The Kinema in the Woods facts for kids
The Kinema in the Woods is a special movie theater, also called a cinema. It's located in the small village of Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire, England. This cinema first opened way back in 1922. What makes it really unique is that it's the only cinema in the whole United Kingdom that still uses something called back projection. This means the movie projector shines the film from behind the screen, instead of from the front!
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A Look at Its History
The building where the Kinema is today has a long and interesting past.
From Farm to Film
Before it became a cinema, the building was first a farm building. Later, it was used as a place for concerts. In 1906, it became a cricket pavilion for a big house called Petwood House. A cricket pavilion is a building at a cricket ground where players can change and relax.
The First Opening
In 1922, a man named Captain C. C. Allport changed the cricket pavilion into a cinema. He called it the Pavilion Cinema back then. This cinema was one of the very first to open in Britain, being only the 68th one! The special back projection system that Captain Allport installed is still used today in the main screen, which is called Screen 1.
Who Ran the Kinema?
The Kinema has had a few owners over the years, each adding new things to make it even better.
Long-Time Owners
Major C. C. Allport, who started the cinema, ran the Kinema in the Woods for a very long time, from 1922 until 1973. After him, a new owner, Mr. James Green, bought the cinema. He still owns it today!
New Screens Added
Over the years, the Kinema has grown. In 1994, a second screen was added, and it was named Kinema Too. The main entrance area was also made bigger. Even more recently, in 2019, a third screen was built. This new screen looks just like Kinema Too. As part of these updates, the car park was also made larger for visitors.
Visiting the Kinema
The Kinema in the Woods is open almost every day of the year, so you can usually catch a movie whenever you want!
Showtimes and Music
The cinema is open seven days a week, all year round, except for Christmas Day. Evening movies play every night. During weekends and school holidays, they also have shows in the afternoon. A special part of the experience is the resident organist, Alan Underwood. He plays music on an organ during the breaks in the main screen (Screen 1) on most nights. It's like a step back in time!
