Cinema at the Institute & Playhouse

The ballroom was used for silent films from the early 1900s.

No alcohol was served on the premises, but smoking was allowed, often encouraged by Doctors as healthy.   Thick swirls of smoke would hang in the beam of light from the projection room.   The cinema like public houses and shops was closed on Sundays.

The projectionist and his equipment required to be situated above and behind the auditorium.   This would have drastically reduced the seating area of the rectangular hall,

The porch was probably erected between 1914-1920. This ties in with the general growth in popularity of silent films around that time.  Although covering the stone arched doorway, this porch provided a lavish entrance to the ‘Stute on the upper ground, a toilet block on the ticket office mezzanine, and a small room for the projectionist.   This room was reportedly extremely cold and uncomfortable.   Now as the bar cellar, it is kept extremely cold. 
 

The film projector was situated just below the clock in the ballroom, with two flights of stairs on either side leading from the ticket offices.   One flight on each side to the back of the balcony (now blocked off), and one to each side of the lower stalls.   The balcony and the currently replaced balustraded terrace situated on the raked flooring, contained rows of red plush seating.   These seats cost an expensive 2d. each.   Audience members at the back of the hall close to the film projector, would enjoy standing or making shapes with their hands to form shadows on the screen, much to the protests of the remainder of the audience.     The seats toward the front of the hall were wooden and cost 1d.

During the 1920s, silent films were shown with stars such as Pearl White, Tom Mix, Lorne Chaney, Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, and Rin Tin Tin.   Several silent films were shown during a morning matinee, accompanied by a three-piece orchestra, of piano, violin and drums.   The musicians were seated in an orchestra pit shielded from the audience by a low curtain.  

Atmosphere was conjured with the violin, and the piano would add speed and excitement.   With action on the screen reaching its climax and the pianist concentrating on keeping the pace of the music in time with the galloping horses, she may suddenly grasp her neck in pain - tempo and concentration lost, much to the joy of the group of small boys in the wooden seats.   At 8 or 9 years of age, boys will be boys, and so they would have arrived, armed with a metal pea shooter and a ha’penny bag of tiger nuts, (These are still available from Health Food shops, a common confection of the time.)   These would have been purchased from the shops around the village.  

Raked section of the flooring showing 1960s boarding, now removed

Noisy paper bags were not a problem in those days of silent films, because although the films were silent the performances were far from quiet.   With no dialogue, the audience would talk amongst themselves, shout out remarks at the screen, clap and even stamp their feet.    “Look, he’s behind you,” would be the excited cry from the audience as the villain crept up on the hero.   Then, at a crucial moment in the film, the equivalent of the ‘bongs’ of the Eastenders signature tune today,  “To be continued next week,” would appear on the screen.   Everyone would pile out of the building chattering excitedly about the newsreel or the cliff-hanger at the end of the film.    After a war film, small boys would run around firing imaginary tommy guns or with their arms outstretched on either side, making the sound of an aeroplane engine.    After cowboy films they would gallop, clicking their tongue and slapping their thigh and holding an imaginary reins to urge their imaginary horse, occasionally firing at the Indians who were getting away.

In the 1920s, beer and cider was purchased from the local pub in glass flagons for home consumption.   A deposit on these bottles ensured their safe return at a later date.   Times were hard and the child’s 1d. entrance fee was not always easy to find, but there were ways.   By seeking out any stray flagons, or lemonade bottles from home, friends or neighbours, and returning them to the shop, children could earn the vital 1d. needed to see the continuation of the film.   Young film enthusiasts without the entrance fee were known to creep quietly up the back stairs of the Institute, and wait in the darkness.   Rarely noticed amongst the hubbub of the audience, too engrossed in the excitement of the film, they took their chance to sneak through the doorway curtain and jump swiftly into a vacant seat to watch the film for free.   Others were known to open the wooden boxes of the clock weights on the lower floor and remove the pennies used to keep the time.

The cinema was the source of World News for the local community, as many in the audience couldn’t read, or they had poor eyesight and no national health (prior to 1948,) to supply spectacles.   People in the audience would often read the subtitles aloud for friends and relatives.
 

In 1924 a film by the Union of Post Office Workers was shown in many Institutes around the country.   This illustrated the work of the union movement.    Films concerning World News informed the community.    Many in the audience were unable to read, or they had poor eyesight and no national health (prior to 1948,) to supply spectacles.   People in the audience would often read the subtitles aloud for friends and relatives

On the mezzanine, opposite the ticket offices, a poster was preserved for many years as it illustrated the last silent film shown at the Institute in 1930.  It showed the actress Clara Bow (1905-1965), who fans named the It girl, after she appeared in a film of that name.  

