Peter Stewart

And at the Priory sale in 1922, we've spoken about this before on the podcast, it was a time when an awful lot of land and buildings, which had been owned by Lady Summers, including Priory Park and Priory House, that whole private estate, and many other buildings around the town, they were sold off, as I say, in 1922. And Harry and Emmy got the freehold of the Palace Picture Drome, for £1,500.

And at the Priory sale in 1922, we've spoken about this before on the podcast, it was a time when an awful lot of land and buildings, which had been owned by Lady Summers, including Priory Park and Priory House, that whole private estate, and many other buildings around the town, they were sold off, as I say, in 1922. And Harry and Emmy got the freehold of the Palace Picture Drome, for £1,500.

That's about £7,000 in today's money. The cinema on the site of, well, where Wagamama's is today, had seating for 750 people, and the hall had a sloping floor. and enough room to house an entire orchestra. So what more do we know about Emmy? Well, she seems to have been an extraordinary woman.

That's about £7,000 in today's money. The cinema on the site of, well, where Wagamama's is today, had seating for 750 people, and the hall had a sloping floor. and enough room to house an entire orchestra. So what more do we know about Emmy? Well, she seems to have been an extraordinary woman.

The looks and talents to be on stage, and the business brain behind the development of this part of Reigate. Emmy Ames, as was, had been a singer and actor who established quite a name for herself in both the music halls and in pantomime, excelling in what were then known as trouser roles, which allowed glamorous women to show off their legs. Rather scandalous at the time.

The looks and talents to be on stage, and the business brain behind the development of this part of Reigate. Emmy Ames, as was, had been a singer and actor who established quite a name for herself in both the music halls and in pantomime, excelling in what were then known as trouser roles, which allowed glamorous women to show off their legs. Rather scandalous at the time.

And it was while touring that Emmy met Harry, and they formed a partnership on stage, in business, and in life as well. Now, the cinema business was not quite the end of Emmy's career as an entertainer on stage. The Hippodrome on Bell Street, like most cinemas before the talkies arrived, frequently alternated the programme of mostly short, silent films with live comic or musical acts –

And it was while touring that Emmy met Harry, and they formed a partnership on stage, in business, and in life as well. Now, the cinema business was not quite the end of Emmy's career as an entertainer on stage. The Hippodrome on Bell Street, like most cinemas before the talkies arrived, frequently alternated the programme of mostly short, silent films with live comic or musical acts –

And several times a week, Emmy took her place on the small stage in front of the screen and did her bit, serenading the audience with selections from her repertoire of romantic, sentimental and humorous songs, and until the end of the war in 1918, always finished with patriotic songs with rousing choruses in which everyone could join in.

And several times a week, Emmy took her place on the small stage in front of the screen and did her bit, serenading the audience with selections from her repertoire of romantic, sentimental and humorous songs, and until the end of the war in 1918, always finished with patriotic songs with rousing choruses in which everyone could join in.

The Bancrofts, Harry and Emmy, did their real best to improve the Hippodrome. They introduced more comfortable seating and also, get this, a roof that could be raised to ventilate the auditorium.

The Bancrofts, Harry and Emmy, did their real best to improve the Hippodrome. They introduced more comfortable seating and also, get this, a roof that could be raised to ventilate the auditorium.

As much a necessity in those pre-bathroom days when the only full wash was taken by most people once a week in a galvanised bath in front of the fire at home as it was to clear the smoky fog produced by the patrons' numerous pipes and cigarettes. So, Emmy was the manager of the Hippodrome and renamed it the Premier Picture Theatre of Surrey. It's a great name, isn't it?

As much a necessity in those pre-bathroom days when the only full wash was taken by most people once a week in a galvanised bath in front of the fire at home as it was to clear the smoky fog produced by the patrons' numerous pipes and cigarettes. So, Emmy was the manager of the Hippodrome and renamed it the Premier Picture Theatre of Surrey. It's a great name, isn't it?

And her husband, Harry, acquired or built several other cinemas, but all the way over in Cambridgeshire and the East Midlands. Anyway, by the 1920s, he'd left much of the day-to-day management of the Reigate Hippodrome, or I should say the premier picture theatre of Surrey in the hands of his wife.

And her husband, Harry, acquired or built several other cinemas, but all the way over in Cambridgeshire and the East Midlands. Anyway, by the 1920s, he'd left much of the day-to-day management of the Reigate Hippodrome, or I should say the premier picture theatre of Surrey in the hands of his wife.

By the mid-thirties, though, it was a little bit dated, and as well as competing with several existing picture houses in Red Hill, there was the strong rumour that the Odeon Company had plans to build a large Art Deco cinema there as well. they were about to face some stiff competition.

By the mid-thirties, though, it was a little bit dated, and as well as competing with several existing picture houses in Red Hill, there was the strong rumour that the Odeon Company had plans to build a large Art Deco cinema there as well. they were about to face some stiff competition.

But Emmy had a brainwave, and you can hear more about that in our next episode, as the story of Harry and Emmy continues on the Planet Reigate podcast. And we're deeply indebted to Sean Hawkins for his original research. Now, you can hear several other stories of local history and the notable and famous people who've lived in the Planet Reigate area in several of our previous episodes.

But Emmy had a brainwave, and you can hear more about that in our next episode, as the story of Harry and Emmy continues on the Planet Reigate podcast. And we're deeply indebted to Sean Hawkins for his original research. Now, you can hear several other stories of local history and the notable and famous people who've lived in the Planet Reigate area in several of our previous episodes.