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The McGuffin Film Society managed to fit everyone in at its second quiz night-- but only by taking over the entire Rose & Crown pub in Hoe Street, Walthamstow, last Saturday. The atmosphere was electric as 157 people crowded into the pub to take part in the event. They had just learnt that Mohan Sharma, new freehold owner of the EMD Cinema 100 yards away from the pub, had been given permission to show all types and genre of film. "We believe that the enthusiasm local people have shown for this wonderful cinema played a vital role in this," said McGuffin's member Jo Brind. "The Odeon board would not have abandoned the clause preventing the showing of anything other than Bollywood and Indian language films if there had not been such genuine anger in this area." McGuffin's raised about £160 from the event and recruited an extra dozen members. The society's premiere film show is today (Friday March 30) from 8pm at the EMD Cinema in Hoe Street, Walthamstow. It will be Satyajit Ray's The Adversary. The black and white film is an excursion through the preoccupations of disenchanted urban Indian youth. It takes in concern for the under privileged, distaste for rich hippies, the old puritanical morality and emergent Marxism. Tickets are £6, £4 concessions. There is limited access for people with some disabilities. Please phone the cinema on 8520 7092 for more information. Mr Brind said: "Our first film is an Indian film because when we booked it we were told we had to keep to Indian films," said Jo Brind. "But we do not apologise for showing a Satyajit Ray film. Ray is a great director and his films are always worth watching. "What we want to do is show great films from all over the world, neither Hollywood nor Bollywood. This film is certainly a great film." McGuffin is to hold its first meeting Sunday, April 8 at 4.15pm at Prospero's Bookshop and Cafe in Church Lane, Leytonstone, opposite Leytonstone Tube Station. All McGuffin' supporting members will be able to vote and take a full part in this meeting. Waltham Forest Independent, March 30, 2001.
There were teething problems at the first showing of a film by the McGuffin's Film Society -- all the problems of success! The session was held on Friday at the EMD Cinema in Hoe Street, Walthamstow, and attracted a good crowd to see Satyajit Ray’s 1970 classic, The Adversary. Club spokesman Jo Brind said: "People had to queue too long to get into the cinema and we did not get a proper opportunity to explain the different memberships. "But everyone was very good humoured about it. Next time we will have someone there just to sign up new members and someone to sell tickets." The group needs to be a film society in order to book films at preferential rates, so film goers have to join the society, but the cost of membership is only sufficient to cover about half a dozen mailings. The event covered its costs and has encouraged the society to book a season of films at the EMD Cinema. More than 80 people attended and there was a jolly, festive atmosphere in the cinema. "Everyone enjoyed themselves and many asked when the next performance would be," said Mr Brind. McGuffin is to hold its next meeting Sunday, April 8, at 4.15pm at Prospero's Bookshop and Cafe in Church Lane, Leytonstone, opposite Leytonstone Tube Station. All McGuffin' members will be able to vote and take a full part in this meeting. Waltham Forest Guardian, April 5, 2001.
