A Walk through Loughborough's Cinema History with Andrew Dix

Because of coronavirus, Loughborough's cinemas currently lie empty and silent. While we wait for them to be lively again, this podcast recaptures the vivid history of the town's film-watching from the end of the nineteenth century to the present
Andrew Dix takes a walk not only to the Odeon and Cineworld that are still thriving, but to Loughborough's several 'ghost cinemas': those sites, now put to other uses, where townspeople once gathered to watch films. We will hear about the Victory, the Playhouse and Vint's Electric Hippodrome - and about the community's film-viewing even before the coming of purpose-built cinemas.
This podcast was created for Arts Week (22-29 June 2020) - a week long celebration of the creative arts at Loughborough University organised by LU Arts.

[@TraitorVek]

I Enjoyed that! - Thank You

[@TraitorVek]

I was on Packe Street Today.

[@emmaa1584]

thank you for this

[@andrewdix5280]

I'm sorry to have seen your comment very late in the day, Emma, but thank you very much.

[@TraitorVek]

... don't forget. The Current ODEON (Oscar D...) was also The CURZON. At least in the Seventies.

[@clivegodfrey2661]

Very informative video Andrew, I have learned a lot about cinemas that I never knew existed. You might want to ask Mr Thomas vis Karen if you can view the opening day program of the Odeon (now Beacon Bingo), it has beautiful interior photos as well a perfect external scenes that as as it was on opening day. I’m not totally sure where it is stored exactly, but know it exists and could be found.

[@andrewdix5280]

Thank you very much for your kind comments, Clive. I would certainly like to do more research into Loughborough's cinema history. At the moment, of course, archives like those in the local studies collection of the Library aren't accessible; but you identify here some really interesting-sounding material that I didn't know about. When I can, I'll be sure to follow up your suggestion,

[@anncunningham4029]

Thankyou for taking the time to research the history and then relay it to us all. My mother cleaned the Odeon now beacon bingo. I would be 5 or 6 as it closed in 1974 as you say. I can remember being in there and sitting in the seats as they cleaned along the aisles. I really like the old buildings with their deco styling.

[@andrewdix5280]

Ann, I really appreciate you taking the time to post such a kind comment. I'm a relative newcomer to Loughborough - starting to work in the town about 20 years ago, and to live here eight years after that - and I'm conscious that many people with longer histories in the town will have memories of the older cinemas that I don't have. I'd like to do more research in this topic, and one of the things that would be really valuable, I think, would be to hear from members of the community who remember the older cinemas in various contexts. What you say here about sitting in the (old) Odeon while your mother was working is really interesting; I also share your pleasure in the art deco styling of both old and new Odeons. Thank you very much again.

[@sourcecode6467]

Fascinating and informative video, thank you 👍

[@andrewdix5280]

I'm sorry not to have seen your response before now, Dean, but thank you very much for your kind comments. They're really appreciated. When circumstances allow, I hope I'll have a chance to do some more research into the town's cinema history.

[@M0XFXUK]

Thank you for taking the time to make such an interesting video. I had absolutely no idea that cinema in Loughborough started with the travelling fairs and also that there were a number of other long gone picture theatres in the area. I remember my parents taking me to the Odeon in Baxter Gate in the late 60s to watch the Wizard of Oz. As a 4/5 year old I do still remember the seeing this building for the first time and the impression it left me with. It's good to see that the building is still standing as I strangely feel connected to it.

[@andrewdix5280]

Thank you so much, John, for posting a comment (and I'm really sorry that my response is very belated). I'm glad that you enjoyed the video. It's quite poignant that a number of Loughborough's old cinemas, which once entertained so many people, have left little or no trace on the streets. I'm interested in what you say about watching The Wizard of Oz at the Odeon in Baxter Gate: for all the film's own magical qualities, it sounds as if the architecture and décor of the cinema building itself were just as powerful.

[@HatsuneMiku3D]

My mother was a cleaner and usherette from the 60s to mid 80s during the Curzon years.

[@andrewdix5280]

I'm sorry not to have noticed your comment much sooner, Hatsune, but thank you very much for taking the time to add a comment. Historians have done quite a bit of work in drawing out the memories of cinema audiences, but not so much has been done over the years to record the memories of people like your mother who actually worked in them.

[@HatsuneMiku3D]

My mother was a local icon for the cinema especially in the 70s and 80s, my mother used to bring me to work with her in the early 80s, I remember it well. She was always clad in nylon overalls and worked from 6am to around noon cleaning #1 or the main auditorium.
I sometimes helped out for some change for the video games they used to have in the foyer. I have a lot of memories of the Curzon cinema including the staff and managers

[@TraitorVek]

#BioScope #TikTok #Evolution