Snapshot of Huddersfield's cinema history

Jul 13 2010 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

The Examiner revealed on Saturday that the Palace Theatre could be demolished to make way for an extension to the Kingsgate shopping centre. Here we look at what happened to some of the town’s other iconic cinemas and theatres.

IN 1884 the town’s first Hippodrome and Circus opened its doors.

It was to be the start of the town’s theatre and cinema boom.

Records show that it was in September 1896 when the first animated picture was shown in the town – to an audience at Rowley Empire by means of the theatrograph projection.

Over the years a further five prominent cinemas opened their doors in the town centre alone – many changed their names but the locations remained the same.

The Examiner’s achieves show there have been 21 prominent cinemas throughout Huddersfield, mostly housed in buildings with great facades.

Along with the theatres, they provided entertainment which saw thousands of people flock through their doors.

On April 3 1911 escapologist Harry Houdini played the first of two visits in Huddersfield – at the Palace and later the Empire.

Other big names were attracted to the town too – Gracie Fields and Charlie Chaplin among them.

And big name stars of the time were asked to open the venues – Channel swimmer Eileen Fenton cut the ribbon of the Curzon on Buxton Road, while Peggy Hyland, star of silent films in the 20s, opened the Princess.

Architect Clifford Hickson was responsible for at least three – the Princess, Empire and Grand.

Chris Marsden of the Huddersfield Civic Society said the wonderful facades were simply a show, saying: “Many of the cinemas and theatres were sheds on the back of fancy facades.

“I think the Palace is unfortunate because it’s been 50 years since it was a theatre – much has been altered to the facade. Once or if it goes I think people will realise what could have been made of it.

“But I think it is appropriate we re-use these buildings where an alternative use can be found.

“I don’t think we should mourn the loss of the cinemas themselves, they were the entertainment of their day and have been replaced by home cinema systems, TV, the internet and online streaming, but what we shouldn’t carelessly lose is our townscape.

“It’s important to consider the preservation of our town. We can’t preserve everything so it’s important we keep the good and what is most valuable to us as some of these buildings are.”

On the facing page we look at the history of the some of the cinemas in the town centre.