall a fine staircase leads to the well-proportioned foyer which gives direct access to the circle. Two more staircases lead to the back of the circle, arid here one can appreciate the magnificent sweep of the circle, and the well-proportioned auditorium which is about 90 feet wide. The main entrance hall floor is covered with marble terrazzo, while Hoptonwood (stone) is used in the waiting rooms and on the stairs. Seating accommodation is provided for 1,306 persons on the main floor and 600 in the circle. All the seats have 20-inch centres and are upholstered in wine coloured velvet, those in the balcony. of the semi-tub pattern, being fully sprung. Messrs. George Pixton and Co Ltd, of London, executed this contract. 

Flanked by two pylons, each of them having a decorative grille surmounting a balconet, the proscenium represents a great climax in design, form and colour. This grille ornamentation conceals special fittings. The walls are lightly moulded in plastic paint. with heavier ornamentations in plaster at the top. The main theme is in delicate shades of green, flame and alizarin crimson. The stage curtains are in tints that correspond with the seating and decorations, being mainly russet brown and wine, with bands of gold of vigorous zig-zag design. For the presentation of variety acts the Commodore has a stage 14 feet deep and four ancillary dressing rooms, Projection is by two Kalee machines in the chamber overlooking the rear balcony. Special attachments are fitted to the projectors, which have a throw of 120 feet and give a picture 34 ft by 22 ft for use in connection with the wide screen. Peerless automatic arc lamps are fitted. The two 120 amp 80. volt generators are by Crompton Parkinson. and arc driven by 20 hp motors. Western Electric equipment is installed. The switch-board is of the ironclad type. All the main hall lighting is controlled through dimmers, an emergency switch for suddenly flooding the hall with light being placed in the theatre. For the emergency lighting Exide batteries capable of giving continuous illumination in the hall for nearly two hours are employed. The heating is of a low-pressure accelerated system, the water being circulated by means of electrically driven centrifugal pumps while the heating units aro of the panel type sunk or recessed in the walls. Providing the most modern method of heating, these panel type heating units are rendered inconspicuous by skilful decorative treatment. 

Commodore Liverpool Ltd are the proprietors of the theatre, the general management being in the hands of Regent Enterprises Ltd. [The Bioscope - Wednesday 31 December 1930 page 174]

COMMODORE, LIVERPOOL – Liverpool’s new super, the Commodore, Bankhall, which was opened last week, has been designed on the most modem principles by Gray and Evans, architects, of North John Street, Liverpool, and is one of the largest halls on Merseyside. A feature of this luxurious kinema is the wide screen, the first to be erected in the north of England, England the special attention that has been paid to the acoustic properties of the building so that perfect reproduction by means of the latest type of Western Electric apparatus ca be obtained. The imposing facade, set back from the main line of buildings, immediately attracts attention. Modem in character and detail it is built of red brick and white glazed faience and is a keynote that characterises the interior, with its seating capacity of nearly 2000. The main entrance is on Stanley Road and an imposing entrance hall, also treated in white faience, gives way through a line of double doors to a large waiting room, from which the auditorium is entered. The general colour scheme is peach and green which serves but as an introduction to the magnificence of the interior. From the entrance hall one staircase leads to the well-proportioned foyer which gives direct access to the circle. From this foyer two more staircases lead to the back of the circle. The decoration scheme of the cinema itself has been designed, together with the distinctive colouring. The warmth, the lighting effects, and the seating, to give an atmosphere of luxury and comfort. 

The auditorium has been conceived on the most modern principles, the design of which reaches its height in the great proscenium opening, flanked as it is by two pylons, the central feature of each being a decorated grille. A total seating capacity of 1,906 is provided, of which the main floor accommodates 1,308 and the circle 600. In addition to this there are spacious waiting-rooms. Stalls are also provided with an imposing entrance from Portia Street and a separate large waiting room. A fully equipped stage and dressing rooms for artistes are provided. Heating of the Commodore is of low-pressure accelerated systema the water being circulated by meus of electrically driven centrifugal pumps. while the heating units are of the panel type sunk or recessed in the walls. Ventilation has designed on the plenum system of blowing fresh air which been cleaned and heated through ducts into the auditorium at various levels, and the foul air extracted by meane of powerful fans. A particular feature of the Commodore is the seating arrangement carried out by George Pixton and Co. Ltd These are of a high standard, providing the maximum of comfort with best quality materials. In the balcony six hundred semi-tub chairs with deeply spring seats inlaid with bucket backs are fitted. These are covered with rose-coloured velvet. On the ground floor similar type of chairs are installed, providing accommodation for approximately thirteen hundred people, [Kinematograph Weekly 1 January 1931 Page 37]