VISITS AND EVENTS
The Cinema Theatre Association organises visits to cinemas and theatres, past and present, across the UK and overseas. Lectures and other events also feature in our programme of activities. These are usually for members only, so why not join us?
Full details are provided in the bi-monthly Bulletin
FORTHCOMING VISITS AND EVENTS
A CELEBRATION OF THE CENTENARY OF THE CINEMATOGRAPH ACT 1909
The most important legislation affecting the exhibition of films was the Cinematograph Act 1909, which came into force on 1st January 1910. The safety requirements the act introduced led directly to the construction of the first fully purpose-built cinemas. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of this ground-breaking legislation a programme of visits to some of the early (pre-World War I) cinemas that are still showing films will be held throughout 2010.
"TWO CUMBRIAN ALHAMBRAS" (30th July)
The seventh visit features two Alhambra cinemas in Cumbria, at Penrith and Keswick, by kind permission of Alan Towers.
HIPPODROME, BO'NESS (5th August)
The eighth visit is an evening event (at 7.15pm) at this very early (1912) cinema in Scotland. Illustrated presentations will tell the story behind the 1909 Cinematograph Act and the history of the Hippodrome. Admission is only £1.50. Afterwards, Gordon Barr and Gary Painter, from CTA Scotland, will invite members to a local hostelry for a drink and a chat. (This information updates the visit announcement in the May-June Bulletin.)
A RETURN TO INDIA
Tuesday 22nd February - Wednesday 9th March 2011
Following the successful visit in 2005, "Return to India" heads 'South and East' to the three major filmmaking cities of Chennai (formerly Madras), Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) and Dhaka (formerly Dacca). In addition to the usual cinemas, many other buildings of architectural interest will be included in this exciting visit.
FORTHCOMING VISITS AND EVENTS
Not organised by CTA
FROM SILENT SCREEN TO DIGITAL SCREEN: A CENTURY OF CINEMA EXHIBITION
A fascinating weekend of talks and presentations relating how cinema has evolved over the past one hundred years. Speakers will include the CTA's Richard Gray and Allen Eyles. This will be held from 10-11 July at the Phoenix Square Digital Media Centre in Leicester. A special discounted weekend ticket price of £40 is available to CTA members.
Booking is via the Phoenix Square Box Office: tel. 0116 2422800 or online at www.phoenix.org.uk.
VISITS AND EVENTS IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS
THE CREAM OF KRAKOW (June 2010)
Poland´s most popular tourist city was the destination for this six day break, which included a comprehensive tour of its diverse cinemas and theatres. Also included were visits to Nowa Huta, a Soviet-era new town which once boasted three cinemas (they have survived, though only one is still showing films) and the former Royal Salt Mine at Wieliczka, which counted as the deepest auditorium ever visited by the CTA!
"A DOUBLE BILL IN LEEDS" (June 2010)
The sixth 'Centenary' visit was to the Cottage Road Cinema and the Hyde Park Picture House, two pre-WWI cinemas in the Headingley area of Leeds.
RITZY, BRIXTON (May 2010)
The fifth ‘Centenary’ visit was to this wonderful survivor, which opened in 1911 as the Electric Pavilion.
SOUTH COAST SOJOURN (May 2010)
Our AGM weekend was based in Eastbourne and included visits to cinemas and theatres in that lovely seaside town.
"A GRAND DAY OUT" (April 2010)
The fourth ‘Centenary’ event was a visit to three cinemas in Yorkshire operated by the Northern Morris circuit, owned by CTA member Charles Morris: the Plaza at Skipton, the Picture House at Keighley and the Rex at Elland.
"WEST IS BEST" (April 2010)
During this weekend trip to West Wales all of the operating cinemas and quite a few former cinema buildings in west Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire were visited. A trip to Aberystwyth was available as an optional ‘add on’.
GREAT CINEMA ARCHITECTS: LESLIE KEMP AND FREDERICK TASKER (March 2010)
In the third talk in this series, Richard Norman, cinema researcher and expert on the history of music hall, and Ron Knee, a former manager for Odeon, looked at the cinemas designed by this well-known firm. Their presentation was augmented by material from an interview Leslie Kemp gave shortly before he died.
ELECTRIC, BIRMINGHAM (March 2010)
The third visit in the series commemorating the centenary of the Cinematograph Act 1909 was held at the amazing survivor. Originally opened way back in December 1909, the cinema's convoluted history was related in a splendid presentation put together by owner Tom Lawes.
SCREEN ON THE GREEN, ISLINGTON (February 2010)
The second visit in the series commemorating the centenary of the Cinematograph Act 1909 was to this splendid survivor, which, although being luxuriously appointed within, still looks externally much as it did when it first opened in 1913.
GREAT CINEMA ARCHITECTS: REGINALD COOPER AND ALFRED THRAVES (February 2010)
In the second talk in this series, Elain Harwood, author of the new Buildings of England (Pevsner) volume on Nottinghamshire, spoke about two architects, with roots in that county, who designed imaginative, stream-lined Moderne style cinemas.
ELECTRIC CINEMA, PORTOBELLO ROAD, WEST LONDON (January 2010)
The first event to celebrate the centenary of the Cinematograph Act 1909 was held at this wonderful survivor, which has been superbly restored. In addition to a tour of the cinema and a demonstration of its projection capabilites, the event included illustrated talks on the introduction of the Act and the history of the Electric cinema.
CHRISTMAS SOCIAL (December 2009)
The world-renowned Cinema Museum in Kennington, south London, was the venue for our Christmas social evening. A look around the museum and a ‘bits and pieces’ film presentation was the ‘supporting programme’ to an illustrated talk by well-known film and television costume designer Hazel Pethig.
AND THE DREAM COMES TRUE: THE STOCKPORT PLAZA RE-BORN! (December 2009)
This weekend visit featured the reopening, after a £3m restoration, of the Plaza, Stockport, Cheshire. Originally opened on 7 October 1932, this has one of the best interiors of any super cinema in the North. Also included was a walking tour of Manchester city centre, including visits to the Cornerhouse cinema, Palace Theatre and the Royal Exchange.
"UP THE HIGH STREET" (December 2009)
This west London outing included visits to the Cineworld (ex-Regal/ABC) Hammersmith, Odeon Kensington, and the Gate and Coronet Notting Hill.
MORE GREAT CINEMA ARCHITECTS: WILLIAM RIDDELL GLEN (October 2009)
In the first lecture in this new series, cinema historian Allen Eyles spoke about William Glan, architect to Associated British Cinemas during the 1930s.
DAIRYLAND TO THE GREAT LAKES (September 2009)
This illustrated cinema and theatre journey to the USA started with the Theatre Historical Society of America's conclave in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and also took in neighbouring Minnesota and its twin cities of Minneapolis & St Paul and the states of Indiana and Michigan.
SCOTLAND: CLYDE COAST (July 2009)
The highlight of this extensive tour was a trip on Paddle Steamer Waverley down the Clyde coast to Campbeltown for a visit to the unique Picture House (1913). Other days were spent visiting current and former cinemas around Port Glasgow, Ayr and Kilmarnock, with a visit by ferry to Rothesay on the Isle of Bute.