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BRIEF HISTORY
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Palladium Cinema
Jennings Street
Land originally part of Northlaines Farm
1922 Bought from Arkells. Person intending to carry out work, Albert Rimes 32 Wood Street Swindon.
19th April first plans submitted by Even Swindon Cinema Co Ltd
Seating capacity 527
1928 8th May Second set of plans submitted by Even Swindon Cinema Co Ltd. Registered Offices Central Garage Regent St, Swindon
Seating capacity 610
Cost around £7000
Opening ceremony was carried out by Alderman S.E. Walters accompanied by Alfred Williams, of South Marston, T. Jenks, A. Bown, Archard, Mr & Mrs Hoskins, of Fairford and Mr Rimes.
1936 7th April Licences under the Cinematograph Act 1909
Name of applicant: Mr. J. McGregor Johnson
1938 17th March Licences under the Cinematograph Act 1909
Name of applicant: Mr. B.L. Monahan
1st October acquired Rink Cinema, Old Town former licence holder Mr. Charles Rowe
25th October new manager for the Rink Cinema is a Mr. Duck aged 42 of 2 Harding Street, Swindon.
1939 20th February Rink Cinema transferred to Mr. Frederick Edwards, 527 Stafford Road, Ford House, Wolverhampton.
24th June Lease & managing interests transferred to
The Basingham Theatres Ltd, 75/77 Shaftsbury Avenue,
London W1.
17th July letter from Basingham Theatres enclosing 5 shillings for the transfer of the licence
31st August Bond between Harry Alfred Finkle of the Rink Cinema and the Even Swindon Cinema Company Limited, registered offices 79 Jennings Street, for £25 sterling to be paid to the Corporation.
John S Campbell still Manager
1941 Assessment of Cinemas, Palladium Cinema Jennings Street, recommends an assessment of £250 Gross Value, £205 Rateable Value in lieu of £100 Gross Value £80 Rateable Value
1944 20th June Swindon Assessment Committee
Seats 647
Full House Value 1940: £25.11.11d !943: £31.9.2d
Shows per week 14
1946 18th February, Swindon Borough Council Survey of Cinemas
…Palladium. Exits, sanitary accommodation, seating, rewinding room and operating room with safety shutters in order………..
1946 22nd February list compiled by Civic Offices
Front Stalls 1/- 313 seats
Back Stalls 1/9 214 seats
Balcony 2/3 151 seats
Note: a gangway separates front and back stalls……..
Cinematograph Act 1909
Details of Anti-Panic and fire drills held in Cinemas licensed under the above act by Swindon Borough Council
………..The Palladium, Jennings Street
Each Sunday evening before opening the cinema to the public
Additional drills to test alertness of staff are held periodically without warning.
Nature of drills held are the same as detailed in the Manager’s letter of 27th February 1946 to the Borough Surveyor……..
1958/9 Owned or rented by Radio Relay
Pre 1983 Owned by Trevor Nash (Wiltshire Plumbing & Heating)
1983 Owned by Mr Terry Sumpter (Prime Print) colour of cinema was cream,
Mr Sumpter changed it to present colour green and cream
2000 Current owner: Prestige Colour Ltd
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PERSONAL MEMORIES
Palladium Ticket Club Card for Children
First Cinema in Swindon to Show talking pictures, by means of records which, had to be synchronised with the film, usually three records per film.
Prior to the war a Mr Sam Morgan was the manager and lived next door.
Albert Rimes son was Harold Rimes
Johnny Stiles band practised in the upper stalls
Lillian Rixon worked there from 1948 to 50
Monica Notley usherette 1939/40
Raymond Vincent worked as a assistant projectionist his job was to rewind the films and draw the curtains between film shows by means of coloured lights, which when shown were his signal to open or close them.
Projectionist lived in Gooch St. he was disabled (something with his leg or foot)
Ken Smart was a projectionist [started 1944] at The Palladium. Other projectionists were, Vic Billingham and Joe Ballard. Colin Edwards was also a projectionist. The Boss was Sam Morgan. Cleaners were Granny Gunter and Fanny Underhill. Others employees were Mavis Beasant and Thelma Howard. Mrs Smart also worked at the cinema, as usherette, cleaner and part time projectionist. As a small child Pearl had to go to work with her mother in the evenings as there was no one at home to look after her. Her mother would give her a Camp Coffee bottle of tea and some jam sandwiches or if she was lucky some Spam sandwiches. The programme was changed three times a week. Later Sam Morgan took over a shop and their mother, Mrs Smart went to work there as well as her job at the Cinema. Mr Rose then took over the Palladium.
John Scott Campbell manager in Kelly’s directory lived at 79 Jennings Street which is registered offices of the Even Swindon Cinema Company
Jack Campbell Chief Projectionist (son of manager)
Roger Maynard Assistant Projectionist
Albert Sumsion Trainee Projectionist
Miss Henley worked in Box Office
Monica Notley usherette
Lillian Rixon employed by Cinema Company until 1950
Jack Harris had a part time job as a boy putting the records on the projector for the sound track. He remembers one day the film got jammed in the projector and caught fire. The projectionist ripped the film from the shutter, removed the blazing reel and lobbed it out of the window into Jennings Street. Looking out the window they saw the blazing reel rolling down the street towards Jenning Street School.
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