McGuffin's Film Society   McGuffin's Film Society News We won! Now all we have to do is make the cinema a commercial success. The Odeon board met on March 21, 2001, and agreed to abandon the entire restrictive covenant on the use of the Hoe Street, Walthamstow, cinema. This means that the restriction placed on the new owner Mr Mohan Sharma that he could only show Indian language films has been removed. McGuffin played a role in this process, in that we wrote a compelling letter to Odeon boss Richard Segal and asked Neil Gerrard to intervene. Mr Gerrard, the MP for Walthamstow, got an Early Day Motion on the Parliamentary order paper. Early Day Motion 435 ODEON CINEMAS 13.03.2001 Neil Gerrard That this House deplores the actions of Odeon Cinemas in selling the one remaining cinema in Walthamstow while putting conditions in the contract of sale so that the cinema cannot show English language films under its new ownership, despite the willingness of the new owner to use the three screens to show a variety of films, including both Indian and English language films, a mix which would be welcomed by the residents of Walthamstow; notes also that this is one example of a practice being adopted by Odeon of selling cinemas with conditions which are designed to prevent the new owners being able to compete in any way with other Odeon cinemas; regrets the fact that current Fair Trading legislation appears to be ineffective in dealing with this flagrant abuse; urges the Government to consider what action can be taken to stop this practice; and calls upon Odeon Cinemas to reconsider their actions so that people in Walthamstow and elsewhere are able to see a variety of films at their local cinemas.   Neil Gerrard MP, Bill Michie MP, Peter Bottomley MP, Norman Baker MP, Michael Clapham MP, Andrew Dismore MP, Harry Barnes MP, Alan Simpson MP, John McWilliam/ MP, Ian Davidson MP, Valerie Davey MP, Martin Caton MP, Andrew Stunell MP, Frank Cook MP, Clive Efford MP, Kevin McNamara MP, Ann Cryer MP, Colin Pickthall MP, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Eric Illsley MP & David Winnick MP, This motion unquestionably had a major impact on the Odeon board since we know that the board were deeply worried about the reference to the Office of Fair Trading a few months back. McGuffin's spoke to Mr Sharma after the board meeting and he confirmed that the Odeon had agreed to completely remove the covenant. He intends to start showing English language films from Easter and has already been in touch with film distributors. Mr Sharma says he remains committed to the idea of McGuffin's booking one of the cinemas on Fridays. McGuffin is totally convinced that we can make this a success, and very hopeful that we will be able to publish a programme in the next few weeks. There is no doubt that the public support achieved by McGuffin's played a major role in convincing the Odeon board to release the Walthamstow cinema from the restrictive covenant. The Odeon board could have ignored us if we lacked public support. In particular the amazing turn out at the first quiz night must have given them pause for thought. Jo Brind Leslie Hardcastle visits the cinema The McGuffin’s team took Leslie Hardcastle, the man who ran the National Film Theatre for many years and then created the Museum of the Moving Image, to see Mohan Sharma on March 15. We also took him round the Walthamstow cinema. As a result we expect to develop a working relationship with people who have the hobby of wanting to show films with old projection equipment. This could be important for the future of the Walthamstow cinema. The cinema already has the enthusiastic support of the Cinema Organ Society. McGuffin's Bill Hodgson (left) and Katy Andrews (right) with Leslie Hardcastle during the visit to the Walthamstow cinema. View pictures of film quiz Return to top of page Return to main page

Controversial religious group buys up cinema

The historic EMD cinema in Hoe Street, Walthamstow has been sold to a religious group for Ł2.8million.

The wealthy Universal Church of the Kingdom of God made owner Mohan Sharma an offer he couldn't refuse.

He signed on the dotted line on Monday morning, despite being torn about it.

Yesterday he told the (Waltham Forest) Guardian: "They pushed me, and although half of me didn't want to sell it, I couldn't be sure that I would ever get another offer again."

Cinema fans in Walthamstow are in mourning as the sale of the picture house means that Waltham Forest is now the only London borough without a cinema.

Fans of the cinema are angry with the council for failing to protect it, while simultaneously pushing through plans for a 12-screen cinema multiplex in Selborne Walk.

Katy Andrews, founder of the McGuffins film club, said: "The council, in its wisdom wants the multiplex and they wouldn't get it without closing the EMD down.

"So there was no support at all towards keeping the borough's only cinema open."

In June plans were lodged with the council by the UCKG to turn the cinema into an evangelical church and conference centre.

The church group courted controversy last year by recommending exorcism for an eight year old girl, Victoria Climbie, just before she died after being the victim of prolonged torture at the hands of her great aunt and the woman's boyfriend. The UCKG is currently being investigated by the Charity Commission for its distribution of money and on child protection issues.

Mr. Sharma said the UCKG pursued him for the Grade 2 listed building, even agreeing to take over the accompanying pub and shop, despite not wanting them.

Mr. Sharma had been losing money for the last 20 months and feared his business would finally be killed off with the development of the multiplex.

He said: "I waited and waited until selling it, hoping the council would come in and help me, but I heard nothing from it."

Council planners have met UCKG representatives to discuss its plans for the building and the group has been asked to clarify ifs intentions for it.

A spokesman for the council said: "We want to hear what it intends to do to see if it fits in with our vision for Walthamstow. It hasn't got back to us yet."

A UCKG spokesman said; "We look forward to making a positive contribution to the community."

Negotiations for the proposed multiplex are ongoing.

Extract from an article in the Waltham Forest Guardian, August 15, 2002.