The Playhouse opened in 1931 with the futuristic film "Just Imagine" and was run by CAC. Original seating was 429 in balcony, and approx. 800 in stalls. The auditorium was quite plain, apart from the ceiling which had a flat dome lit around the edges. There were large openings on either side of the proscenium opening, lit from behind with coloured lamps. Screen tabs were lit by traditional footlights and battens. The balcony was entered by two sets of doors at the rear.
Original projection equipment was Ross, with front shutter projectors and RCA sound.
The cinema was taken over by J.B. Milne theatres in the late 1950's (the same time as the Playhouse Montrose), when projection equipment was replaced with BTH projectors and sound. Arc lamps were Peerless Magnarcs. The only other change made at this time was replacing the
carpet in the stalls aisles with the JB Milne trademark green rubber.
The cinema was again taken over by Kingsway Entertainments in 1968/69.
No changes were made, and films continued three times weekly on Mon-Wed-Fri opening at 5.30pm and 2.00pm on Saturdays - there were no Sunday performances.
In October 1972 the Playhouse closed for six weeks for modernisation. the entire cinema was stripped out, including all light fittings. The balcony was altered to create two small entrance tunnels near the front, and the old rear entrances were used as exits. New red seats were installed, and capacity reduced to 340 seats. Stalls seating was also upgraded with much improved legroom, seating 390 and leaving a large open space between the front row and the stage. All houselighting and stage lighting was removed and replaced with a new battery of spots mounted in the front of the balcony in order to floodlight the proscenium. New screen curtains were put in, and the splay wall openings curtained over. The dome cove lighting was reintroduced around 1976/77.
Kingsway did a very good job of the refurbishment and it looked modern and airy with a hint of the old.
The next change was to the projection equipment around 1979 when Westar projectors and a new Westrex transistorised amp was installed along with two Peerless xenon conversions. Projectors were adapted to take 5,000ft spools. The projectors and sound heads came from the Pavilion Cinema in Forfar, which had been on bingo for many years but had been well looked after by the former chief who still worked there as a handyman.
Later in 1981 one Westar was replaced by a Phillips FP20 and a Westrex Long playing tower. The remaining Westar could be used for emergencies, and the old RCA amp was also kept for the same purpose.
The old canopy was also removed, and replaced by a flat, back-lit readograph with interchangeable letters. Films then ran either for six days or were changed twice weekly on Mon and Thursday. Sunday shows were finally introduced in 1978 after many refusals by the local authorities.
In 1984 the Playhouse was a very busy cinema with average admissions of over 1,900, and between 5000 to 6000 for the blockbusters. For a small town it was kept in very good condition by the owners and well patronised by both the locals and people in the surrounding areas.
The stalls were adapted for amusements, though films continued to be shown in the balcony, which sat 330. This closed finally in August 1999, and was later converted to a nightclub, which has operated for many years under the name Deja Vu.
Information above and archive photos courtesy of Allan Goodall.
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The Aberdeen Press & Journal article - 17th July 1931
PETERHEAD SUPER-CINEMA.
£20,000 Building With 1265 Seats.
SCOTSMEN’S QUICK JOB.
A noble extension of the entertainment facilities of Peterhead and district was inaugurated yesterday afternoon with the formal opening of the Playhouse, Peterhead’s new super-cinema, which, at a cost of over £20,000, has been erected on an imposing site in Queen Street.
A large audience of the general public witnessed the opening show, and there were present, as guests of the management, members of Peterhead Town Council, the Deer District Committee, representatives of other public bodies, and directors of the Peterhead Public Hall Company.
Dr T. H. W. Alexander, Lhanbryd, chairman of the Peterhead Playhouse Company, Ltd., presided, and in a brief welcome paid tribute to the spirit of co-operation and team work among the various contractors and their employees, which had made possible the completion of the building in the record time of eighteen weeks.
“America has nothing to teach Scottish contractors in the way of hustle,” was his comment. It was eighteen weeks since the work of demolition began, and thirteen weeks since the first brick was laid. The result be left to the audience to judge for themselves. (Applause.)
The capital of the company, he went on, was entirely subscribed in the North of Scotland, and parts of it came from Peterhead.
The cinema bears out the claim that it is one of the finest in the country. It is equipped throughout with the latest cinema devices. There is seating accommodation of the most comfortable nature for 1265.
