Devon Cinema Gazetteer

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TAVISTOCK

Walford's Cinema

The old Corn Exchange building in West Street became a cinema around 1912.  The original operator was Clarence Walford, the operation may well have been part time.  Run for a time by O S Davis the cinema was taken over in 1924 by Charles J Burow who continued to operate the cinema until after the war.  There was 400 seats and the proscenium width was 18' with a stage 20' deep and British Thompson Houston sound. By 1949 Archie Lewis Cinemas Ltd of Dawlish was running the cinema and continued until the mid 1950s.  The building is now shops.

Nice 1930's photograph of the Tavistock Cinema, the building on the right has since been demolished. Photo:        Cinema Theatre Association

Wharf Centre

Opened in February 1995 this arts centre was designed by local architect Steve Whettern.  The building was designed with a cinema/theatre for 212 with stage and 35mm projection.

Gone but not forgotten:  Carlton

Opened in the 1930s by EJ & WE Pope as part of their growing local circuit, the cinemas castellation is in keeping with the rest of the town.  The sound system was RCA and there was seating for 661. By 1955 there was a 40' screen installed within a 41' proscenium.  The cinema closed by the 1970s.  It was until demolition in 2006 an amusement arcade on Plymouth Road.

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