From 'Entertaining South Wales':

'Opened in Sardis Road, Station Square on the edge of the town in September 1910, the White Palace was an early cine-variety with seating on one level, a small stage area and two dressing rooms. The building closed in February 1917 and did not reopen until April 1918, at which time it had added a balcony and increased the seating capacity to 736. Thereafter it seems to have operated exclusively as a cinema through the next 66 years, operating as a secondrun house, until it finally closed in 1984. When the cinema closed, the manageress, Mrs Mona Gray, was recognised as the oldest cinema manager in the country. She was in her 91st year. (To acknowledge this achievement, she had been invited to the Royal Film Performance of 'Evil Under the Sun' on March 22, 1982, where she met members of the cast including James Mason, and was presented to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.)'

Meilyr Powel, RCAHMW, November 2020

Source:

'Entertaining South Wales P-Q', overthefootlights.co.uk, p.50