Picture House Wakefield

Also known as the Playhouse, and Classic it was Wakefield's first purpose built cinema with seating for 1460 patrons. Closed in the 1950's the building has since been a Bingo Hall, skateboard centre and night-club. . It was built on the instructions of Sydney Tolfree, and cost £13,000. The Picture House had a simple auditorium with a single balcony that extended down the side almost to the stage wall and was provided  wirh a small stage and orchestra pit.The name was changed not long after opening but the Picture house name remained emblazoned across the frontage. It was the first of Wakefield s cinemas to be equipped for sound. Used primarily as a cinema it was sold to Classic and closed around the mid 1980's. It has subsequently been used for a skateboard centre and a club. Little of the features in the auditorium survive but the façade has been restored.