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1930′S CINEMA NIGHT AT THE PALACE THEATRE, WESTCLIFF

The Palace Theatre was celebrating its 100th birthday this year and as part of the celebrations, we were taken back in time to the 1930′s when the Palace was a cinema.  Complete with usherettes’ and a cocktail bar as well as a selection of original films shown at the Palace Cinema during its first week of opening


We were encouraged to dress in 1930′s costume (unfortunately I didn’t have anything suitable with me) the only nod to the 30′s in my outfit was a pearl necklace and bright red lipstick.

Palace Theatre Westcliff 1930 Staff Costumes

I was rather fond of the cocktail bar and 30′s menu… starting off with the Gin Fizz and finishing with a Martini (I needed to get some food when we came out as they were the strongest drinks I have ever tasted)

1930 Cocktail Menu

Unlike the current cinema practice, in the past you would have a series of shorts before the film started; a news segment, some cartoons – we had Popeye and Betty Boop as well as a short episode of Laurel and Hardy and part of an ongoing serial.  The intro lasted for about an hour, then there was a short interval (perfect for grabbing another drink) before the feature presentation started.

We had The Mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu. Oh, it is a terrible, terrible film; but it wasn’t really about that – it was about the atmosphere and the feeling that we had travelled back in time for the evening.  Hopefully they’ll have more nights like this and if they do I would thoroughly recommend that you go.