Beautiful Interior.
The interior decorations are in keeping with the imposing outward appearance of the building. A feature is a giant six-colour illuminative star in the ceiling. The walls are stepped in buffs, oranges, blues, and greens, elegantly set off with silver ornamentation.
Sound is of the Western Electric, and the projectors are the latest production of the firm of Ross. These, in conjunction with a patent Westone screen and the Insulite-lined walls, are responsible for exceptionally clear pictorial and sound effects.
The entire building has been specially designed by Messrs W. and J. Taylor and Co., F. and A.R.I.B.A., Inverness, to obtain the best acoustics and conform to the most modern ideas in cinema architecture.
Not the least attractive feature of the cinema is the tastefully-appointed tearoom, through which access is obtained to the balcony.
The contractors are:—Steel work, Messrs Redpath Brown and Co., Glasgow; joiner work, Messrs R. Pert and Sons, Montrose; plumber work, Messrs Colin Wood and Co., Montrose; plaster and marble work, Messrs Sellar and Co., Aberdeen; painting, Mr A. MacDonald, Forres; wiring, Messrs T. C. Smith and Co., Aberdeen; heating and ventilation, Messrs G. N. Haden, Glasgow; slating and asphalting, Messrs R. Pert and Sons.
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Buchan Observer & East Aberdeen Advertiser article - 23rd June 1931
(Reporting prior to the opening)
"THE PLAYHOUSE"
PETERHEAD'S NEW THEATRE
The commodius and handsome new Cinema which has raied its head in Queen Street has for some time been an arresting feature of the skyline of Peterhead. It will be known as "The Playhouse," and according to the official assurances of the management it will be opened to the public within three weeks time.
"The Playhouse" will have accommodation for between 1200 and 1300 people, and the seats will be of the most up-to-date type, providing the maximum comfort for patrons. In this connection, it is of interest to know that the chairs are being supplied by Messrs Paterson of Glasgow, the firm that fitted the luxury liner, "Empress of Britain."
The new cinema will have one feature absolutely new to the north. The lighting will be on the "trough" refelection principle, which has been introduced with such good results in the new Victoria picturehouses in London and Edinburgh.
Two of the very latest Ross projectors have been fitted, with a high-intensity arc lamp which ensures a perfectly illuminated screen all the time. This is a costly installation, rarely found outside the super-cinemas of the large cities.
As regards acoustics, the interior of the building is entirely lined with insultie, a wod-fibre boarding which takes the place of plaster and guards effectively against the common nuisance caused by echoes.
Needless to say the "talki" apparatus is of the latest type, and is fitted with the famous Roxy horn.
An innovation which is likely to prove popular in Peterhead is the provision of a first-class tearoom which will be run in conjunction with the Playhouse.
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Buchan Observer & East Aberdeen Advertiser article - 21st July 1931
(Reporting now after the opening)
THE PLAYHOUSE
AN AUSPICIOUS OPENING
Peterhead's magnificent new cinema, The Playhouse, was opened last Thursday afternoon, and already its salient characteristics are familiar to a large number of the citizens and residents of the district, so that it is quite unnecessary to "gild the lily" in this column.
Nevertheless it must be placed on record that The Playhouse, imposing as is the exterior, causes the visitor for the first time a gasp of pleasant surprise by its beautiful interior, charming in design and replete with all that is latest in artistic design and comfortable equipment. The system of illumination is specially attractive, the decorations are agreeable to the eye, and the screen and sound projection as near the perfection level as has been attained anywhere. Every one of the 1265 persons for whom there is seating accommodation is able to hear and see in the highest degree of comfort.
The opening show, on Thursday afternoon, attracted a large audience and the programme submitted was greatly enjoyed, the appeal of the principal film, "Just Imagine," being both powerful and mirth-provoking. Among those present were members of the Town Council and other public boards in Peterhead. Since the opening day the new cinema has played to capacity, and the delightfully appointed tearoom, equipped and decorated on the latest city lines, promises to become a favourite social rendezvous.
Mr Leander J. S. Wilkinson, manager of The Playhouse, introduced Dr T. W. H. Alexander, Lhanbryd, chairman of the Peterhead Playhouse Company. Ltd., who congratulated the architect and contractors with which the premises had been erected and expressed the hope that the new place of entertainement would meet the needs and wishes of a large clientele.
David Simpson
