Royston Cinema

In Royston, Hertfordshire, the Cinema was built in six weeks opposite the police station. It was opened on Tuesday 1st July 1913 by the original proprietor, Mr Hatrick. The auditorium was 28ft wide by 90ft deep, with a sloping floor. Rear projection was utilised.

The Cinema suffered rather more than most from fires: two, in fact. The first, in October 1913, was caused when a projectionist dropped a red-hot carbon on the re-wind bench. 7,000ft of film was destroyed, worth £100, but there was no audience panic - indeed, the manager had to persuade them to leave. Screenings resumed the following day.

The second fire was rather more devastating. It started at 1pm on Tuesday 13th June 1933, and is thought to have been caused by faulty wiring. The auditorium was gutted, and the roof fell in.

The owner at this time, John R. Cox, was fully insured, and he set about building the Priory Cinema as a replacement. That opened in November 1933 (see separate Cinema Treasures entry).

As a temporary measure, Mr Cox hired the British Legion Hall in Mill Road, put in a projection box and showed films six days a week from 29th June until the Priory Cinema opened.

Although the two cinemas were in Priory Lane, they were not on the same site. Housing was eventually built on the site of the Cinema.

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