Franklin Picture Palace

101 Fore Street

The next purpose built cinema was the Franklin Picture Palace which opened on 3rd February 1911 in the Assembly Hall of the Franklin Temperance Hotel and Restaurant, which is now the Australian theme bar, Walkabout. It was run by C Holland, son of the hotel owner.

The cinema had a flat floor for the seating and could accommodate 250 people. The Exeter character, Artful Thomas worked at the Franklin Cinema as an attendant - one of his jobs was to walk up the aisle spraying disinfectant over the audience. It closed in 1924.