Quick links to other sections on this page . . .

• The Building
  
• Opening
  
• New Proprietors - New Name
  
• Closure and Demolition
  

The Building
A large stone building with a protruding 3-storey central entrance and once a Zion Chapel (United Methodist Church) dating from 1860 and situated in Effingham Street at the intersection with Howard Street and Henry Street.

The building was converted to the Electric Pavilion cinema with around 600 seats and leased to Rotherham Theatre Ltd with Arthur Melbourne as manager.

The Opening
The opening was on Saturday 15th July 1911 at 2.00pm.
Local newspaper adverts proclaimed . . .

"The new comfortable and well appointed Picture Theatre showing the World's best pictures. The pictures are free from flicker using projectors of the very latest type."

New Proprietors - New Name
By 1916 it was leased to Electric Theatre Company Ltd with James Clavell as general manager. In the 1920's the proprietors were Cinema (Rotherham) and Electra Ltd (who also controlled Cinema House) with John Stevenson as general manager. The name was changed to Electra Picture Palace.
In 1924 Alfred Blank became general manager whilst also being manager of the Cinema House.

It was continuous performances and three matinées with two programme changes weekly. Programmes were run in conjunction with Cinema House and Royal Picture House.
Prices in the 1920's were 6d to 1/-d.

There is no record of a sound system ever being installed.

Closure and Demolition
The Electra closed on 26th April 1930 with the final film . . .

"Free Lips" - 1928 USA B/W Silent
Starring June Marlow, Frank Hagney and Jane Novak.

The premises were then demolished.