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Pavilion Picture Hall / Palace / Royal Pavilion Picture Hall/ Pavilion Theatre, Leeds
Cinema Address:
250, Dewsbury Road, Leeds
Period of Thompson Ownership:
1914-1928. Sold to Denman Picture House Ltd.
How Acquired by Thompson:
Site bought by Thompson and his local partner Charles Metcalfe. In 1915, one year after opening it was transferred into Thompson's sole name at the same time as the Armley Picture Hall was transferred into Metcalfe's sole name.
Architect/Design:
G.F. Bowman
Other Info:
Built at same time as housing built in the area. As it was built sideways on a hill young boys would stand in Linden Terrace on bins to peer in to watch films. Plans below show work to convert it for sound in 1929. This reinforces the view that one of the reasons Thompson sold out to Denman (Gaumont) in 1928 was the anticipated cost of updating all venues to sound.
Fate of the Cinema:
The cinema was sold by Thompson to Denman in 1928. Around 1950 it became the Royal and closed in 1958/9. It is now an estate agents and a charity shop (2016)
Location Accuracy: Accurate

Information below is taken from The Kinematograph Yearbooks. The Page reference is from the following year’s edition, when information appeared. Additional information is in italics

Year Ownership Population Seating Capacity Other cinemas in town Manager Shows per day Changes Weekly Prices Variety Sound System Other cinemas with sound Kinematograph Year Book reference
1914 Thompson & Metcalfe 445550 1000 52 476
1915 Thomas Thompson 445550 1000 59 372
1916 Thomas Thompson 445505 1000 60 419
1917 Thomas Thompson 428968 1000 20 489
1918 Thomas Thompson 445568 1000 20 Mrs W H Bingham 2 + 2 Mats weekly 2 1 1/2d - 1s Music 294
1919 Thomas Thompson 445568 1000 50 369
1920 North of England Cinemas Ltd 445568 53 Mrs W H Bingham 2 + 2 Mats weekly 2 4d - 1s 449
1921 North of England Cinemas Ltd 458320 925 53 Mrs W H Bingham 2 + 2 Mats weekly 2 4d - 1s 442
1922 North of England Cinemas Ltd 445550 925 53 Mrs W H Bingham 2 + 2 Mats weekly 2 4d - 1s 439
1923 North of England Cinemas Ltd 458320 925 58 Mrs W H Bingham 2 + 2 Mats We Sa 2 4d - 1s 439
1924 North of England Cinemas Ltd 445568 925 59 Mrs W H Bingham 2 + 2 Mats We Sa 2 4d - 1s 388
1925 North of England Cinemas Ltd 458320 925 59 Mrs W H Bingham 2 + 2 Mats We Sa 2 367
1926 North of England Cinemas Ltd 458320 60 Mrs W H Bingham 2 + 2 Mats We Sa 2 358
1927 North of England Cinemas Ltd 458320 925 53 Mrs W H Bingham 2 + 2 Mats We Sa 2 425
1928 North of England Cinemas Ltd 458320