Victoria Cinema Victoria Road and Wargrave Road Earlstown

In an action for non-payment of professional fees brought by Foden, Hemm, and Williams, the history of the scheme was recounted in Manchester Crown Court. Mr Foden had been asked by a Mr Dixon to look for a suitable site for a picture palace and a convenient site was found in Victoria Road Earlestown. At the time the South Lancashire Hippodrome Company owned both the existing cinemas in Earlestown – the Pavilion and the Empire. However, the Council was considering the acquisition of the Empire as a site for a public wash-house. Dixon agreed with the South Lancashire Hippodrome Company to give up his scheme on condition that he was freed from all liability and that Foden Hemm and  Williams were to continue to act as architects for the Victoria Road Cinema. The plans were approved but a Doncaster builder then put in plans for a cinema and bowling green in Railway Street to cost about £18,000, compared with the £12,500 for the Victoria Road cinema. The proposed wash-house scheme also fell through.

Reference    Builder Volume 147 28 December 1934 Page 1126
Reference    Manchester Guardian 25 July 1935 page 5 – Crown Court