Silent films were superseded in the late 1920s by the ‘talkies,’ films with a soundtrack.    The first feature film being the “Jazz Singer,” with Al Jolson in 1928, followed by “The Singing Fool” and “Sonny Boy Song.”   Films soon moved from the Institute to the Playhouse Theatre.

Talkies at the Institute, due to poor sound insulation in the building, would have created noise pollution on the upper ground floor, situated beneath, so would have caused problems for other users of the building.    Hence, the Playhouse Theatre was hired by the Institute from around 1930 and later purchased in 1944 for £4,000. 

Cinema at the Playhouse Theatre

The Playhouse Theatre, now demolished, was situated next to the Llanhilleth Hotel, commonly known as the ‘Top Hotel,’ being, logically, at the top of the hill.   After quarrying into the rocky hillside, the building was originally opened, under the management of M W Gorman in 1914.   This is around the same time as the porch was thought to have been erected at the Institute.   An impressive building, the Playhouse seated approximately 750 people with a stage measuring 24 x 48ft.    Used originally for theatrical performances, the stage was well equipped with wings and flies extending some fifteen to twenty feet above the stage.

Playhouse Cinema, now demolished due to subsidence

The main entrance was on Commercial Road, and the seating sloped towards it.   Four or five flights of steps linked the ground floor to the balcony with steeply raked seating.   

The Institute rented the Playhouse to show films, and the first was “Sunnyside Up.”     A romantic comedy, made in 1929 it starred Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell.   (A guy leaves his girlfriend to go to New York on business where he meets another.)

An emergency door, from one of the upper floors, opened onto the upper road behind the building.  As ever, children are quick to find a way around things.   One or two children would pay for their tickets at the kiosk at the front entrance, then, before anyone followed, they would run up the stairs and open the emergency door to allow free entry for others waiting outside.

Commercial Road

There were no refreshments available in the cinema, but the audience could tuck-in to the sweets of their choice, as next door on High Street was a sweet shop (now a Chinese Takeaway).  There also appears to have been a glove factory attached to the building.   The gloves produced were sold during the war.   This factory, run by Mrs Millicent Reynolds, was possibly moved upstairs in the Top Hotel.

In 1936 the Berlin Olympics was held and relayed to cinemas via newsreels in colour.

In 1938 the film “The Citadel” was made starring Robert Donat.    Abertillery was deemed as a most suitable location and Walter Jones, a local resident became a star, appearing as a taxi driver.    Also in that year, the ‘World Window Travelogue’ was created bringing the far corners of the world to be shown in technicolour.

Around 1939-44 the film programme would change mid-week, and many villagers attended twice a week.   Glamour and romance was available to everyone no matter their circumstances.    Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers would dance the night (and day) away in sophisticated Art Deco surroundings.      Sun glasses were invented in the 1930s and soon became the latest asset for any filmstar.

Unlike today there were no long trailers or advertisements, only a supporting film, known as the ‘B’ film, before the main attraction or ‘A’.  The Christmas Saturday Matinee was fondly remembered, as each child received a bag of sweets and an orange.  

Roy Newcombe, the projectionist and his wife lived on the premises.   The door to their flat was “opposite the steps to the expensive seats,” and their bedrooms in the basement.   The name Len Hadyn has also been linked with these premises.

Film programme for the 1944 Llanhilleth Stay-At-Home Holiday week.  August 6-12^th

The back page of the programme of events for the Stay-At-Home Holiday week provides details of the film programme for 6-12^th August 1944 at the Playhouse, described as “Llanhilleth’s Super Cinema.”   

The ad asks “Do YOU Patronise it?   If Not, Why Not ?”

Monday to Wednesday                       Stage Door Canteen with an All star cast                                                                                          (Musical)
                                                                        Sol Lesser Productions, distributed by United                                                                        Artists, directed by Frank Borzage, contained many cameo appearances by celebrities,
           

Thursday to Saturday                         Johnny Vagabond starring James Cagney                                                                             1943, also known as Johnny Come Lately

Forthcoming attractions were:

And the Angels Sing  (Musical, directed by Geo. Marshall, released by Paramount Pictures, a follow up to the popular song of the same name.    A singing sister group, is exploited by their bandleader, but rises to fame.)

Hours Before Dawn      Possibly a misprint for The Hour Before the Dawn, directed by Frank Tuttle and starring Veronica Lake and Franchot Tone.   Made in 1944 it was based on the novel by W. Somerset Maugham.

Timber Queen             (Director, Frank McDonald, starring Richard Arlen, and June Havoc, listed as a heart-tingling romance, and spine-chilling adventure in the north woods.)

