18th December 1970, Imperial & Electric Merge, ‘Kensington Post’ page 33
OVER THE PAST five years the late night shows at the Electric Cinema Club, Portobello Road, and the daytime programmes of the Imperial Repertory Cinema have existed side by side, which is just as well, since the occupy the self-same space.
But times are changing, and the type of programme which once filled the Imperial has now been dissipated by other forms of entertainment.
The established system of film distribution has certainly not been in the cinema’s favour, either, faced as it is with strong competition from a very large number of other local cinemas.
To date, the Electric Cinema Club has been able to overcome its difficulties – more so it seems, than its sister the Imperial.
So from the beginning of next month, the Imperial Cinema will become the full-time Electric Cinema Club, under the management of the organisers of the late-night shows.
There will be two separate shows daily, usually at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., with an extra show on Saturdays and Sundays at 5 p.m. The usual late-night shows will continue at 11 p.m. nightly.
Last week, a preview of the Electric at work began, which will continue until January 3, when the changeover will take place.
During the day, the cinema will be presenting a selection of some of the films shown over the past two years, and a few new ones, too.
These films will be open to the public, but after January 3, it will be “members only” again.
I wish the Electric every success in its new venture and I hope it will continue to be the saviour of “forgotten films” in 1971.
Mary Lear