Campaigners to stage festival of David Lean movies at Croydon pub
CAMPAIGNERS supporting the reopening of Croydon's David Lean cinema are putting on their own festival of the director's films in a pub.
The Spread Eagle in Katharine Street, Croydon, which already holds some film showings, will be the venue for the series of films running through January and February.
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Campaigning continues: Supporters the David Lean cinema are running their own film season in a Croydon pub CRDC20110718E-002
Films on offer include In Which We Serve, Hobson's Choice and Blithe Spirit.
The campaign started after the council closed the cinema in the Clocktower complex in Katharine Street this year as part of its budget cutting exercise.
Fairfield Halls has taken over the role of providing more specialist film showings as David Lean at Fairfield but campaigners believe it cannot replace the unique venue and atmosphere of the original purpose-built 60-seater cinema.
Around 1,000 people have signed a petition urging the council to consider any constructive proposals to bring the cinema back to life, which will be presented to the next full council meeting on January 30.
Adrian Winchester, a leading member of the cinema campaign, said: "While we appreciate the additional operation at Fairfield, there were only three screenings there this month compared with the three a day there used to be at the David Lean."
He said running the season of films at the Spread Eagle was a way of keeping alive his spirit of and publicising campaign.
Mr Winchester said: "The pub has been very supportive. I think they have missed the business they used to get from patrons of the David Lean and allowing us to use their facilities is a positive way of working with the campaign."
He said: "I think the cinema will eventually reopen but it is hard to predict when."
The first film in the season – "In Which We Serve" – will be held on Tuesday with showings at 2.30pm and 8.30pm.
4 Comments
by Curser
Wednesday, January 11 2012, 10:36AM
“My Dear Lovey Tepes. I absolutely would have every non self funding art organisation in the whole of the UK closed if I had my way. If you want to go and see some fanciful art installation or any off beat film then pay for it yourself. Don't expect me to pay for it in my taxes. There are plenty of well organised commercial operations that can do it so make all of them stand on their own two feet.”
by tepes
Wednesday, January 11 2012, 8:34AM
“The "Former David Lean Cinema" is available for hire and the Campaign has tried to hire it but the problem is that the digital projector was moved to the Fairfield. However, it can't be used in the Concert Hall, where 35mm is being used, so we are trying to encourage the council to move it back!
No doubt Curser would like to see other non-profit making arts provison that the council financially supports - such as the Museum of Croydon and the Fairfield Halls - closed too!”
by Curser
Tuesday, January 03 2012, 2:56PM
“Unless this cinema makes money then it should close. Why should the council have to pay anything towards it?”
by HalfaTalkrate
Monday, January 02 2012, 9:54AM
“The Council should open up the David Lean for hire by this group, rather than let a good venue gather dust.”