The illustrated talks that make up this evening’s event highlight two of the oldest working cinemas in Britain, both built in 1910.
Brighton’s Duke of York’s Cinema
The Duke of York’s Picturehouse opened on 22nd September 1910 and has operated continuously for 100 years. Tim Brown’s presentation reveals an
intriguing history that began 20 years before the advent of synch sound. After welcoming millions of audience members, witnessing many changes of ownership and surviving numerous threats to its existence, and even possible demolition, the Duke of York’s was re-born in the 
1980s as an arthouse cinema. Now a Grade II listed building, it has been restored to its former glory as part of the City Screen cinema group Picturehouse.
Tim Brown is Co-Director of Cine-City, the annual Brighton Film Festival, and has worked at the Duke of York’s since 1997.
From the Picturedrome to the Phoenix
After the interval film historian Gerry Turvey explains how the Phoenix Cinema in East Finchley, which has also just celebrated its centenary, has moved from mainstream to art-house programming, becoming a charitable trust and servicing North London’s local communities.
Inside the Phoenix Cinema (courtesy: Paul Francis)
His talk is based on his new book The Phoenix Cinema: A Century of Film in East Finchley published by the Phoenix Cinema Trust, which follows the cinema’s fortunes through the various name changes (Picturedrome, Coliseum, Rex and Phoenix), physical transformations and programming policies that have helped it to endure and outlast its rivals.
The wide-ranging account will describe the Phoenix’s construction in the 1910s; the introduction of orchestras and live variety acts in the 1920s; the response to the threat from the super-cinemas of the 1930s (the unique art deco auditorium dates from this period); how it survived the decline of cinema-going in the 1950s; and the introduction of ‘art-cinema’ films in the 1970s. The story of this unique cinema will be of interest not only to its past and present audiences but also to all those with an enthusiasm for local history, cinema history and 20th-century development in popular culture and entertainment.
Gerry Turvey is on the board of directors of the Phoenix Cinema Trust. He has worked in film education within both schools and higher education, and in recent years has been responsible for developing the film studies degree course at Kingston University. His research into early British cinemas has been widely published, and a particular interest has been the films and personalities associated with the British and Colonial Kinematograph Company, which had a studio in East Finchley in the 1910s.
This event is expected to end around 22.00.
Tickets & Pricing
Spring Season 2011 ticketing applies.
