Originally called the Picture Palace, the Standard Cinema opened in 1909 at 79-80 East Street, premises which were formerly a furniture shop. The name was changed to the Standard Electric Theatre in 1910 and thereafter shortened to simply the Standard. In 1924 it was bought by James Parker, who refurbished it, putting in extra seats and a balcony. It was damaged during the Blitz of 1940 and then sold to the nearby Edwin Jones department store (later Debenhams). The building still stands opposite the Debenhams store at the eastern end of East Street (image below).
The Former Standard Cinema, East Street.
Photograph, 2015
Further reading:
Dream Palaces, by Bill White. (HS/r)
Southampton Cinemas, by John C. Shephard. (HS/r
The Big Show: British Cinema Culture in the Great War 1914-1918, by Michael Hammond. (HS/r)
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