Marble Arch Cinema

Situated in the centre of Beverley, North Humberside, the Marble Arch Picture Palace opened on 16th September 1916. This new building replaced some timber-framed houses, and took its name from the small alley that originally ran between the houses. Although little-remembered now, it was the only one of the town’s three ‘traditional’ cinemas to be purpose-built.

The seating capacity was an impressive 1,100. There was a café on the second floor, a 17ft deep stage, a small orchestra pit and two dressing rooms. The first manager was Joshua Butt.

In 1927 Harry Popple started as a projectionist, later becoming the chief operator before being called up by the RAF in 1941. Returning in 1942 (possibly due to injury?) he became manager, and ran the cinema until closure.

During the war years, Mr Popple was instrumental in raising £3,000 for charity through Sunday concerts held at the cinema.

In 1947 the managements of the Marble Arch Palace and the Regal Cinema (see separate Cinema Treasures entry) joined forces to present a petition signed by 195 people requesting the Town Council to allow their cinemas to open on Sundays. This was unsuccessful but, when a second petition, now with 5,000 signatures, was presented in 1954 that did result in Sunday opening being allowed, beginning the following year.

By 1953, according to the Kinematograph Year Book, the seating capacity had been slightly reduced, to 1,000 and it was then owned by Marble Arch Picture Palace Company (Beverley) Ltd.

However, in February 1961, with television making inroads into attendances, the Marble Arch Palace began to host bingo, to supplement the films.

On 15th May 1964 the Marble Arch Cinema screened its last film, Elvis Presley in “It Happened at the Worlds Fair”. The following day it became a full-time bingo club and cabaret venue. Singer David Whitfield was one of the artists to appear here. It was refurnished in May 1965 The building only held on until August 11, 1967, when the bingo club closed. It was demolished in August 1968.

A Presto supermarket was built on the site. A Safeway store now stands on the site.

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