Electric Palace Cinema Harwich
About Electric Palace Cinema Harwich
This historic venue shows films every weekend as well as music and live streamed events during the week. Also available for weddings and private hire. For more information visit www. electricpalace.com
Electric Palace Cinema Harwich Description
The Electric Palace cinema, Harwich, is one of the oldest purpose-built cinemas to survive complete with its silent screen, original projection room and ornamental frontage still relatively intact. Other interesting features include an open plan entrance lobby complete with paybox, and a small stage plus dressing rooms although the latter are now unusable. There is also a former gas powered generator engine with a 7 foot fly wheel situated in the basement.
The cinema was built in 18 weeks at a cost of £1, 500 and opened on Wednesday, November 29th, 1911, the first film being The Battle of Trafalgar and The Death of Nelson. The creator of the Palace was Charles Thurston, a traveling showman well known in East Anglia, and the architect was Harold Hooper, a dynamic young man of 25 years who demonstrated his imaginative flair with this his first major building. Charles Thurston built his first cinema the Electric Palace in Harwich in 1911. In 1913, he built two more cinemas, the Empire Cinema in Biggleswade and the Palace Cinema in Norwich.
The cinema closed in 1956 after 45 years interrupted only by the 1953 floods and was listed as a building of sociological interest in September 1972 and is now a Grade II* listed building. It re-opened in 1981 and now runs as a community cinema showing films every weekend and special live and music events.
Charles ThurstonAbout Charles Thurston (1870 – 1928)
Proprietor of Electric Palace from 1911 to 1924
Charles Thurston was one of the pioneers who introduced the Bioscope in place of the Diorama in fair ground shows long before permanent picture houses were established.
The fairground cinema was particularly successful in rural areas such as East Anglia; and the Thurston company toured their traveling bioscope around Norfolk, Suffolk until 1910 when the Cinematograph Act foreclosed such temporary performance sites. In 1908 he produced The Great Show which was a combination of Bioscope and Vaudeville. Those who saw it described it as a masterpiece of fairground showmanship.
See more info: www. sheffield. ac. uk
Harold Hooper About Harold Ridley Hooper (1886 – 1953)
He was elected ARIBA in 1910, having been articled to John Sewell Corder, and started his own practice in Ipswich in 1912. He had his first major building commissioned and built when he was only 25 years old and later on also designed Butlins Skegness holiday camp (1936) and other designs for Butlins Ltd. He was a Colonel in the 4th Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment during World War I and in later life, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk.
WHO BUILT AND WORKED IN THE PALACE UNTIL IT CLOSED IN 1956?
Architect – Harold Ridley Hooper of Hooper, Olley and Earwaker, Ipswich, Suffolk.
Proprietor – Charles Thurston 1911 – 1924, Mr Bertram 1924 – 1930, Mr Goldberg 1930 – 1932, Mr Bostok 1932 -1956.
Managers – Frederick Benton, E Protheroe, C. Gilbert, Ernest Burke, Mr Ledbury, Mrs Watson, Mr C. R. Wade, John Barker.
Chief Projectionists / Operators – John Barker, F Podd, N. Tye, Sid Mills.
Assistant Projectionists – R. Smith, Mr Humphreys, C. Leeks, Mr Hansford
Pianists – Mrs Benton, Mr Crouch, Tom Rainbow, Jack De Rose, Billy Good, Miss Walker, Doris Farrow, Miss Coombes
Cashiers – Alice Barker, Miss Wills, Miss Cooper, Miss Mann, Mrs H. Durrant, G. Barton, L. Almazoff, Shrive, L. Lacey, K. Sneddon, M. Kingsley
* See a lovely picture of them all in their Sunday best in the slide show
Reviews
This Sunday we are Screening King of Theives at the 1912 Centre.
https://electricpalace.com/production/kin g-of-thieves/
Jo will be at St Nicholas' Church on Wednesday April 3 as part of her tour for a special Harwich Festival evening. Tickets now on sale online at www.harwichfestival.co.uk and at the Harwich Box Office (07425 145022). It's going to be some night!
To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the release of four Weddings and Funeral we are screening at the 1912 Centre this weekend. For more info see
https://electricpalace.com/pro…/four-we ddings-and-a-funeral/
Pete and Nic will be touring their new CD with a date at the Harwich Town Sailing Club on Thursday May 9. Advance booking now available on the Electric Palace website electricpalace.com
Live at the Harwich Town Sailing Club Thursday March 14. A traditional St Patrick's folk celebration from Northern Ireland's finest. Tickets now on sale from the Electric Palace website. £10. Space is limited so please book early!
The Electric Palace presents Live At The Harwich Town Sailing Club. Tickets on sale now!
The Electric Palace will be running a series of Live Music events at the Harwich Town Sailing Club -
Thu 14 March 2019 - 8:00 pm Craobh Rua
... Thu 18 April 2019 - 8:00 pm Red Dirt Skinners
Thu 9 May 2019 - 8:00 pm Oxley-Meier Guitar Project
For More information see
www.electricpalace.com
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This Weekends Screenings at the 1912 Centre
The king and I Live from the London Palladium (Encore Screening) Fri - 7:30PM Sat -2:30 PM... Sun - 7:30 PM
Andre Rieu's New Year Concert from Sydney
Sat - 7:00PM Sun -2:30 PM
Tickets available via www.electricpalace.com
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Films in the 1912 Centre.
