The Olympic Hall Skating Rink in Littlehampton opened on 16th March 1910. However, as in many other towns, skating went out of fashion fairly quickly, and the building soon went over to theatrical performances. Film shows followed and, by 1913, the building had been renamed the Empire Theatre and Cinema.

Sometime in the 1920’s the Empire Theatre and Cinema was renamed the Palladium Cinema.  By 1953 there were then 890 seats; this had reduced to 650 by 1980.

 The cinema lasted until Friday 26th September 1986, when it closed with Steven Spielberg’s “E.T.”. The seating capacity at closure was reported as being ‘only’ 430, so perhaps only the stalls was being used by then.

Text extracts and photos are from website Cinema Treasures, see the full page for more detailed information about The Palladium.

Visit our Time Tunnel for images connected with this cinema.

See the Littlehampton Memories page for amusing and touching recollections of visiting Littlehampton's old cinemas.