8 9 7 , ▁and ▁moving ▁pictures ▁played ▁in ▁St . ▁Patrick ' s ▁Hall ▁before ▁ 1 9 0 7 , ▁the ▁Nick el ▁indeed ▁offered ▁the ▁people ▁of ▁St . ▁John ' s ▁daily ▁public ▁am usement ▁for ▁the ▁first ▁time . ▁ ▁Site ▁ ▁Loc ated ▁in ▁the ▁top ▁floor ▁of ▁the ▁B ene vol ent ▁Irish ▁Society ▁( B IS ) ▁building ▁at ▁ 4 8 ▁Queen ' s ▁Road . ▁in ▁St . ▁John ' s , ▁New found land . ▁ ▁Theatre ▁details ▁ ▁Appar ently , ▁the ▁ 1 0 0 0 ▁ch airs ▁came ▁from ▁John ▁Lake ' s ▁furn iture ▁factory ▁in ▁Fort une , ▁New found land . ▁ ▁Tim eline ▁ ▁December ▁ 1 3 , ▁ 1 8 9 7 : ▁First ▁showing ▁of ▁moving ▁pictures ▁in ▁St . ▁John ' s , ▁L um iere ' s ▁Cin emat og rap he ▁at ▁the ▁Method ist ▁College ▁Hall . ▁July ▁ 1 , ▁ 1 9 0 7 : ▁Open ing ▁of ▁the ▁Nick el . ▁March ▁ 1 9 0 8 : ▁The ▁Roman ▁Catholic ▁Bishop ▁of ▁New found land ▁b ans ▁att ending ▁picture ▁shows ▁during ▁L ent , ▁a ▁church ▁rule ▁in ▁effect ▁until ▁ 1 9 1 5 . ▁Cl osed ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 0 , ▁the ▁Nick el ▁remains ▁the ▁longest ▁operating ▁cinema ▁in ▁St . ▁John ' s . ▁ ▁People ▁ ▁Long time ▁Prop ri et or , ▁J . P