Rejoicing in Ripon: Ripon eagerly awaits the relaunch of big screen entertainment
May next year will see the 50th anniversary of the first Star Wars film being shown at the Palladium Cinema on Kirkgate ⭐️
It’s a highly appropriate golden jubilee in Ripon as we eagerly await the return of big screen cinema to the city, following the submission of a planning application by award‑winning operators John Tate and John Hewitt – as exclusively reported by the Rejoicing in Ripon blog.
It’s also a special landmark year for Ken Ferguson – or Ripon City Ken as he is known to his 1,600 Facebook followers 📹 – because seeing the George Lucas blockbuster was the first of many cinema‑going treats for him and his family, and the launch pad for his lifelong love of the silver screen 🎞️
This morning (Wednesday 22 April), while out filming the latest of his pieces showcasing Ripon’s history, heritage and on‑the‑streets stories, he met with Tim Flanagan of the Rejoicing in Ripon blog and said:
“I’ve lived in Ripon since 1975 when, as a young child, my family was posted here with the army and that exciting first visit to a cinema came two years later with my dad John, who was a Royal Engineer, and big sister Tracey. It was literally an out‑of‑this‑world experience 🚀.”
Ken added:
“Trips to the cinema were a real highlight in those days — not only going to the Palladium with family to watch films, but also holding a special birthday party there when they were showing Bedknobs and Broomsticks, starring Angela Lansbury 🎂🎥.”
The Palladium’s place in Ripon’s story 🎭
The Palladium film theatre, which opened in 1915, received an Art Deco makeover in 1967 before closing 15 years later.
In a city with such deep military heritage, the Palladium was, throughout both world wars, a social and cultural hub, where servicemen and women sat alongside local residents to enjoy the latest releases and Pathe News reels 🇬🇧
Ken said:
“The last film I saw at the Palladium was the 1980 Popeye film starring the late, great Robin Williams. After the cinema shut in 1982, we had to go to the ODEON in Harrogate for our big screen fix.”
An eagerly awaited arrival 🍿
Ripon BID Manager Lilla Bathurst, said:
“Ripon City Council, Ripon Civic Society and BID members are all in favour of the proposed three‑screen cinema which, in addition to giving a massive boost to our city’s day and night‑time economy 🌙, will bring the refurbishment of the former Original Factory Shop premises in Fishergate that are empty and in a semi‑dilapidated state.”
At street level, Ken has picked up on the overwhelming desire among citizens and visitors to see the cinema plans approved as soon as possible.
He added:
“As a film lover, it will be great to experience the big screen again in Ripon, and everywhere I go in the city, like‑minded film lovers are saying the same 🎟️
Having three screens will mean loads of choice — something for children, families, couples, horror/thriller fans, period drama lovers and arts audiences alike.”
The public can support the planning application by commenting in support via https://publicaccess.northyorks.gov.uk/ reference no: 26/01508/FUL
Ken Ferguson (AKA Ripon City Ken) pictured outside the building in Kirkgate that was the location of the Palladium Cinema for more the 60 years. Photo credit: Tim Flanagan of Rejoicing in Ripon Blog for Ripon BID
Ken outside the former The Original Farm Shop premises in Fishergate, where a three-screen cinema is planned. Photo credit: Tim Flanagan of Rejoicing in Ripon Blog for Ripon BID
