8mm Forum: Tivoli, Tiverton, Devon

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Posted by Martin Jones (Member # 1163) on June 12, 2008, 04:10 AM:

This is a reflective moment... we would not have our hobby, or any of the many offshoots resulting from it... if it were not for the professional film industry and the movie theatres it produced in their hundreds of thousands across the world. It is those theatres that initially fired our enthusiasm for things cinematic, and the inexorable closure of small local theatres is a pain we have all had to bear.
Such was the Tivoli in Tiverton , Devon. It had shown films continuously from 1932 until last year, when with the expiry of the lease to the then lessor (himself a small film enthusiast and former school projectionist, like many of us, who was aided by a number of volunteers of similar enthusiasm) it closed it's doors and the building and its surroundings were put up for sale by its non-cinematic businessmen owners. For sale to any developer prepared to provide the expected price. A sad end to a glorious era.....

Well the good news is (and we should all celebrate it) that the Tivoli has now been sold..... to a local Independant Cinema Group, Merlin Cinemas, and will reopen as a movie theatre once more. Thanks are due to the new owners and to the dedicated campaigners who maintained a media publicity campaign throughout.

Martin

Posted by John Clancy (Member # 49) on June 12, 2008, 05:27 AM:

Great news Martin! I was in Tiverton last September so having seen the Tivoli on the 'A Dream Fulfilled' DVD went along to have a look at it. What a disappoinment to see it all boarded up. Next time I'm in the area though I'll go and have another look.

Posted by Martin Jones (Member # 1163) on June 12, 2008, 06:32 AM:

I was lucky then; I got to see the projection suite before it closed. There is no sound quite like that of a pair of traditional picture heads (in this case beautiful old Victors) at changeover time. One thing was missing though.... there was no mercury arc rectifier in it's own seperate room throwing that unearthly purple glow... and another when I think of it... no pair of non-sync turntables for interval music!
Martin

Posted by Barry Johnson (Member # 84) on June 12, 2008, 07:14 AM:

I happen to be lucky to have the Operations Manager of Merlin Cinemas as a great personal freind,who is dedicated to cinema.I can guarantee the new owners will carry it forward into a new era whilst still maintaining traditional values.Indeed he was my manager unil I retired and he moved to Merlin.

Posted by Martin Jones (Member # 1163) on June 12, 2008, 12:49 PM:

Put a word in for me please, Barry. I'd love to see what they do to it on the technical side when they re-open!

Martin

Posted by Barry Johnson (Member # 84) on June 12, 2008, 01:01 PM:

If you write (in the first instance) to Mr.Gary Stevens to their
cinema at Penzance explaining your interest,I'm sure Mr.Stevens will contact you.You can of course mention my name.The reason I have asked you to write,is that he is a very busy man who overlooks all Merlin cinemas in the south-west.

Posted by Martin Jones (Member # 1163) on June 24, 2008, 02:49 PM:

The Tivoli reopens this Saturday with existing picture heads but a new sound system

Martin

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