Palace cinema, Sandbach.

Palace Cinema

The Palace, Sandbach opened on Thursday 4th June 1929. It was designed by Alfred Price and Sons from Sandbach. It was built on the site that had previously housed a silk works and a wire works. The building was situated at the junction of Congleton Road and Green Street.

For many years before the Palace was built Pendleton’s Picture Co Ltd rented the Town Hall to show films. It was Pendleton’s who were responsible for erecting the Palace.

The exterior of the building was cement, finished in stone block pattern with a cornice and enrichments to the doors and windows. These were all in Portland cement. The work with plain interior plaster work was done by P. McEllin and Sons from Audley. J Alberto and Sons from Plymouth Grove, Manchester, were responsible for the fibrous plaster proscenium front moulded vortices, circle front and ceiling decorations.

The Magnate cinema in Winsford, also operated by Sandbach and Winsford Cinemas Ltd.

The owners were Sandbach and Winsford Cinemas Ltd. They also ran The Magnet cinema, Winsford. The directors were Mr John Beech and Richard Smith. They said, it was a pleasure to welcome the audience to the New Palace.

There was a crowded house to see the opening films. They were: ‘Hello Sailor’ and ‘The Tempest’. On stage were the Bandmaster mouth organ trio of Audley, who gave several fine selections. There was also an orchestra present.

It was constructed to present live entertainment as well as films. There were five dressing rooms, both male and female.

The cinema was barrel vaulted and the acoustics allowed for the patrons in the better priced seats at the rear and in the circle to hear every word from the stage without effort. There were several entrances and exits so different sections of the audience, paying different admission charges didn’t converge.

Seating was for 600 and was all tip-up. Seating under the circle had semi tub tip ups and the circle tub tip ups. The cinema was equipped with the Holophane lighting system for the stage and flood lighting was installed.

Up in the projection room stood two Kalee 8 projectors, which were supplied by E.A. Langrish and Company. The sound system was Western Electric.

Talkies arrived with the Western Electric equipment on 17, November 1930. The first sound film was ‘The Street Girl’ shown for three days. From the Thursday ‘Syncopation’ was shown. Pathe Sound News was also part of the programme.

By the beginning of 1960 ownership had changed and it was advertised as a Miles Jervis cinema. Sunday screenings arrived in 1961. Miles Jervis Cinemas Ltd ran a small chain of cinemas and was formed in 1947. Also, at the beginning of 1960 the company took over the Alhambra Middlewich and the Magnet Winsford.

In May 1973 bingo was introduced for part of the week. It was bingo for three nights and cinema for four. The first film to run for four nights was ‘The Mechanic’, starring Charles Bronson, running from the of 20th May. At this time the cinema was run by Broadway Entertainments Ltd, part of the Regent Group. They took over from Miles Jervis in 1972.

One of the final films to be shown at the Palace, Sandbach.

Advertising ceased in the Crewe Chronicle after the 3, January 1974 edition. The last films advertised were ‘Hoppity Goes to Town’ and ‘Gulliver’s Travels’, shown afternoons only. Bingo took place in the evening. These were mistakenly advertised as Disney films. The building was demolished in 1984.

David A Ellis ©chestercinemas.co.uk 

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