Grand Electric Palace

18 Silver Street,
Leicester, LE1 5ET

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Additional Info

Previous Names: Midland Electric Theatre

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The 550-seat Midland Electric Theatre was opened on 30th July 1910 by Midland Electric Theatres Ltd. It was the first purpose-built cinema to open in Leicester following the introduction of the 1909 Cinematograph Act. In 1913 the balcony was enlarged, and the auditorium was extended into adjacent premises with the seating capacity increased to 1,000. By 1925 it had been re-named Grand Electric Palace and was managed by Edward W. Wallace for Midland Electric Cinemas Ltd. It was closed in 1930 as a silent cinema.

The building then began use as an amusement arcade with dodgem cars and other fairground attractions. In January 1943 it was badly damaged by fire. Repairs were carried out and it reopened as the Queen’s Hall. It later became the Astoria Ballroom which closed in 1957. In 1960 it became Il Rondo Dancehall which closed in 1979 and the building was soon demolished, together with the adjacent Antelope pub, and shops now occupy the site. In 2020 a shop named Health Route occupies where the entrance to the cinema once stood.

Contributed by Ken Roe

Recent comments (view all 1 comments)

rivest266
rivest266 on September 1, 2022 at 11:24 am

Grand opening ad from July 30th, 1910 posted.

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