Description:On the corner of Cleveland Street and Bournes Bank, The Essoldo was the first cinema in Burslem (opened in 1911) and started life as the Burslem Picture Palace. It was rebuilt as The New Palace in 1936, renamed as The Ritz in 1951 and became The Essoldo in 1962. After becoming a bingo hall in 1968, the building was demolished in 1989.
The owner of the Picture Palace, William Rhodes, made a film ‘A Pottery Girl’s Romance’ which was first shown at this cinema. The story is set in a potbank, where the local bully chases the prettiest girl in the works, is rebuffed, and plots his revenge. Luckily, there is a handsome hero who, after a few fights, a death and a chase involving a fire wins the girl!
The film was shot in Burslem and just used local streets and industrial districts as the backdrop and used mainly local actors. The film had its premiere at The Picture Palace in September 1918.