There was once a cinema in almost every district of Sheffield as well as the city centre, but they are all long gone, many demolished or the buildings repurposed.
Tracing back to the emergence of motion picture work in the late nineteenth century, the history of cinemas in Sheffield is truly captivating.
It all started on 10th July 1905, when cinematographer Jasper Redfern opened Central Hall on Norfolk Street, showcasing variety acts alongside animated pictures and films.
This evolution sparked a wave of purpose-built venues throughout the 1910s, kickstarted in 1910 by the establishment of Sheffield's very first purpose-built cinema, the Picture Palace on Union Street.
Our gallery of 27 nostalgic photographs takes a step back in time to look at Sheffield’s cinemas of the past
How many can you remember?
1. The Palace
The Palace, Union Street, opened on August 1, 1910, and was Sheffield's first purpose built cinema. The cinema closed on October 31, 1964 and was later demolished.
2. Abbeydale Picture House
Designed by Dixon and Stienley, Abbeydale Picture House opened on December 20, 1920. The cinema closed on July 5, 1975 and the building was bought by A. and F. Drake Ltd. and converted into an office furniture showroom. Today the building is undergoing a restoration, with the upstairs again being used to screen films and stage events, while the downstairs is a popular bar. The landmark, on Abbeydale Road, Sheffield, is pictured here in 1975, shortly before the cinema closed.
3. Scala Cinema
The auditorium of the Scala Cinema, at the corner of Brook Hill and Winter Street, Sheffield, in 1923. Photo: Picture Sheffield/Kevin Wheelan | Picture Sheffield/Kevin Wheelan
4. Barker's Pool
Barker's Pool, Sheffield city centre, in 1945, with the Gaumont Cinema (previously The Regent) on the right | Picture Sheffield/Stewart Bale Ltd