The Uninvited              (1944, supernatural mystery/romance,  Director Lewis Allen,  based on the novel Uneasy Freehold by Dorothy Macardle.)

Melody Inn                  (1943, also known as Riding High starring Dorothy Lamore and Dick Powell, in technicolour)

Standing Room Only  (1944, Director, Sidney Lanfield, starring Paulette Goddard, Fred MacMurray and Edward Arnold.)

Prices were shown as:

                        Balcony           1/6d. (7.5p)
                        Half-price           9d. (3.5p) Children under 14
                        Ground Floor     7d. (3p)  No Half-price

Films at that time were constructed from combustible nitrate, which was very dangerous to use, causing many fires.   This material was later superseded by ‘Safety Film.’ Because it was much thinner the perforations would break, causing problems when showing the film.   If the film broke at a crucial point in the performance, the projectionist could come in for some cat calling. 

Films were delivered in large metal containers with the film wound around a spindle to keep them flat and rolled.    This spindle was removed and replaced by a spool for screening.   Sometimes a lazy or inexperienced projectionist, after showing the film, would remove it from the spool and return it to the tin without replacing the supporting spindle.   The film would then arrive at the next venue buckled and difficult to place on the spool for use.

In the 1950s prices had increased just a little:

                        balcony seats                         1/3d. (7p today.) 
                        back row,                                  10d. (4p),
                         front row tickets                         7d. (just over 2.5p)

Myfanwy Morris, known as Manno, sold the tickets in the ticket office, and the ushers were strict, pacing up and down the aisle all night with their torches, in case anyone laughed or talked too loudly.

1953 Films

Films showing at the Playhouse in April & May 1953:

                        Who Goes There?
                        High Vermillion
                        Bells on Their Toes
                        Carson City
                        Marshmallow Moon
                        The Great Caruso
                        The Holly and the Ivy
                        With a Song in My Heart
                        Big Jim McLain

1956 Films  

The following films were shown towards the end of 1956:

                        The Benny Goodman Story (Colour)
                        Josephine and Men (Colour)
                        Vagabond King
                        Who Done It
                        Vera Cruz
                        The Scarlet Hour
                        Jack and the Beanstalk
                        King of the Coral Sea
                        Wichita

1957 Films

The Playhouse (Prop.: Llanhilleth Colliery Workmen’s Institute), advertised in the 21^st Souvenir Photographic Programme  for the Illtyd Operatic Society’s performance of The Gipsy Baron.    In November 1957, films were shown for 3 days as “Double Star Features,” with the “best sound for miles around.”   This was probably because the next cinema was in Abertillery, a few miles along the valley.   The prices were listed only as “popular.”

                        Anything Goes             and                  Flight to Tangier
                        Moby Dick                    and                  Julesberg
                        Hill in Korea                 and                  The Big Bluff
                        Brink of Hell                 and                  Siege

In April 1961, although catering for an area of 5,000 inhabitants, a sign was displayed on the screen advising the cinema would close due to youth vandalism.   Three weeks later, however, John Roberts, the proprietor, reneged and to the cheers of some 500 children, announced it would remain open. He even gave free entry to the Saturday Matinee to celebrate.

In 1960 the Betting and Gaming Act permitted commercial Bingo to be organised in halls all over the UK.   The game has a long history under various names such as Beano, Lotto, Housey Housey.   Bingo sessions were set up alongside the film programme at the Playhouse, and remained popular long after the films discontinued, around 1964-5.   An elected committee oversaw the administration of the Playhouse.   

When the building closed the committee transferred to the Institute, doubling the number of committee members there to 24.   This resulted in titles such as the ‘upstairs chairman’ and the ‘downstairs chairman’ etc.    This situation did not continue for any length of time, and the committee numbers were reduced to the original twelve at the next AGM.

Two of the last films to be shown at the Playhouse were Battle of the Bulge, and 633 Squadron.  Sorry ladies, this memory of war films was related by a man.   No doubt romances were also shown.

The Playhouse building although thought to have been built on solid bedrock, suffered from subsidence due to underground mine workings.   A crack appeared from the roof to the foundations, down through the staircase whilst a film was showing.   Audience members still remember being evacuated, for their own safety.   Repairs were unsuccessful, and it was demolished in the late 1960s.  

Before closure Mr Roberts was involved with the Playhouse.   He also owned the local newsagents.   

Films at the Institute Re-instated

Although the Playhouse was demolished in the 1960’s, the children still wanted their Saturday matinee.   Towards the end of the 1960’s and early 1970’s, a few local volunteers took on the duty of showing these matinees on the lower ground floor of the Institute.