Rialto Cinema
47 Briggate,
Leeds,
LS1 6HF
47 Briggate,
Leeds,
LS1 6HF
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Provincial Cinematograph Theatres Ltd.
Architects: Reginald Naylor
Firms: Naylor & Sale
Styles: Neo-Classical
Previous Names: Picture House
Nearby Theaters
Located in Leeds city centre. The Picture House was built by the Provincial Cinematograph Theatres Ltd.(PCT) chain and opened on 4th April 1911 with Sir Henry Beerbolm Tree in “Henry VIII”. It was designed by architects Reginald Naylor & Sale of Derby.
Advertised as ‘The most luxurious cinematotgraph theatre in Yorkshire’, there were two tea lounges, one decorated in a Wedgewood style for the use of ladies, the other in a Jacobean style for the use of gentlemen.
It was taken over by an independent operator from 4th February 1927, and re-named Rialto Cinema. The Rialto Cinema was closed on 11th March 1939 with George Raft in “Woman Tamer” and Will Hay in “Oh, Mr. Porter”.
The building was purchased by Marks & Spencer Ltd. and was demolished to build their city centre store on the site. It remains open as a M & S store in 2012.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 3 comments)
A minor correction – the title of the last film to be shown was “Woman Tamer”, a 1935 film starring George Raft and Joan Bennett, which played in a double-bill with the Will Hay film “Oh Mr. Porter”.
The Yorkshire Evening Post of 28 Dec 1928 reported that Western Electric sound equipment had been installed at the Rialto. It catered for sound-on-disc (Vitaphone) and sound-on-film (Movietone). There were four horn speakers behind the screen covering almost all of the screen. Two were optimised for speech. Valves in the amplifier cost £30 each. The horns and the gramophone parts were manufactured by HMV (The Gramophone Co Ltd of Hayes). The whole installation cost £7,000.
Grand opening ad posted.