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Palladium, Durham
Cinema Address:
27 Claypath, Durham, DH1 1RH
Period of Thompson Ownership:
1929-1976
How Acquired by Thompson:
Built
Architect/Design:
Architects Thomas Ridley Milburn, William Milburn of Sunderland. The site was on a hill back from the front. The narrow frontage led into a foyer which was situated (due to the hillside) between the stalls and balcony. The stage was 20 feet deep with a number of dressing rooms and a proscenium 35 feet wide. Seating was provided in stalls and circle.
Other Info:
It was due to open in October 1928 but did not in fact open until 18th March 1929 with Alice Terry in “Garden of Allah”. Although built to accommodate Theatre performances this never really happened because the layout of the stage & seating arrangements in two tiers. The Palladium was the first cinema in Durham to be given permission for Sunday evening performances although the programme had to be approved by both the Chief Constable and the Bishop of Durham.
Fate of the Cinema:
It was damaged by fire on 16th January 1934 but reopened on 5th March the same year with Leslie Henson in “It’s A Boy”. It was again renovated in 1967 re-opening with “The Bible-In the Beginning”. Closed as a Cinema by 1976 it then continued it's new life as a Bingo Hall up to 1982 when it gained a new lease of life as a Church, and stayed this way until it's final closure in 2004. In 2015 planning permission was granted for the demolition of the cinema and adjoining buildings to make way for new student accommodation.
Location Accuracy: Accurate
Information below is taken from The Kinematograph Yearbooks. The Page reference is from the following year’s edition, when information appeared. Additional information is in italics
Year Ownership Population Seating Capacity Other cinemas in town Manager Shows per day Changes Weekly Prices Variety/ Screen Sound System Other cinemas with sound Kinematograph Year Book reference
1929 Palladium (Durham) Ltd 18000 7 435
1930 Palladium (Durham) Ltd 18000 5 WE 0 393
1931 Palladium (Durham) Ltd 16223 5 3 - 1 on Sun 6d - 1s WE 3 408
1932 Palladium (Durham) Ltd 16223 6 6d - 1s WE 2 437
1933 Palladium (Durham) Ltd 16223 6 3 6d - 1s 3d WE 3 463
1934 Palladium (Durham) Ltd 16223 7 3 6d - 1s 3d WE All 482
1935 Palladium (Durham) Ltd 16223 1088 7 3 6d - 1s Proscenium width 27' WE All 495
1936 Palladium (Durham) Ltd 16223 1087 7 3 6d - 1s Proscenium width 27' WE All 545
1937 Palladium (Durham) Ltd 16223 1087 7 3 6d - 1s Proscenium width 27' WE All 568
1938 Palladium (Durham) Ltd 16223 1087 7 3 6d - 1s Proscenium width 27' WE All 551
1939 Palladium (Durham) Ltd 16.223 1087 6 6d - 1s Proscenium width 27' WE All 488
1940 Palladium (Durham) Ltd 16223 1087 8 3 6d - 1s Proscenium width 27' WE All 456
1941 Palladium (Durham) Ltd 16223 1087 9 3 6d - 1s WE All 455
1942 Palladium (Durham) Ltd 16223 1087 10 3 6d - 1s WE All 437
1943 Palladium (Durham) Ltd 16223 1087 10 3 6d - 1s 6d WE All 442
1944 Palladium (Durham) Ltd 16223 1087 6 3 6d - 2s 3d WE All 401
1945 Palladium (Durham) Ltd 16223 1087 6 3 6d - 2s 3d WE All 447
1946 Palladium (Durham) Ltd 16223 1087 9 3 6d - 2s 3d WE All 283
1947 Palladium (Durham) Ltd 16223 1087 9 3 6d - 2s 3d WE All 297
1948 Palladium (Durham) Ltd 16223 1087 9 3 6d - 2s 3d WE All 310
1949 Palladium (Durham) Ltd 19220 1087 8 3 10d - 2s 3d WE All 315
1950 Palladium (Durham) Ltd 19220 1087 8 3 10d - 2s 3d WE All 305
1951 Palladium (Durham) Ltd 19220 1087 7 Continuous WE All 287
1952 Palladium (Durham) Ltd 19220 1087 8 Continuous WE 285
1953 Palladium (Durham) Ltd 19220 1087 8 Continuous WE 282
1954 Palladium (Durham) Ltd 19220 1087 8 Continuous WE 269
1955 Palladium (Durham) Ltd 19220 1087 8 Continuous CinemaScope WE 262
1956 Palladium (Durham) Ltd 20440 1087 8 Continuous CinemaScope WE 262
1957
1958-59 Palladium (Durham) Ltd 20440 1087 8 Continuous CinemaScope WE 264
1960 Palladium (Durham) Ltd 20440 1087 7 Continuous CinemaScope WE 290
1961 Palladium (Durham) Ltd 20440 7 WE 276
1962
1963 Palladium (Durham) Ltd 20440 7 WE 269
1964
1965 Palladium (Durham) Ltd 20440 7 WE 275
1966 Palladium (Durham) Ltd 20440 3 WE 265
1967 Palladium (Durham) Ltd? 20440 3 WE 249
1968 Palladium (Durham) Ltd? 20440 3 WE 240
1969 Palladium (Durham) Ltd? 20440 3 WE 230
1970 Palladium (Durham) Ltd? 20440 3 WE 234