Restoring old cinemas to their former glory By Geoff White As the cinema giant Odeon swallows ABC, the resurrection last month of West London's Electric cinema seems all the more miraculous. But one small group of volunteers is dedicated to the protection of these vintage movie palaces. The Cinema Theatre Association advises English Heritage on cinema buildings, and since 1967 it has researched and safeguarded this often neglected piece of the nation's past. ''They're probably the most important building type of the 20th Century,'' the association's Chairman. Richard Gray says, ''The cinema is something which didn't exist as a building type at all until 1896 '' The first cinema was listed in 1973, and since then over 120 buildings have been put under protection, helped by the work of the CTA, ''Listing works,'' Gray says, ''it preserves the building, and what might happen to it, perhaps to be converted into a night club, can be reversed.'' This process helped to restore Portobello Road's Electric cinema to its former glory. Opened during the cinematic explosion of 1910, the Electric is one of the country's oldest purpose built cinemas. When the building's new owners decided to re-open it, the CTA was called in to advise on the theatre's interior, and a paint specialist was consulted to discover its original colour. When building deadlines loomed, though, Gray looked through old design magazines to decide on the final hue. ''This was an opportunity to get it right,'' he recalls, '' it is one of the two best surviving Edwardian cinemas in the country.'' It's a chance rarely given to old cinemas: poorly maintained, they often show up badly against today's multiplexes. The success of the multi screen formula is clear from English Heritage's figures: 1946 saw over four thousand cinemas scattered over the country. 50 years later, there are just 600 cinemas, but over 2,000 screens, ''Ironically you're finding a lot of cinemas are closing now because of the success of film, and the building of multiplexes,'' Gray said. The CTA is now working on an ambitious scheme to host one off screenings in converted cinemas, ''We're trying to get film back into cinemas that have ceased to be cinemas,'' Gray says, ''to get film back into these amazing interiors would be wonderful.'' After a well attended test screening at the Ealing Avenue (now a bingo hall), the CTA is now seeking funding for further events. If the project takes off, the CTA’s quest to revive England’s oldest movie palaces could be coming soon, to an ex-cinema near you. Create Free, London’s creative community newspaper, Monday April 9, 2001.
Sound judgement as cinema looks to future By Steven Singh ssingh@london.newsquest.co.uk A NEW improved screen and Dolby digital sound is to be installed at Walthamstow's EMD cinema, now that English language films can be shown at the historic venue. Last month cinema leaseholder Mohan Sharma was given permission by owner ABC/Odeon to show English language films at his Walthamstow and Gravesend cinemas. Previously, as part of a contract signed with the company, he was only able to show Indian language films. Nick Dacosta, cinema general manager, said about £30,000 would now be spent moving the cinema's main screen ten foot forward for the benefit of balcony viewers. Seating in the three screen venue's main cinema is currently balcony only, but the lower floor may be turned into a fourth cinema if demand creates a need. He said the improvements, which would take place over the next few weeks, would build on the Grade II listed building's reputation as a quality cinema. ''The new screen we be the biggest in East London - . perhaps all of London with the exception of a few places in the West End. The introduction of Dolby digital sound will also bring the cinema up to par with others in London,'' he said. "Cinema technology has moved forward dramatically in recent years and this cinema is yet to be modernised.'' Mr Dacosta also said that Mr Sharma could purchase another three cinemas in the Wembley and Tooting areas, with an eye to setting up a chain across London. However, he said such an investment would be dependent on the success of his cinemas in Gravesend and Walthamstow. But Mr Dacosta said the signs were that the cinema was becoming more and more popular. He said: "I’ve had ten calls within the past half hour, with all the people asking what English language films we will be showing. I think people appreciate a cinema like this, because this is what cinema is about. The people are the ones who fought for this, and we are very grateful for that." He went on to say that Indian films would still be shown at the cinema, although in smaller numbers. Mr Dacosta is a former Odeon chief technician who has worked in the cinema industry for most of his working life. He was appointed to the position of general manager three weeks ago. McGuffin's gets Hitched at EMD The next film to be shown by the recently formed McGuffin's film Club at the EMD Cinema will be Sir Alfred Hitchcock's classic The Man Who Knew Too Much. It will start at 8.30pm on Friday, May 11 at the cinema in Hoe Street, Walthamstow. Tickets are £6 (concessions £3) but you have to be a member to attend. Membership costs just £3 per household (call 8558 5527 for more details). Members can sign in up to two guests. For more information about McGuffin's, you can visit the web site on www.mcguffin.co.uk The Man Who Knew Too Much was originally made in 1934 and re-made in 1956. In many of his films Leytonstone-born Hitchcock used theatres and music halls, recalling the days when he attended these venues regularly with his parents, Alfred and Emma. The Man Who Knew Too Much is one of these, featuring a scene in a packed Albert Hall. Appropriately, the McGuffin society draws its name from a plot device invented by and used by Hitchcock.
Waltham Forest Guardian, April 19, 2001.
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