Peter Stewart

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.

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.

The Planet Reigate podcast. Great stories from Reigate.

The Planet Reigate podcast. Great stories from Reigate.

I'm here on top of the Bancroft Road car park looking down at Bancroft Road. And last week we heard all about the Music Hall double act, Harry and Emmy Bancroft, who fell in love and married and settled in Reigate after World War I. And as theatres were replaced by cinemas, they wanted to get in on the act, so to speak.

I'm here on top of the Bancroft Road car park looking down at Bancroft Road. And last week we heard all about the Music Hall double act, Harry and Emmy Bancroft, who fell in love and married and settled in Reigate after World War I. And as theatres were replaced by cinemas, they wanted to get in on the act, so to speak.

Emmy running the Hippodrome on Bell Street on the site of Wagamama's restaurant today. with Harry running a chain of cinemas in East Anglia. At the end of the last episode, Emmy had just heard of a new cinema that was due to open in Redhill, and she was worried again about their livelihood. And so she and Harry hatched a plan. If you can't beat them, join them, and then go on better.

Emmy running the Hippodrome on Bell Street on the site of Wagamama's restaurant today. with Harry running a chain of cinemas in East Anglia. At the end of the last episode, Emmy had just heard of a new cinema that was due to open in Redhill, and she was worried again about their livelihood. And so she and Harry hatched a plan. If you can't beat them, join them, and then go on better.

And this week, the story continues of Harry and Emmy Bancroft of Bancroft Road fame. Emmy Bancroft was clearly an astute businesswoman, rightly concerned by the potentially damaging competition of a new Art Deco picture house opening in the other half of the borough, in Redhill, and diverting trade from her in Reigate.

And this week, the story continues of Harry and Emmy Bancroft of Bancroft Road fame. Emmy Bancroft was clearly an astute businesswoman, rightly concerned by the potentially damaging competition of a new Art Deco picture house opening in the other half of the borough, in Redhill, and diverting trade from her in Reigate.