The History of Dublin Cinemas, Part 2: Cine-Variety in Dublin
Marc Zimmermann continues his investigation of Ireland 's cinema history.

Rather than conventionally staging plays, cine-variety combined a number of live acts with at least one film screening. The ever-changing stage performances included comedy routines, acrobats, singers, entertainers and magicians.

The great range of performers included local and international talent, many of whom returned frequently with new acts. On occasion even popular actors made an appearance. Throughout the decades entertainers included such diverse stars as James Cagney, Judy Garland and the Three Stooges. In 1954 beloved cowboy Roy Rogers and his famous horse Trigger – adored by masses of children in over 200 films and TV shows – entertained audiences at the Theatre Royal. Further entertainment at this landmark theatre was provided by its resident twenty-five-piece orchestra and its popular dance troupe, The Royalettes.

The films that formed part of cine-variety programmes were initially rather short and listings often simply referred to the collated, short animated scenes as 'new bioscope pictures'. Throughout the decades the films that were screened grew in length, and eventually full-length features were incorporated into the shows.

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