Gidlow Picture House

Located on the northern edge of the city centre, the building that was to become the Gidlow Picture House was built around 1907-1908 as a chapel. However, very soon afterwards(it is not clear whether it ever opened as a chapel) it was acquired by James Gorner, 54 Kenton Road, Wigan, who opened the Gidlow Picture Palace on 7th December 1911. In 1931 it was equipped with a British Thomson-Houston(BTH) sound system. In 1932 it was operated for that year by the J.F. Emery Circuit. By 1934 it was taken over by Eagle Picturedromes Ltd. and was renamed Gidlow Palace Picturedrome.

Later on, it was renamed Gidlow Picture House. CinemaScope was installed in 1955, with the first ‘scope film being “Green Fire” starring Stewart Granger & Grace Kelly, which opened on 8th August 1955.

The Gidlow Picture House closed in style, on 10th October 1959, with another ‘scope film, “Love is a Many Splendid Thing” starring William Holden & Jennifer Jones.

The building became home to a Co-op store, then a Krazy Kuts store (a budget Co-op brand). After that closed it lay empty for five years, before the current occupiers, Arley Cabinets (manufacturers of fitted kitchen & bathroom furniture) took over in May 1984. By 2020 it was in use as a kitchens & bathrooms store.

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