Savoy Super Cinema

In Barry, Glamorgan, the Kings Hall opened on 1st August 1910, when its first Cinematograph Licence was granted. There were 700 seats, with “Animated Pictures” and “Bijou Vaudeville” being advertised. (It is also thought to have been known as the Palace Theatre de Luxe at some time, but it is unclear when and for how long.)

The Kings Hall was owned by Arthur Carlton, and had been financed from an insurance settlement following the destruction by fire, in November 1909, of the ‘original’ Theatre Royal and Hippodrome. The new Theatre Royal (see separate Cinema Treasures entry) opened across the road, while the Kings Hall occupied the site of the original Theatre Royal. (The new Theatre Royal was constructed while the insurance settlement was being finalised. When it had been sorted out, Mr Carlton ended up with two substantial buildings opposite each other!)

Around 1921, the Kings Hall was renamed the Silver Cinema. This closed in 1925, but perhaps only for refurbishment or other works (see also below), as it re-opened in May 1926.

According to the Kinematograph Year Books, in 1928 it was owned by Tours Ltd. the managing director being Sir Arthur Carlton (of Worcester, where he operated another Silver Cinema - see separate Cinema Treasures entry).

However, the Silver Cinema soon passed into the hands of W. A. O'Connor (perhaps as early as 1929). According to the 1932 Kinematograph Year Book, by then it had been renamed the Savoy Super Cinema; the proscenium was 30ft wide and there was a café. A Western Electric sound system had been installed.

The 1936 edition lists the seating capacity as 1,100 (perhaps the work in the 1920’s had been to enlarge the building; and presumably the current frontage is also a later modernisation) and the proscenium as being 30ft wide.

From the 1937 edition the Savoy Super Cinema is not listed, and it is assumed this is when it was converted into the Savoy Ballroom. It subsequently (following the death of its owner) became the Empire Ballroom, then Empire Bingo Hall, Empire Roller Skating Rink, Savoy Snooker Hall, The Savoy ‘Talk of the Town’ live music venue and ‘back’ to Savoy Snooker Club.

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