22nd January 1971, It’s members only now, ‘Kensington Post’ page 37
It’s members only now
THIS is the first month in which the Electric Cinema Club is operating on a full-time basis. The Electric, at 191 Portobello Road, took over the Imperial Cinema on December 13 and for the remainder of 1970 presented a series of programmes open to the public.
Now, however, admission is strictly “members only”. You must, in fact, be a member 30 minutes before the start of any programme you wish to see.
But the cost of membership, I was pleased to hear, is now less than ever: 2s for a full year. Seat prices remain at 6s.
Programme will usually be at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on weekdays; 3 pm., 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturdays; and 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Sundays. There will also be late night shows at 11 p.m. except on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Something to remember is that these are separate performances — not continuous throughout the day. This can be confusing when the Electric is presenting two different feature films on the same evening, but finances, they say, force them to limit each programme to a short and a feature.
The cinema has, however, tried to retain its double feature value for late-night Friday and Saturday shows.
Now that the Electric is a full-time club, it is proving possible for it to extend some of the attractions of its late-night shows to the daytime and evening.
For example, the “hole in the wall” for refreshments will be open all the time.
Some new projection and sound equipment has been installed, and the heating and the seating are a lot less inadequate in future, I’m assured. Good luck to the men at the Electric: they deserve it.
Mary Lear