Curzon Community Cinema, Clevedon facts for kids
The Curzon Cinema & Arts in Clevedon, North Somerset, England, is a really old movie theater. It's one of the oldest cinemas in the world that was built just for showing movies and has been open ever since! It's a special place where people can watch films and enjoy arts events.
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A Long History
The Curzon Cinema first opened its doors on April 20, 1912. A man named Victor Cox started it. The very first movie shown helped raise money for people affected by the RMS Titanic disaster. Back then, the cinema had 200 seats.
At first, the movie projector used gas to work. But soon, the cinema got even better! More seats were added, bringing the total to 389. It was also the first public building in Clevedon to get electricity. This meant the projector could run on electric power, making movie nights even brighter.
Building Changes Over Time
Between 1920 and 1922, a new cinema building was constructed on the same spot. Amazing, right? They built the new cinema without stopping the nightly movie shows! This building is still used today. It has shops along the front and the Oak Room Cafe upstairs. It can also host live stage shows.
During the Second World War, the cinema was hit by a bomb. You can still see some of the damage on the outside walls. People who were there remember the air raid warning flashing on the screen. The Curzon Memories App shares stories from people who experienced this.
Name Changes and Updates
In 1945, the cinema, which was then called "The Picture House," was sold. Its name changed to "The Maxime." Then, in 1953, it was sold again and got its current name, the "Curzon."
Later, in the 1960s and 1970s, the cinema changed quite a bit. Some old parts, like the organ, were removed. The balcony was closed off, and a new ceiling was put in. The projection room also moved back to its original spot.
Saving the Cinema
The Curzon Cinema wasn't always making a lot of money. In 1995, it faced financial trouble. But people in the community really wanted to save it! A big campaign, led by Jon Webber, helped.
The cinema was then bought by the Clevedon Community Centre for the Arts. This is a registered charity that still runs the cinema today. Many famous people support the Curzon, including:
- Sir Charles Elton
- Aardman Animations founders David Sproxton and Peter Lord (who created Wallace & Gromit!)
- Directors Nick Park and Terry Gilliam
- Actors Tony Robinson and Alan Rickman
Restoring and Improving the Curzon
In 2009, the Curzon Cinema received good news from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). They got £31,700 to help plan bigger restoration work. Then, in 2010, they received a larger award of £321,900.
This money helped with the first part of the restoration. They fixed parts of the roof and added a new exhibition area and a lounge bar. The Curzon Collection of old cinema technology also moved to the Coach House next door.
In 2012, the Curzon Cinema was a finalist for the Best Heritage Project in the National Lottery Awards.
Celebrating 100 Years
The Curzon celebrated its 100th birthday on April 20, 2012, with a special weekend of events!
In 2015, the old Coach House was turned into a cafe bar. The Curzon Cinema Collection, with its cool old movie equipment, is now on display throughout the cinema for everyone to see.
The Future of the Curzon
The charitable trust that runs the Curzon is still working hard to raise money. They want to finish restoring the building, including the beautiful tin panels inside and the balcony. They also plan to add a second movie screen. This will help the cinema stay open and thrive for many more years.
Since 2018, the Curzon has also hosted a special media production course. This course, called boomsatsuma Media Production Extended Diploma, helps young people learn about making films and media.
Images for kids
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The exterior of the cinema, 2005
