1911.E2.80.931956 Electric Palace Cinema, Harwich

the electric palace in 1912

in years of 20th century travelling fairground showman charles thurston touring east anglia bioscope shows. such travelling moving picture shows common @ time, introduction of cinematograph act 1909, imposed strict fire prevention regulations on venue in films shown public, became impossible put on legal film show in fairground tent. hence thurston decided build permanent picture palace in continue screen films public.

in 1911 able obtain lease on site in kings quay street, harwich had become vacant due previous building on site being destroyed fire. engaged young architect harold hooper design building, known electric palace, him. hooper dynamic young man of 26 years demonstrated imaginative flair first major building.

the electric palace built in 18 weeks @ cost of £1,500 , opened on wednesday, 29 november 1911, first film being battle of trafalgar , death of nelson .

the cinema immediate success , continued financially successful through ww1 presence of navy personnel in port of harwich. war on business @ palace , cinema called, went decline due loss of population harwich nearby dovercourt , competition newer, plusher, cinemas there.

for 4 decades palace struggled on, never doing badly enough close, never doing enough justify enlargement or major facelift. coming of sound in 1930 gave boost, short-lived. in 1953 cinema inundated seawater due east-coast flood of year, forced close. although dried-out, repaired , reopened, floods had affected more cinema, nearby housing had been affected reducing further local population. proved last nail in coffin , , palace closed after 45 years of operation, following final showing of glynis johns comedy: mad men , on 3 november 1956.