We are pleased to tell you that we will be showing films in the 1912 Centre next door to the Electric Palace beginning in January 2019. The hours on a Friday will be 7.30 pm to 9.30 and on Saturdays and Sundays 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm and 7.30.pm to 9.30 pm.
The prices will be the same as the Electric Palace: £7 Adults, £6 Seniors and £3.50 Under 15. Satellite relay shows will be £12.50 to £15.
... January 2019
Fri 4th evening – The King and I £12.50
Sat 5th matinee – The King and I £12.50
Sat 5th evening – Andre Rieu £15
Sun 6th matinee – Andre Rieu £15
Sun 6th evening – The King and I £12.50
For precise timings above see website. The above five shows will be bookable from 19th December 2018
The films in the next three weeks below will be on the website shortly
Fri 11th January Evening
Sat 12th January Afternoon and Evening
Sun 13th January Afternoon and Evening
Fri 18th January Evening
Sat 19th January Afternoon and Evening
Sun 20th January Afternoon and Evening
Fri 25th January Evening
Sat 26th January Afternoon and Evening
Sun 27th January Afternoon and Evening
www.electricpalace.com
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The Electric Palace is now closed for major restoration work. The building’s ceiling will be secured, and further work includes redecorating the auditorium, refurbishing the seats and toilets, replacing electrical equipment and enlarging the stage. Watch this space or check www.electricpalace.com for further updates on the progress of the restoration and a timeline for re-opening.
This weekend
https://electricpalace.com/…/andre-rieu -2018-maastricht-co…/
Andre Rieu 2018 Maastricht Concert
Screening at the Electric Palace on
Sat 28th - 7:00PM... Sun 29th - 3:00PM
https://electricpalace.com/…/andre-rieu -2018-maastricht-co…/
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Coming Soon
Andre Rieu 2018 - Maastricht Concert
https://electricpalace.com/…/andre-rieu -2018-maastricht-co…/
The screening of this recent complete restoration of Eisenstein’s masterpiece is accompanied by internationally renowned concert pianist & composer Chris Jarrett playing his own new score live on the Electric Palace piano.
Based on historical events the movie tells the story of a riot at the Battleship Potemkin. What started as a protest strike when the crew was given rotten meat for dinner ended in a riot. The sailors raised the red flag and tried to ignite the revolution in... their home port Odessa.
Tickets £10.00
https://electricpalace.com/produc…/batt leship-potemkin-1925/
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lovely venue, run by nice people, Saw Baywatch which was funny and entertaining
Worth the visit decor fab x dame Vera Lynn playing which was suitable for wartime occupation about to show x friendly people managing venue x a pocket blast from the past xxx
Words can not do justice to the nostalgic feeling to this place, myself and my family loved watching a film here, and now look forward to seeing more. You also have the added bonus of not needing a second mortgage to able to afford to buy snacks here, as a drink and bag of sweets only costs two pound.
What a wonderful gem. Harwich houses one of the oldest cinemas in the world. It screens new films every week and also offers concerts and live registrations from London.
This little cinema hidden in the back streets of Harwich is a real gem, where else can you find such authenticity and get the feel of a bygone era on your doorstep. A must for all cinema fans and those who like to step away from the normal cinema experience of big brash modern screens.
This is proper going to the pictures but with Prosecco ... what could be better!
The palace has always been my preferred place to see a film. The atmosphere is great.
The Electric Palace is one of the oldest operating cinemas in the UK. It is maintained by fantastic volunteers and retains the wonderful old world charm. The tuck box keeps local ice creams that make the mouth water! The screen is smaller than new cinemas but it's a great experience. We are regular attendees.
Proud to have this in our area, much variety of performances as well as cinema at weekends.
Love this old cinema. Second time this month we have been there. We are so lucky to have this cinema in Harwich.
Loved Beauty & the Beast yesterday.
Love the Electric Palace. (Would love it more if the seats were a tiny bit more comfy)
I love this little cinema and love that we are supporting a local, independent business. Staff are always friendly. Thoroughly recommend
I love the Electric Palace. The volunteers do a fantastic job keeping the place going. Proud to have the oldest cinema right on our doorstep. Anyone who visits Harwich should definitely give it a try.
I just love this building, wish I could go back in time to see how the people enjoyed it too and what they watched.
I agree with everybody here ! Keep it going ! Well done volunteers ! I love the history & olde worlde charm ! �
Excellent experience. Wonderful atmosphere and surroundings
Booked online, reasonable prices and a super smiley, friendly box office lady.Perfect.Lovely old cinema, a piece of history.
Been there since i was very young and still love it xxx
Agree with everyone here....the atmosphere of the old picture house and the volunteers do an amazing job.
Love the sweet/ice cream/drink shop in the corner too.