Patricroft Picturedrome/ Majestic Cinema Patricroft Eccles

Originally called the Patricroft Picturedrome, the Majestic opened on Tuesday 19th November 1912. The architect was Mr N H Hacking and the cinema was built by the local company of Messrs Chapman & Sons, Patricroft. The owners were Mr and Mrs Bennis, who lived at 2 Half Edge Lane, Eccles.

In 1915 the Patricroft Picturedrome changed its name to the more regal sounding Majestic. This was to avoid confusion with the Picture House Public Hall, Patricroft. By 1916 a "First Class Orchestra" had been added, known as the Aeolian  Orchestra.  Reports of "constant outbursts of applause" showed that "the patrons of the Majestic appreciate good music."  In January 1920 Mrs Bennie sold the Majestic to the Lancashire Entertainments Co Ltd for £28,000.  Lancashire Entertainments also purchased the Empire Picture House and built the Regent Picture House, Regent Street. The Majestic was enlarged and a balcony fitted; it could now seat 850 patrons.

Despite  the  opening  of  the Princes Cinema, Monton, in 1928 and the opening of the Broadway In 1932, the Majestic still played to full houses; and  remained open even during the installation of a new Western Electric sound system, considered to be the best in the world, and while new luxurious seats and carpets were fitted. The boom in television was to sound the death knell for many cinemas. In April 1959 the Majestic closed.