Palace Theatre, 1, Great George Street, Rochdale

ROCHDALE - The Palace Theatre, in Great George-street. is about to be opened. On either side of the entrance-hall are the two flights of staircases of ferro-concrete construction, which unite in a crush hall midway between the circle and upper-circle entrances. There is only one circle, but it is a broad one. The first three rows, including about 100 seats, form the circle proper, and the remaining tiers, which provide accommodation for 300 people, make up the upper circle. The ceiling is adorned with paintings. The sides of the proscenium are decorated with panels, and above it is a decorative painting. The orchestra stalls, of which there are sixty, may be approached either from the circle or the pit. Behind the stalls is a pit with accommodation for over 700, which brings the total seating capacity to about 1,200. The stage is 24 feet by 40 feet, with an opening of 23 feet by 18 feet. The theatre has been erected by Mr. T. Hargreaves, a local builder. [Building News December 1911 page 796-797]

PALACE THEATRE, ROCHDALE - Messrs. Butterworth & Duncan, of Rochdale, are the architects for this new theatre, which provides accommodation for 1,200 people. The contractors for the work were: Joinery—Mr. G. F. Endersby; slating—Mr. Robert Woolfenden; plumbing—Messrs. Schofield & Hopkinson; painting and decorating—Messrs. Beal & Clegg; heating—Mr. Isaac Butterworth (all of Rochdale); ventilation—Messrs. Rigby & Mellor, Bury; electric lighting—Rochdale Electric Company, Rochdale; constructional steel work—Messrs. Redpath. Brown, & Co., Manchester; fireproof curtain—Messrs. Stuart & Co., Manchester. [Builder 15 December 1911 page 722]

Opened on 4 December 1911 as the Palace Theatre. By 1922 it had been re-named the Palace Picture House operated by the Northern Cinema chain with seating for 1,200; about 1930 it became the Palace Tudor Super Cinema which finally closed in November 1981. Converted into a nightclub but was demolished after a fire in April 1987.

Reference           Building News 8 December 1911 page 796-797
Reference           Builder 15 December 1911 page 772
Reference           Cinema Treasures website
Reference           Information by e-mail. Johanna Roethe