1972.E2.80.93present Electric Palace Cinema, Harwich

electric palace cinema in 2009



electric palace cinema interior

for next 16 years building lay abandoned , largely forgotten until in 1972 discovered gordon miller of kingston polytechnic, leading group of students on survey of harwich. amazed find virtually unaltered relic of period of cinema architecture lying forgotten in harwich side-street. disturbed discover town council intending demolish entire block of cinema part provide additional parking space lorries.

with aid of harwich society obtained listing cinema being building of sociological interest in september of year.

this action infuriated council, , split opinion in town. local newspaper carried letters variously describing building derelict flea-pit of no interest , or potential asset town . unknown wit wrote:

they came kingston survey town,

and stopped pulling old palace down.

if much,

this tumbledown shack,

to kingston-on-thames may carry back.

for couple of years arguments flew, made national newspapers. meanwhile, gordon miller researched history of building council archives, contemporary newspaper reports , interviews surviving members of electric palace staff.

in april 1975 electric palace trust formed avowed aim of restoring building could, again, used operational cinema. council granted repairing lease trust in may of year , restoration started, using volunteer labour. later council sell freehold trust.

the cinema, having reverted original name of electric palace, re-opened in 1981. grand re-opening on 29 november 1981, 70th anniversary of original opening, filmed bbc children s programme blue peter .

the electric palace runs community cinema showing films every weekend. typically, there 5 film shows each weekend including matinees. sunday evening slot given on world cinema, arthouse cinema or classic films, while more mainstream movies occupy other slots. special films can booked groups such local schools of relevance school curriculum, or societies specific interest. live events include regular jazz concerts , productions amateur drama groups.