Vernon Picture House

In Stockport, Greater Manchester, a Cinematograph Licence was issued to Ernest Hadfield, in respect of the Vernon Picture House, on 22nd December 1913. There were 500 seats.

In 1915 B. Mainwaring took over, followed, from 1921 to 1930, by Thomas Knott and his brother.

During the 1920’s, the two main pianists were Phyllis Stubbs and Mabel Perry, cousin of the famous tennis player Fred Perry. For playing for four hours each evening they were paid 2s 6d.

In December 1930 the Vernon Picture House was still defiantly advertising itself as “The Vernon (Silent) Cinema”, but, inevitably, sound equipment was installed the following year, initially Picturetone, later British Thomson Houston(BTH).

Harold Lowe acquired the cinema in 1930, remaining until the Vernon Picture House closed, temporarily, in September 1936. It was re-opened on 21st December by Northern Amusements Ltd., of Rochdale, who ran it until final closure.

The Vernon Picture House had been redecorated and re-seated, with new carpets and tabs fitted. The re-opening attraction was Shirley Temple in “The Littlest Rebel”.

An outline proposal to redevelop the site as a service station was passed by the planning committee in August 1957, and the Vernon Picture House closed on 6th December 1958. The final programme was a Walt Disney double bill of “Davy Crockett” starring Fess Parker and “The African Lion”.

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