Electric Theatre

In Stocksbridge, South Yorkshire, the Public Hall, a stone building owned by the nearby Aerated Water Company, opened on 1st December 1904.

Occasional film shows were presented from the outset, but in 1911 Jack Haines took a lease on the Hall and converted it for cinema use, by inserting a raked floor and a fire-proof projection box.

The Electric Theatre opened on Monday 18th September 1911 with, it was claimed, 500 seats. The ‘circle’ was the back 6 or 7 stalls rows: these were tip-up, upholstered in velvet, and priced at 9d (the other stalls seats were upholstered but not tip-up; these were 6d, while the ‘pit’ seats, at just 3d, were wooden forms). There was a single evening performance at 7.30pm, with a children’s Saturday show at 2.30pm.

Jack Haines was also the manager/projectionist. His wife Mary (also known as Molly) worked in the box office before the show, then assisted with the projection. There were no usherettes. Initially, the pianist was Frank Gregory.

Jack Haines had early experience of ‘animated pictures’ as a travelling showman touring the fairgrounds, and he occasionally included novelty contests into the evening’s entertainment. Apparently these would include suitably handicapped people being invited to eat sticky buns or aim blows at each other!

During the war, Jack Haines joined the Royal Flying Corps while Mary kept the cinema running with help from handyman Dan Barraclough.

In December 1920 the Hall was acquired by West Riding Electric Theatres, and re-decorated and re-furbished. However, the Palace Cinema (see separate Cinema Treasures entry) opened in the town on 12th May 1921.

Naturally, the good folk of Stocksbridge flocked to this new cinema - and West Riding Electric Theatres reacted by buying out the opposition! They closed the Electric Theatre on Saturday 20th February 1922 with “Alias Jimmy Valentine”, starring Robert Warwick.

The Hall was extensively reconstructed following a fire (date not known). Since at least 1991 it has been occupied by Stocksbridge Legionnaires Club.

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