Electric Cinema, Birmingham

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It opened in Station Street on 30 December 1909 and is now the oldest working cinema in the country. [ [http://www.theelectric.co.uk/history.htm History of the Electric Cinema] - Electric Cinema Website] Originally called the Electric Theatre, the cinema has undergone a number of name changes since its opening, but returned as the Electric in October 1993.

In the 1920s, the cinema changed its name to the Select, showing a programme of silent movies. In the 1930s, tastes changed and in 1931 the cinema became an amusement arcade. In 1936 the cinema was bought by local entrepreneur Joseph Cohen. It was rebuilt by architect Cecil Filmore and reopened as the Tatler News Theatre, the second in the city.

After World War Two, with television becoming increasingly popular, attendance at news theatres declined. In the 1950s, the cinema changed its focus and became the Jacey Cartoon Theatre. This didn't last for long and in the 1960s, it became the Jacey Film Theatre, mainly showing a programme of art house and continental pictures.

For much of the 1970s, the cinema was a shadow of its former self, largely showing pornographic films.

The early 1980s saw a revival, with the cinema taken over by Lord Grade's Classic chain and split into two screens. This incarnation didn't last for long and in the mid 80s it became the Tivoli, before being taken over by Steven Metcalf in 1993 and reverting to being called the Electric.

The Electric closed on December 12, 2003, with the final film shown being Quentin Tarantino's 'Kill Bill'. Initially the cinema was due to shut its doors for three weeks for a Christmas break, but it soon became clear that it was not to re-open, leaving staff and regular customers angry at its sudden closure.

The Cinema was put up for sale and was quickly purchased by a local entrepreneur, Tom Lawes. After a £250,000 refit and renovation, the cinema re-opened on 17 December 2004.

The building has been restored to its original 1930s Art Deco look from photographs taken from that period, there being no plans of the earlier design surviving.

It is now a one screen cinema with screenings seven days a week.

References

External links

* [http://www.theelectric.co.uk/ Official site]