Carib Cinema

Carib Cinema Cir 1946

PALACE AMUSEMENT CO. (1921) LTD.
Audley Moraise, Managing Director
CINEMA SHOWS AND ENTERTAINMENTS
Head Office: Gaiety Bldg.,
East Queen Street, Kingston

The photograph to the left was taken in 1946 and it would seem to have been taken from the Cross Roads Market directly opposite the front of the cinema. The very small writing directly under "CARIB" is the advertising space for what is showing. When this picture was taken in 1946 the advertising space shows: GREAT EXPECTATIONS...JOHN MILLS...VALERIE HOBSON...ACTION/ADVENTURE...SUSPENSE

Carib Cinema taken from the Cross Roads Market

The original movie poster shown would have been on display in the lobby of Carib Cinema.

The Palace Amusement Company (1921) Limited was formed by Audley Morais, and operated as a Private Company prior to 1921 (silent movie days). He re-formed the company and offered shares to the public in 1921.

Over the years the Company operated Movies, Rose Gardens, and Palace Cinemas. Gaiety and Majestic was subsequently acquired, Odeon (Mandeville) was leased, and other cinemas ( urban and rural) were built. It operated cinemas and distributed films to many of the independent cinemas that existed in Jamaica and Cayman.

In 1938, Cinema Company of Jamaica Limited built the Carib, in competition to Palace.

In 1947, J. Arthur Rank, from the United Kingdom, bought control in Palace Amusement Company. The Rank Organisation bought out Cinema Company of Jamaica Ltd. owner of the Carib. J. Arthur Rank closed the Movies and built Odeon in Mandeville in 1951, and Odeon in Half Way Tree in 1952. 

Tropical Cinema Cir 1950

Palace Amusement  Co. (1921) Ltd

In l949, Russell Graham built the Tropical Cinema Company, and used it as a centerpiece of the competition that he mounted for the movie audience against Palace.

In 1962, Russgram Investments Limited - a Company owned by Russell Graham - bought the controlling interest in Palace Amusement Company from J. Arthur Rank, and Douglas Graham was appointed Managing Director. The new regime purchased the Majestic Cinema on Spanish Town Road, built the Harbour View Drive In as a partly owned subsidiary, and took control of Tropical Cinema Company, which was a 2-cinema company - Tropical and Rialto.

In 1989, Russell Graham sold his Russgram Investments Company to Douglas Graham, who still has ownership of it. (Source: Palace Amusement)



Great Expectations (1946 film): Great Expectations is a 1946 British film directed by David Lean, based on the novel by Charles Dickens and stars John Mills, Bernard Miles, Finlay Currie, Jean Simmons, Martita Hunt, Alec Guinness and Valerie Hobson. It won two Academy Awards (Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography) and was nominated for three others (Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay).

Susan UC Collection