The history of the Electric Cinema in Birmingham becomes the story of 100 years of film-going habits in the UK, courtesy of a self-promoting yet revealing documentary from venue owner Tom Lawes.
Opened in 1909, the Electric started with silents, moved to talkies, newsreels and cartoons, and relied on adult films in the ’70s to stay afloat. Elderly gents, meanwhile, discuss the transition from 35mm to digital projection.
It’s hard not to feel nostalgic for the pre-multiplex days of the “tuppenny crush” (packing noisy kids in on benches) and uniformed commissaires.
