Highland Moors, Llandrindod Wells

May 26, 2015

Cinema pioneer's hall still stands


The building where early film-maker Arthur Cheetham used to entertain crowds with his moving pictures still stands in Rhyl town centre, although its historical ...

significance isn't obvious to passers by. The building was known as the Lyric Hall and by other names at various times, but Cheetham's was the most popular name. Arthur Cheetham made the oldest known film of a British soccer match, in 1899, and filmed the visit of "Buffalo Bill" to Rhyl. He had settled in Rhyl as a phrenologist, claiming he could divine a person's character and mental abilities just by feeling the shape of their head. For more about this colourful character, scan the QR codes on the door of the gold shop which now occupies part of his former cinema building. Or click here