Palladium Cinema

1910 - 1913

93-94 Paris Street

What would become the Palladium Cinema, opened as the Queen's Hall in late 1910 with seating for 1,000 people. The bad influence of cinema on children became a concern at this time and when the Queen’s Hall, showed “Dante’s Infemo” in January 1913 they banned anyone who was under 16 from attending the show so as not to incur the wrath of the public. 

Paris Street

In December 1913, the cinema chain Albany Ward took it over and renamed it the Palladium with new seating for 800. Despite the ban on Sunday cinema, the Palladium opened on Christmas Day 1914. It also experimented with talkies at this time, using a phonograph. In February 1916, the cinema acquired the exclusive rights to showing Charlie Chaplin films in Exeter.

The Gaumont was part of the same group when it opened in competition in 1932 - the Palladium continued until 1940 when it closed and was 'taken over for national purposes'. According to reports at the time the Old Palladium Buildings were gutted by fire on the night of the 4th May 1942. It is not certain if the building was later refurbished before demolition in the 1950's.