Everyman Cinema, Hampstead facts for kids
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The Everyman Hampstead is a special cinema located in Hampstead, North West London. It's the very first cinema of the Everyman Cinemas group, which is known for its comfy and unique movie theaters.
This cinema shows all sorts of films, from brand-new releases to classic movies you might not have seen before. They also host cool events like live shows from the New York Metropolitan Opera and National Theatre Live. You can even catch film festivals and Q&A sessions with movie makers!
Inside, the Everyman Hampstead has two screens. One is a larger room with 122 seats, including fancy club suites. The other is a smaller, cozy screen with 72 seats. The cinema also has a room you can rent for private events, a place to buy food and drinks, and top-notch sound and picture quality.
Contents
A Look Back: The Cinema's Story
The building where the Everyman Hampstead stands has a long and interesting past. It first opened in the 1880s as the Hampstead Drill Hall and Assembly Rooms. People used it for meetings and gatherings.
From Theatre to Cinema
In 1920, the building changed into a theatre called the Everyman Theatre. A director named Norman MacDermott opened it. Many plays were shown here, including some by famous writers like George Bernard Shaw and Noël Coward.
The Everyman officially became a cinema on Boxing Day in 1933. The very first movies shown included a French film, a comedy, a Disney cartoon, and newsreels. A local lawyer named James Fairfax-Jones bought the cinema. He loved movies and ran the Everyman more as a hobby. He hoped the cinema would make enough money to pay his staff and bills, and also fund his trips to the Venice Film Festival!
A Family Business and Famous Visitors
James Fairfax-Jones had loyal staff who stayed with him for many years. The people who worked there were a mix of interesting individuals, from wartime refugees to students. One woman who sold tickets even owned a big furniture store!
When James Fairfax-Jones passed away in 1973, his son, Martin, took over. The Everyman was known for showing a wide variety of films, including movies by the Marx Brothers and Ingmar Bergman. Many famous people from the area were regular visitors, like actors John Gielgud and Peter O'Toole. Even Princess Margaret brought her children to see the movie High Society there!
Modern Times
In the 1980s, the cinema had different owners. One of them added a second screen in the basement. This made it possible to show even more movies.
In 2000, the cinema was almost going to close down. But then, a businessman named Daniel Broch bought it. He made it the main cinema for his new company, Everyman Cinemas. Since then, the Everyman Cinemas group has grown a lot, bringing its unique movie experience to many more places.
