The Princess Cinema, 168 - 170 North Promenade, Blackpool

Formerly - The Swiss Roller Rink / The Princess Electric Theatre - Later - ABC / Bizness Nightclub / Waterfront Nightclub / Sanuk Nightclub / Barvarian / Woody's Bar / The Old Electric

Blackpool Theatres Index - Blackpool Theatres Article by Donald Auty

Above - The Front Elevation of the Princess Cinema, Blackpool in 1926 - From The Bioscope, 10th of June 1926.

The crumbling but interesting facade of the building currently called Woody's Bar which is situated on the North Promenade, Blackpool originally opened as the Princess Electric Theatre on the 12th of December 1912. It was a conversion of the former Swiss Roller Rink which had opened a few years earlier in 1909, this was itself a conversion of a former Gymnasium.

Right - An Early Advertisement for the Swiss Roller Rink, Blackpool, later converted into the Princess Electric Theatre - From the Fleetwood Express, 22nd of December 1909.

The Blackpool Gazette & Herald reported briefly on the opening of the new Princess Electric Theatre in their 13th of December 1912 edition saying:- 'Yesterday, the Princess Electric Theatre, Metropole Buildings, North Promenade, was opened, and it represented the last word in picture theatre luxury.

Left - An advertisement for the soon to be opened Princess Electric Theatre, Blackpool - From the Fleetwood Express, 4th of December 1912.

Messrs. Horsley and Ward, the enterprising proprietors, are to be congratulated on the success of a unique transformation of the old "Swiss" rink into a modern entertainment house.

The well-sprung, comfortable tip-up chairs, a thick pile carpet, and ornate surroundings are gratifying features which must conduce to the comfort of the patron. And in addition there is the most up-to-date machinery for film showing, which gives a bright, steady and flickerless picture.

Above - The Auditorium of the Princess Cinema, Blackpool in 1925 - From The Bioscope, 10th of December 1925.

All these things were favourably commented upon yesterday afternoon, when the opening exhibition was given before a large and representative audience, who thoroughly enjoyed a varied programme. The lighting is by Mr. W. Fielding, heating by Messrs. Lawrence and Co., and the luxurious furnishings by Bickerstaffe, Ltd. Henceforward there will be two exhibitions daily.' - The Blackpool Gazette & Herald, 13th of December 1912.

Above - The former Princess Cinema, Blackpool in August 2012 - Photo M. L.

This early Blackpool Cinema seated 905 people when it first opened in December 1912 but it was later enlarged to the designs of Halstead Best, and then reopened as the much larger Princess Cinema on the 10th of July 1922 with a showing of the Film 'Way Down East' accompanied by a live orchestra, and now with seating for 1,770 people.

Right - A Google StreetView Image of the former Princess Electric Theatre, Blackpool in January 2021 - Click to Interact.

The Cinema was taken over by ABC in 1929 and they ran it for many years until finally closing it in 1981. The building then went into decline when it was used as a punk music centre and then an indoor market, followed by a succession of Nightclubs called 'Bizness', 'Waterfront', and lastly 'Club Sanuk'. It was then converted for use as a bar called Barvarian, and this was later renamed 'Woody's Bar' and billed as 'Where Benidorm Meets Blackpool'. In 2023 however, the upper part of the auditorium of the former Princess Cinema was converted for use as a community arts space called 'The Old Electric' with an art gallery and Workshops, and a 200 seat live theatre space, with its main entrance on Springfield Road. It's good to see that the building has returned to its roots a little and one can only hope that this is successful and that the building will eventually be restored, at least externally.

You may like to visit The Old Electric's own Website here.

Above - The former Princess Cinema, Blackpool and in the distance, the Blackpool Tower in August 2012 - Photo M. L.

Above - A Google StreetView Image showing the side and rear elevations of the former Princess Electric Theatre, Blackpool, and current entrance to 'The Old Electric' on Springfield Road in March 2023 - Click to Interact.

Some of the later information on this page was gleaned from the excellent Cinema Treasures website.

If you have any more information or images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact me.