The Hunt Is On... Uk's Oldest Cinema Kick-starts Centenary Celebrations
Published 16th Mar 2010 by Fiona Graves

Brighton's Duke of York's theatre launches its centenary celebrations with a quest for the best movie memorabilia.

A nationwide hunt to find the quirkiest memories from the last century of the UK's oldest cinema has been launched in honour of its 100th birthday.

The Duke of York's theatre, located in Brighton, East Sussex, celebrates 100 years of continuous film screening on 22 September this year.

The Duke of York's Community Archive Project aims to amass 100 sound or film clips of memories, one for each of the 100 years of its operation, and build a physical archive of social snapshots from across the past century with ticket stubs, film posters press clippings and old photographs.

As one of the top independent arts cinemas in the UK, the Duke of York's cinema has seen more than 25 million audience members through its doors over the past years.

Famous patrons of the picture house include music and film artist Nick Cave and actor, director and screenwriter Paddy Considine. Visitors to the cinema have included filmmakers Mike Leigh, Ken Loach, the Coen Brothers and Michael Moore.

Frank Gray, Director of Screen Archive South East and the University of Brighton, comments: "For me, the Duke of York's represents a very important home for cultural cinema. Unlike most cinemas that only focus on the new, the popular and the American, the Dukes represents that other place; the place where you see films from the rest of the world as well as archive films and work made by artists. As such, it serves as a real beacon for cultural cinema. This is what I value and treasure."

The search for the best movie memorabilia will be launched with a night of "Show and Tell" on Thursday 18 March at the Brighton Jubilee Library. Cinema fanatics are encouraged to don the black and white striped tights in honour of the Duke of York's famous stripy-legged statue.

The Duke of York's Community Archive Project, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, is seeking an army of volunteers to help gather as many memories as possible in advance of the theatre's birthday. Those interested in volunteering for the project should call 01273 641 947 or email info@dukeofyorkscinema.co.uk.

In addition to the launch evening, a website has been created in honour of the Centenary to give people the opportunity to upload their thoughts and images. Visitors to the site, www.dukeofyorkscinema.co.uk, will have the chance to contribute to a film forum and post their experiences.

People wishing to contribute memorabilia or volunteer memories should contact 01273 641 947 or email info@dukeofyorkscinema.co.uk.

2308 Views