THE GAUMONT PALACE CINEMA FROM 1931
Liverpool Lighthouse are thrilled to be bringing community cinema back to Anfield. We are based in the old Gaumont Palace Cinema building, which has a long history of bringing fun and joy to the local community. Below you can find a look back in time at the history of the Gaumont Palace. Here are a few photos picked out from the many which were taken over the building's time as a cinema. Charlie Brown (grandfather of Andy Brown), opened and managed the Gaumont from 1931 to 1935. The building operated as a Gaumont cinema until November 1960.
The Gaumont Palace was built by the Gaumont British Picture Corporation.
Newspaper announcing the opening of the Gaumont Palace Cinema in Anfield.
Foyer decorated for the film Cavalcade -based on a play by Noel Coward. The promoters and owners went all out on marketing back then!
The 1600 seat Gaumont theatre.
A girl attendant hands the cinema programme to the Lord Mayor and Mayoress of Liverpool on their first visit to the Gaumont Palace cinema's opening night 21 December 1931
Opening of Gaumont Cinema
Pre-internet and social media, the cinema promotors worked hard to get the message out and the audiences in to see their films. They produced elaborate promotional sets with costumes and props and often paraded through the streets of Anfield! The first movie shown in Gaumont Palace was Trader Horn - a picture of the promotional display is to the right,
An early example of product placement! Whitestar Line - a transatlantic passenger steamer service, came to advertise the showing of their promotional film.
Greyhounds promote the film Wild Boy.
These were local dogs including the star greyhound, Mick the Miller.
Gaumont Palace attendants entertaining the public, possibly before a film or even as a stand-alone event.
Member of staff dressed as a character in the film, to promote the picture in the town. The film It's a boy! was released in 1933.
Programme handed out on the opening day. This was the programme handed to the Lord Mayor of Liverpool
Programme for the new upcoming film at that time Daddy Long Legs