Park Cinema

Previously a multipurpose building, the old court-house had been used for various forms of entertainment, and also housed the monthly Petty Sessions. During the 1930’s it had fallen into decline and in 1946 was acquired by local merchant Samuel (“Sammy”) Parks of The Square in the village.

Named after its owner, the Park Cinema was opened on Monday 6th October 1947 by Viscountess Charlemont. Equipped with an RCA sound system, the opening film was ‘Smiling Through’ (1941) starring Jeanette MacDonald. It was unusual at that time for a cinema in Northern Ireland to hold a seven-day licence. Such was the demand for seats on Sunday nights that special buses were laid-on from nearby centres of population such as Dungannon.

The Mid-Ulster Mail reported in January 1962 that the Park Cinema had closed after serving the local population for almost 15 years. The reason given was ‘a fall in attendance due to the effects of television.’

The Park Cinema never made the listings in any edition of Kine Year Book.

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