STAR CINEMA. Fylde Road.

The Star was also the venture of a local businessperson and it

was built with a capacity of 1000 in an American circular style.

It stood on the corner of what is now the Polytechnic site at the

junction of Corporation Street Flyde Street and Fyled Road. A

Mr Walton was manager in 1926, followed by Cecil Wheat-

man in 1928. There were continuous performances from

6.15pm, with daily matinees and double features even in those

days. The Star was the first in Preston to show a talkie, as a

short supporting film

The American style Star, closed appropriately on American

Independence Day 1959, having just passed it’s nth birthday.

SAVOY CINAMA, Ashton Street

The Savoy was one of Preston purpose built cinemas a

“cinema de luxe” according the publicity, and opened on the

corner of Ashton Street and Fyled Street; The first film on the

27th June 1921 was Jack London’s “The Sea Wolf” closed as

a cinema in September 1958, the building is still there, now a

DIY store

PLAZA. New Hall Lane.

The Plaza in New Hall Lane opened on the 12th of Decem-

ber 1932 with a capacity of 930 seats. Although it was not

purpose built, having been the cotton room and warehouse

of Calverts India Mill, there was the latest standards of

comfort, decorations and lighting. Sir James Openshaw,

who performed the opening ceremony, gave a reminder of

the 1930's depression “in spite of the times, he said,

“People can still find money to go to the pictures. The

worst place people can be is on the streets. When the

Empire closed in 1964, the Cinemascope screen was trans-

ferred to the Plaza, making it the first cinema outside the

town centre to have such a facility

MARATHON CINEMA. Frank Street

Another of the smaller cinemas was the Marathon, opened in 1913 in Frank Street. The

building with “The Marathon” name stone still on the side, is now 66 Frank Street and

part of the premises are occupied by Gravesons of Carnforth