1st Night Souvenir Programme 1936
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Saturday, 4th July, 2020 - Re-Opening
A commemorative plaque created for the re-opening of the Hucknall Byron/Arc Cinema on 4th July 2020 - image sourced from Arc Cinemas Fb page - a very nice nod to the original Opening Night in 1936
The 1st Night Souvenir Programme in Pictorial Format
This is quite a historical find, a record of the opening night, which was sourced by Ria Cash, Project Chairman of the Byron Community Project, from (on a courtesy lend-only basis) Mrs Taylor, Hucknall. My thanks to both for allowing this to be shared with the wider community.
The cover - what a disappointment (for me personally) where's the panache of Streamline Moderne behind this Gothic horror?
Everywhere that it is written up it states that the programme carried a picture of itself on the front cover "The leaflet is first mentioned in the authoritative article of 29th October 1936 found in the Hucknall Dispatch. The front displayed a beautiful artists impression of how the new cinema would look." (This image can be seen on the history and architecture page) It seems a bit mysterious to me that the above image is the front page of the programme. Although the 'top and tails' are instantly recognisable as 'Art Deco' calligraphy (fonts) I can only imagine, that as Lord Byron's name is invoked some jobsworth panicked and decided to style the name of the cinema in a more appropriate style of yesteryear! It ruins the whole composition and magic and makes it look pretty cheapjack. I expect today's 'woke' generation would either agree or immediately insist on all references to Byron to be removed!
The back cover perhaps showing the cinema which had been built on the 'ideal site for a cinema in Hucknall' stating that the location is on 'good frontage' on the main road and 'cheap.' (1930) - It was to be a further six years before the cinema became a reality.
This makes up for some of the lack of the original image penned by Arthur J Thraves which did not materialise on the front cover. Although the picture itself does not enjoy digital clarity, there is much to admire. Firstly perhaps, the windows all of which have survived. The ones above the entrance were boarded up for a very long time but have now been released and can be seen here (you have to scroll down a bit). What little of the doors that can be seen also look interesting with the metalwork forming a complete design when all the doors are closed. Nice to see a good old-fashioned lamp post on the apex of the pavement to safeguard cinemagoers and motorists alike. The brickwork, which was to have been enhanced with a ceramic 'faience' covering nevertheless still creates a pattern to complement the edging seen on the wings, front windows and general lip fanned over the entrance and where queuing would occur in bad weather. Finally the 'fin' (why there's nothing fishy about it, more a funnel I would have thought) which was in danger of being demolished during the new renovations of 2019/20. As Ria Cash has stated "Amazing photo from Feb 1937, showing the iconic fin in its former glory. Ceramic tile, which unfortunately crackled in its first year and had to be replaced." I wonder if this image may have appeared on a later version of the programme. The 'fin' does look majestic and although it was tarnished with the word 'Bingo' at the same time as the front windows were hidden from sight, both these anomalies are to be restored with the projected re-opening on 4th July 2020 (we wish them luck!)
The Star of the Opening Night, Shirley Temple, takes 'centre stage' / 'centrefold' in the Opening Night programme
Grand Opening of the Byron Cinema and those who made it possible plus three very lucky service providers who feature prominently on one page devoted to advertising! Please don't get me started on the 'Door Handles' which were of course immortalised at 'Four Candles/Fork Handles' by the irrepressible 'Two Ronnies' and I really remember Pearsons (as my mother called it) and their fabulous shop just off the Old Market Square in Nottingham.
It's a terrible shame that the write up on the architect isn't clearer - I'll experiment with the image to see if I can type up the full article as it starts well "The decade through which we are passing will be architecturally known as the Cinema Era and among the very many fine theatres constructed during that period there will be none to excel the "Byron" at Hucknall."
Once again it is fascinating to see the information made available to us after more than eight decades - I would love to talk to someone at Lewis & Grundy Ltd. to see if they still have the designs for the windows and were they also responsible for the entrance doors as I should really like to know what they looked like - but as I keep saying, we can't have everything, or at least not all at once!
The 'Byron' as can be seen in the write-up were justifiably proud of their Projection Room investment with Western Electric
The Projection Room
The "Byron" Projection Room fills us with great pride. The last few years has seen such rapid progress made that the Projection Room Equipment is now recognised by Exhibitors, Architects, and Engineers to be the most important section of the entire Cinema
The Directorate has spared no expense in equipping the Projection Room with the most modern and up-to-date equipment which is so necessary for first-class entertainment. The Management cordially invite any of our Patrons, who so desire, to view the Projection Room.
Patrons of the "Byron" Cinema will be pleased to know that the new Wide Range reproducing system has been installed in this Theatre.
Wide Range is the latest improvement developed by the Western Electric engineers. It will be remembered that Western Electric were the pioneers of talking pictures and owing to their vast research organisations they have been responsible for the great improvements in sound from the early day, and Wide Range is their latest scientific achievement.
The enormous advantages to be gained with Wide Range are that it nor only creates a greater intimacy between the audience and the screen artiste, but that all the sound variations of speech and music are faithfully and naturally reproduced as if the artiste were giving a living performance.
Orchestral music, when reproduced on this system, shows a remarkable improvement. The individual instruments are heard in their true perspective and with all their original brilliance.
It is therefore, with pride and pleasure that the "Byron" Cinema present talking pictures under conditions which will equal the finest in America and Europe.
It is universally recognised that Western Electric sets the standard and with Wide Range it will be seen that they have more than enhanced their reputation for recording and reproducing sound pictures at their best.
Good to see rivals 'Scala' getting a mention with some pretty exciting entertainment to come in March 1937
Forthcoming attractions featuring some big names not to mention Humphrey Bogart in a support rôle!
Shouting Out : Thank you
A big 'thank you' to Ria Cash for providing this artwork for public viewing and which has helped enormously for me to finish my record of the 'Opening Night' at the Byron in 1936. Here's hoping the 2020 version will be equally successful!
Page created : 3rd July 2020 (G)