Wednesday, 11 August 2021
Hebden Bridge Picture House Heritage Open Day
Saturday 11 September 10am - 5pm
The cinema will be open for looking round between 10am and 1.30pm
There will be:
- sculptural artwork by Ifor Jones on display outside our main doors
- display boards with information sited in foyer
- our old BTH projector on display and demonstrated at 11am and 12 noon
- meet the Friends of the Picture House, find out about their varied activities and join up (it's free). You can also sign up to volunteer for the Friends of the Picture House. Volunteers are now being recruited to assist with fundraising, offer practical help around the cinema (e.g. sweeping leaves in autumn) or volunteer as part of one of the FOPH outreach projects, 'Making Friends' and 'Film Friends'.
- see the 1:43 scale model of the Royal Electric Theatre built by Ray Barnes. The Royal Electric opened in 1913 on what is now the Memorial Gardens. It ceased as a cinema June 24th 1921, less than a month before the Picture House opened.
- an oral history listening post at the back of the cinema created by Kate and Roland Higham and containing the memories of many people ocnnected with the Picture House. The grand unveiling of the oral history listening post is at 10.15am.
- free access to the balcony, which was refurbished in 2017.
In the foyer you can buy tickets for future events or become a Picture House Member. The Picture House History Book and new range of Picture House merchandise and limited edition art prints by Ross Mackintosh will be on sale, at the kiosk, along with our range of drinks and snacks.
We regret due to Covid-19 risks there will be no backstage tour running on this occasion and a one way system will be in place around the stalls. Please wear a face mask.
Timetable for the day:
10.15am – Unveiling of the Friends of the Picture House new oral history listening post at the back of the stalls with a few words from Kate Higham, Project lead. The oral history listening post to be available for use all day.
11am – Demonstration of the old BTH Projector at the back of the stalls by one of our Projectionists.
12 noon – Demonstration of the old BTH Projector at the back of the stalls by one of our Projectionists.
General, unticketed entry ends at 1.30pm to allow for our afternoon's free, ticketed, events – see below.
2pm – Premiere of the 1924 and 1925 Hebden Bridge Gala Films with new recorded score (silent film music soundtrack) by Ben Burrows.
Diana Monahan of the Hebden Bridge Local History Society will set the scene of these wonderful short documentary films and composer Ben Burrows will participate in a post films Q&A. Ends 3.30pm.
Book your free 2pm tickets here
4pm – Looking After The Picture House talk by Alan Gardner, historic building surveyor.
Alan has been involved with various repairs and building issues at the cinema since the 2015 flooding.
Book your free 2pm tickets here
Access
Easy wheelchair / level access to the ground floor is provided down a gentle ramp on the right hand (park) side of the building. A spacious, gender neutral, accessible toilet is located in the foyer. Please use the RADAR key facility to alert staff of your arrival, and wait 1-2 minutes whilst someone comes to let you in. You will need a RADAR key to sound the alert to staff (see www.disabilityrightsuk.org to purchase a key). We have one accessible parking space for blue badge holders: do not park on yellow lines as this is an access road.
COVID-19 Considerations
This event will run in line with local & national government guidelines at the time of the festival. A one way system will be in place for moving around the Stalls. We ask that masks are worn when inside the cinema.
Additional Information
Max 100 people per afternoon ticketed events and seating for these events is specified / reserved.