Gem, Great Yarmouth.
Source of photo unknown.
This wasn't built as a cinema as is claimed.
It was built as the "Palace of Light" for the showman C. B. Cochran, and opened 4 July 1908.
It originally had 1,000 light bulbs on the exterior.
Cochran was well-known at the time, and presented all kinds of live performances, usually called "Cochran Revues".
However, he didn't present films.
It was renamed the Gem in 1910, which is when it probably became a cinema.
Incidentally, there are hardly any purpose-built cinemas with original frontages dating from before 1911.
The front of the Picture House in Birmingham survives.
The Electric in Portobello Road, the Bedford (Edit: since demolished) and the Kensington, both in Liverpool survive. All 3 opened in December 1910.
There might (arguably) be one or two more from 1910 (eg: Duke of York's, Brighton, which incorporates part of a brewery building), but it has to be admitted that original cinema facades (pre 1911) are now an endangered species.
Gem, Great Yarmouth.
Source of photo unknown.
This wasn't built as a cinema as is claimed.
It was built as the "Palace of Light" for the showman C. B. Cochran, and opened 4 July 1908.
It originally had 1,000 light bulbs on the exterior.
Cochran was well-known at the time, and presented all kinds of live performances, usually called "Cochran Revues".
However, he didn't present films.
It was renamed the Gem in 1910, which is when it probably became a cinema.
Incidentally, there are hardly any purpose-built cinemas with original frontages dating from before 1911.
The front of the Picture House in Birmingham survives.
The Electric in Portobello Road, the Bedford (Edit: since demolished) and the Kensington, both in Liverpool survive. All 3 opened in December 1910.
There might (arguably) be one or two more from 1910 (eg: Duke of York's, Brighton, which incorporates part of a brewery building), but it has to be admitted that original cinema facades (pre 1911) are now an endangered species.