Palace Cinema, Abbey Street, Accrington

iBase ID

318256

Reference identifier

HAC-H01-D66-1168-1

Title

Palace Cinema, Abbey Street, Accrington

Place

Accrington

General notes

The Palace picture house in Abbey Street was opened in September 1915. In 1919 the proprietors decided that an organ would be a useful addition and might even replace the orchestra. Jardines, the organ makers, were approached about a suitable instrument and subsequently produced the "orchestral" organ. This was the first instrument designed specifically for the cinema in this country and departed from normal church practice. The stops were voiced to a faithful reproduction of their prototype in the orchestral ensemble, string, woodwind, brass etc said the firm's brochure of the time. The organ pipes in the Palace were placed behind a church type display on the right of the theature, with a dummy set on the opposite side and the console placed in the orchestra pit. Dr. Tootell was the first organist at the Palace. In 1934 when the talkies were well established, the organ was disposed of to the Hapton Mehodist Church Burnley. The Palace ceased to be a cinema in 1960.

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Medium

Photographic print

Colour

Monochrome

Year of image

Mid 20th Century

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Subjects

Place Names > Accrington

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