Palace Theatre returns to a time of vintage cinema (From Southend Standard)
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Palace Theatre returns to a time of vintage cinema
10:00am Thursday 20th September 2012 in Echo News By Jasmin McDermott
Programme seller – Ann Whittington has worked at the Palace Theatre for thirty years
VINTAGE glamour and retro transformed the Palace Theatre into a 1930s-style cinema for the night.
Staff at the theatre, in London Road, Westcliff , glammed up in sparkling dresses and dapper suits to greet visitors to the building, which is celebrating its centenary year.
The foyer of the theatre featured a themed cocktail bar, where film fanatics could sip a refreshing retro cocktail before the film.
The evenings events were overseen by the cinema’s own theatre commissionaire, who also greeted guests as they walked through the doors.
A programme of three popular 1930’s films were screened at the cinema, including the Mysterious Dr Fu Manchu, Secrets of a Secretary and the Rainbow Trial, each following a Laurel and Hardy short comedy cartoon.
Emily Malcolm, community and education manager for the theatre, said: “It was an absolutely brilliant evening.
“We had so many people who dressed up for the occasion and it was great to see everyone really get into the spirit of evening.
“Our next big event for the centenary is on October 21 when we celebrate the Palace Theatre’s birthday and then, on November 1, we launch our community play, One Hundred Shining Hearts.”
