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Regent Theatre


Guest TFishcake

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The Regent Theatre, Upwell Street. - Originally called The Picturedrome.

http://www.picturesheffield.com/cgi-bin/pi...ff.refno=s20165

The Picturedrome was opened in March of 1912 on a rather cramped site. Featuring a small balcony it offered not stalls seating but what was described as the pit circle, this being a raised area behind the cheaper pit seats. Seating around 700, the cinema shows were still supported by variety acts.

In 1924, the hall was taken over by Frederick Pheonix, proprietor of the Pheonix Theatre, Langsett road. One of Pheonix's sons was inatalled as manager and the two theatres operated in tandem.

In April of 1925, however, the theatre was leased to a Manchester syndicate who changed the name to The Regent Theatre and reopened on the 4th May. It was ideally suited for use as a revue and variety theatre with four dressing roome and a sixteen foot deep stage and it's own entrance. A concert party brought down the curtain on this particular venture and the theatre closed in May of 1929.

Nearly eighteen months later the theatre once again changed hands when it was leased by East of England Cinemas company and reopened towards the end of December 1930. A sound system was installed by British Talking Pictures but by the end of March 1931 the company went into voluntary liquidation. The cinema stayed open and in 1932 the Pheonix brother's sold the Regent to Barnsley Electric Theatres, a small company controlled by Sheffield builders the Eshsley Brothers, with a financial interest in the Wicker Syndicate.

In 1935, the Eshelby's formed a new company, Regent Varieties and the Regent turned to twice nightly variety and review in May of 1935. The cinema appears to have been closed at this time, but no confirmation has been found to confirm this. The Regent survived as a theatre until closure in June of 1940.

Info: Sheffield Cinemas.

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