Oh those magic days before the 'talkies'!

Visited the rather wonderful Clevedon Picture House today. They had a terrific collection of old movie projectors for home and cinema on display. It is reputed to be one of the oldest continually running cinemas in the world. The original cinema was opened in 1912 with seating for 200 and the first day had a special matinee to raise funds for the Lord Mayor of London Appeal for the survivors and relatives of those lost in the Titanic disaster a few days previously. Admission for the evening performance was 3s 6d and 1/-. It had mirrored double doors and hanging baskets and the projector was gas illuminated but during the year tip-up seating was installed and a music licence obtained.
The following year the building was enlarged to nearly double the seating, a sliding roof was installed and electricity connected WITHOUT MISSING ONE NIGHT'S SHOW (no'elf an' sayfti' then). The roof was opened to ventilate the place during the interval and they also squirted disinfectant about during the performance in an effort to keep the atmosphere wholesome!
A new cinema on an enlarged site took just over 2 years to build between 1920-22 but again there was never a cancellation of the nightly program.
Before the 'talkies' came in the background to silent films was live piano or organ music. This 1931 Christie is not the original organ unfortunately but it is in regular use now.
Many of the original Art Deco features remain. The auditorium walls, proscenium arch and ceiling are covered in extraordinary moulded tin plates of various sizes and the lights were turned on just so I could go in and see them.
In 1995 the cinema went into receivership but was saved by a campaign to buy it and operate it as a community business and it is now run as a not for profit organisation by an enthusiastic number of volunteers and staff. Any profits are put back to maintain and restore the building or given to local charities

http://www.curzon.org.uk/