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Hebden Bridge Picture House

Flicking through a cinema's history

Hebden Bridge Picture House celebrated its 80th birthday in 2001, yet its fortunes read like a long running epic from the silver screen!

Opened in July 1921 by a group of local businessmen trading under the name of Thistle Holme Estate Company, the Picture House became a thriving source of entertainment during the 1930's and into the war years.

However, the Picture House suffered the same fate as countless other cinemas with the national decline in cinema going and for a time in 1964/65 it closed its doors.

Private individuals then reopened the cinema and during the next phase of its history the Hebden Bridge Light Opera Society, who used the cinema as a venue for their annual production, carried out improvements. These included an extension to the stage and improved lighting.

Hebden Royd Town Council purchased the premises in November 1972 and again the cinema closed for a period from January 1974. By 1977, the Picture House, now under the ownership of Calderdale Council, closed once again for major refurbishment. Over £50,000 was spent on stone cleaning, rewiring and new dressing rooms.

In 1996, cuts in public expenditure resulted in the threat of closure looming over the cinema. Feelings ran high in the town and there were a series of protest meetings. The Friends of Hebden Bridge Picture House was formed in September of the same year, with a view to saving and promoting the cinema.

Hebden Bridge Picture House is one of the last remaining film theatres outside the big city centre chains. With seating for around 5,000 it is a public hall able to screen films as well as hosting live shows and music concerts.

Pay it a visit one day - and don't forget the popcorn!

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