The cinema is set to close on Saturday 25th September 1999 for the very last time, luckly the building and most of the fittings, including most of the projection equipment have a preservation order.

The Cinema building owners (Torbay Railway)want to convert the cinema foyer as the entrance to their railway station, but will have to restore the cinema back to it's 1920's style.
A special farewell last show in true cinema style will take place on the 26th September with a screening "The Smallest Show on Earth".

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Aaron

I thought Ben and others would like to see some pictures I took of the following cinema about three years before closure. There were two 35mm Westrex 5000 projectors with a Westrex Tower, and a long runner 16mm Debrie projector. I believe before closure a Philips FP 20 projector was temporary installed by the leaseholder.

The Picture House, later renamed Torbay Cinema, Paignton in Devon, could be a contender for the oldest purpose built cinema in continuous use since 1908, although now closed due to the new Apollo multiplex. Owned by the Torbay Railway Company it does have occasional theatre use, and there are future plans to include films. During restoration a mass of history was discovered, that had been secretly walled up for years. Perfectly preserved from almost the opening day, many posters, records of film bookings, film rentals, and staff wages. A museum was later opened next door to the cinema. Famous thriller novelist Agatha Christie always booked the same seat in the circle on a regular basis.
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The following are quotes from the “Famous Projectionists” thread.

Leo said: (referring to posts about the Electric Cinema, Portobello Road, London & Cameo Cinema, Edinburgh, Scotland)

Dick/Pete: Two other venues also lay claim to be the oldest purpose-built cinema still operating in the UK: The Picture House in Campbeltown, Argyll, Scotland and the Duke of York's cinema in Brighton. Can't remember any dates for Brighton but the question mark over the Campbeltown Picture House is whether the building was intended to be a cinema when it first went up in early 1909. There is some confusion over whether it was originally designed as a theatre - the company that began it went bust soon after the builders moved in and was bought out before it was complete.
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Pictures of the Torbay Cinema. The boxes at the rear of the circle do have seats.