Palladium Cinema

93-94 Paris Street

What would become the Palladium Cinema, opened as the Queen's Hall, a variety, dance and cinema venue, on the 7th September 1912 with seating for 1,100 people. When it presented “Dante’s Infemo”, in January 1913, they banned anyone who was under 16 from attending the show so as not to corrupt the young. At Christmas 1914, it showed a film of a pantomime.

Paris Street

In December 1913, the cinema chain Albany Ward took it over. Despite the ban on Sunday cinema, the new cinema 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. In 1921 Albany Ward renamed it the Palladium with new seating for 800, installing a glass covered canopy over the pavement, a feature found in many of their cinemas.

In 1927, the cinema was absorbed into the Provincial Cinematograph Theatres group, where Albany Ward remained in control of its west country theatres. In 1930, RCA sound equipment was installed under a leasing arrangement.

The Gaumont was part of the same group when it opened in competition in 1932 - the Palladium continued until its last performance on 20th October 1940. 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.