The lovely Susan introduced us to Wendy Cook,
General Manager of the Hyde Park Picture House who entertained us with her talk
on the history of the cinema.
The first
cinema opened in Pittsburgh in 1905. This new
art form was very popular and films were toured around the country and shown in
lots of temporary venues. At this
stage the nitrate film stock was very flammable and a lot of heat was generated
from the bright lights needed to project the picture so there were a lot of
fatal fires.
In the UK
in 1909 the Cinematograph Act was passed – this stipulated building codes such
as the projector being enclosed (there are metal shutters at Hyde Park). Some
nitrate film stock still exists today but you need a licence and it needs to be
kept in specific conditions.
In
cinema’s heyday in the 40’s Leeds had over 50 cinemas. Only Hyde Park and
Cottage Road remain from this time and earlier. Some
cinema building no longer exist others have been repurposed e.g. Majestic,
Brotherhood of Pursuits & Pastimes, Mikes Carpets in Armley
They
incomplete records about the Hyde Park Picture House – they celebrated their 100th Birthday on 7thNovember 2014 but later found out it should have been on
2md November after the Log Book of the manager from 1914-1957 was found in a
garage which was being cleared out.
When the
cinema opened in 1914 there were just silent movies. A sound system was
installed in the 1930’s. Over the years there have been various other
alterations to the cinema.
The décor
on the balcony is original but the capacity today is smaller than when the
cinema first opened.
The tiling on the floor at the front
of the building reflects the original design
There used to be a roaring fire where
the kiosk is now
There is a stained and painted glass
window
They still have working Gas Lamps and
are the only cinema in the UK (possibly the world) to do so.
The clock dates from the 60’s and
originally came from the cinema that was housed in the site of the current O2
Academy. Lots of salvaging from skips took place as old cinemas closed down.
At one point there was a glass canopy
down the side of building on Brudenell Road.
The cinema played an important role in
the wars – for general communications and keeping up people’s spirits
The cinema has had
a colourful history and has nearly closed several times. The Friends of Hyde
Park Picture House formed in 1984 and together with the manager in 1989 were
instrumental in persuading Leeds City Council to buy the cinema from the
Robbins chain under whom they feared for the cinema’s future. The cinema became
part of Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House Limited. This
independent company (also a registered charity) within the council is dedicated
to preserving, and securing the future of three of Leeds most historically and
culturally significant venues, the Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House, The
City Varieties and the Hyde Park Picture House.
The cinema is a Grade II listed
building. The lamppost outside is also Grade II listed but is no longer a gas
lamp.
Although representing a price of
cinema history, the Picture House has kept up with the times and can show
Digital films and 35mm.
The cinema shows around 330 films a
year. Aim to have a varied programme which covers international releases as
well as those with links to local events and community
They have
speakers in to give context to films e.g. Amnesty international
The
cinema is a popular topic for Leeds Academics and a popular tourist destination
for viewers of ‘First of the Summer Wine’
They have
had a proposal take place there with a private screening of ‘Breakfast at
Tiffany’s’ as the backdrop
They have
held a Humanist Wedding there
There are
exciting and ambitious plans afoot to keep the cinema going for the next 100
years - a submission has been made for a lottery grant to fund conversion of
the basement to a second screen and a café.
In the
more immediate future, go and see a film.
