The Rex/Tivoli - Topsham

Rex/Tivoli (Matthew's Hall) - 1931 - 1960

Mr James Woodrow Matthew left a £5,000 bequest in 1927 that paid for the building of Matthew's Hall. The land was purchased with a £2,000 loan from the Ministry of Health. The architect was Boddy & Dempster, and the builder was Henry Gould & Sons. It would seem as though Gould had his sites set on Matthew's Hall for a cinema from the start.

Gould again set up his projection equipment, this time in a purpose built projection box with twin projectors, allowing multi-reel films to be shown. He made his own custom screen and installed a Morrison sound system in 1931. The first sound film to be shown was Palmy Days, with Edward Cantor. The cinema was named the Rex by 1939, managed by A G Curtis.

After the Second War, Topsham Entertainments was formed, a British Thompson Houston sound system installed, and the cinema was renamed the Tivoli. A 15ft 6in widescreen was even installed by the operator, Wing Commander A R Buere. The cinema closed in 1960.

Matthew's Hall still hosts film shows. Topsham Film Society, shows quality, non-mainstrem films on the first Friday of each month, September to March.