Torbay Picture House

RE;Torbay Picture House. It was never called this.
Correct name originally was Paignton Picture House; changed its name in 1968 to the Torbay Cinema.
I have many memories of it. My father worked there as a projectionist for 15 years, 1937-1952.
This wonderful little cinema was very much part of my childhood.
Agatha Christie was indeed a regular customer. She used to book a seat in advance, using the name of Mrs. Westmacott. She would be accompanied by her chauffeur, having being driven in from Greenway House.
My own research suggests, unfortunately, that the cinema is not the oldest purpose built cinema in Europe - I wish it was. Yet there were early cinema-type entertainment on the same site in the hotel that was demolished to make way for the cinema. The cinema had its official opening in 1914. There are other purpose built cinemas in the UK built in 1910 - one in Brighton for example.
It is tragic and scandalous that the Paignton Picture House is not being used as a place of entertainment.
Brian Heale

The Old Paignton Picture House now owned by the Paignton and Dartmouth Railway nears its 100th anniversary having been opened in 1911. A listed building, it is hoped that maybe one day it could be restored to it’s old glory as a cinematic museum or the like.

But lesser known is another former cinema in Paignton, which in its hey day was also very popular. The Electric Palace/Triangle Cinedrome was also opened to the public in 1911 by the proprietor, Major A.O. Ellis who envisaged the oncoming popularity of moving pictures. Arguably it was the first picture house to show movies in Paignton, a flag was flown over the tower to announce its opening and , looking at the older picture, a man appears to be ringing a hand held bell which was maybe another prompter to entice Paigntonians to come and see the wonder of the moving magic lantern.

Curious crowds soon filled the small 280 seat auditorium and were soon in roars of laughter at what they saw, some of the first Charlie Chaplin shorts were soon favourites along with Laurel and Hardy, Harold Lloyd and Buster Keaton. The times were hard and severe and it was a sheer delight to share the wondrous excitement with others, to be able to forget the world outside and lose oneself in the antics of those wonderful old classics which, even today, can still make us laugh when occasionally, we see them on TV. Many comedians who followed admit they were inspired by the pioneers of the moving pictures. Morecambe and Wise, Benny Hill, and Arthur Askey to name a few.

The oval archway which marks the spot where the foyer was situated in Totnes road is still apparent over what is now the tax office, one can imagine the queues of exited people waiting to go in, Unfortunately the narrow pathway was to be the demise of the old cinema because in 1949, following several accidents, one fatal - outgoing patrons being slow to adjust to daylight after the darkness inside, and with increasing traffic it was obliged to close. And of course, the Picture House in nearby Torbay Road had much more room boasting 600 seats with ample room outside as well.

And now we have moved to the present and are flabbergasted by the arguably ugly sight of the Apollo multi cinema which shows a different venue entirely. Pictures have become movies, adventure is computer engineered , no more the jittery shaky monochrome pictures of the past, most everything is pure sex, violence and hype to the extreme, But of course younger generations know no different, It was then a certain thrill and excitement which can never ever be repeated. I am so grateful for that, for the pure enjoyment my generation experienced going to the Saturday Morning Pictures, seeing the Roy Rogers and Gene Autry Westerns, the Dead end Kids, Abbott and Costello as well as the above mentioned, and a host of others who became the classics of the magical past.

I'm obviously a youngster compared to the above contributions, but I remember attending several movies with my sister at this cinema. It remained operational until around 1999, so a lot of my childhood was spent watching all the current releases of the day. There was no multiplex on the seafront at the time. I saw Superman II and Starwars there, as well as the appalling Condor man and several Disney bad movies. I remember it for one particular event though – Staff there turned me away from Gremlins 2 for being under-age. I was so disappointed and angry having been only 6 months under the required age limit. But I think it's an insightful reflection of how authoritative people were back then. Now they're too afraid to turn away under-age viewers for fear of reprisals from parents. I have fond memories of the cinema because it had real atmosphere. In winter the heating would be turned up so much, it was almost claustrophobic. And I recall the last few movies I watched weren't great, because the sound system was obviously failing. But it had more character than any multiplex. The musty smell of the old red velvet seats, and the stage with its creaky curtains, also grimacing faces of plaster cast gargoyles on the walls will always remain with me. It was old, small and uncomfortable by standards, but it brought movies to life.