8mm Forum: Clevedon Curzon's Leaky Roof

This is topic Clevedon Curzon's Leaky Roof in forum General Yak at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on August 03, 2019, 09:59 AM:

The Curzon Cinema in Clevedon, North Somerset needs in excess of £500,000 to repair its leaky roof. Bristol's Aardman Animation Studio have made a revision to a Walllace & Gromit film to help towards the sum.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-49219410

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on August 03, 2019, 10:30 AM:

quote:
and a collection of some 500 rare cinematic artefacts is at risk.

Are these the remains of the Curzon Collection of Cinema Heritage Technology which was thrown out 5 years ago?

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on August 03, 2019, 11:38 AM:

Paul, yes, I would think so.
I have bought a quite few 9.5mm projectors which had been on display for many years before the owners were quickly asked to remove them.
There was almost a revolt when the management of the time decided to get rid of all the well loved projectors and other cine items.
Maurice Thornton, an original prime mover, was so disgusted that he ceased to have anything more to do with the Curzon.

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on August 03, 2019, 01:57 PM:

quote:
Maurice Thornton, an original prime mover, was so disgusted that he ceased to have anything more to do with the Curzon.

Yes, I have read Maurice's book about the Curzon Collection and he pulls no punches.

Please correct me if I am being overly cynical by observing that they are using the threat of damage to the artifacts to leverage donations for the roof, but were quite happy to eliminate the display and public viewing of these very artifacts five years ago! [Roll Eyes]

[ August 03, 2019, 04:56 PM: Message edited by: Paul Adsett ]

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on August 04, 2019, 04:07 AM:

Paul

I have just spoken to one of the enthusiasts who had a lot of his projectors and other cine items on display and was asked to remove it all forthwith some years ago. He said that he and his friends removed anything that was worthwhile to remove and only junk was left.

He further said that he believed that some of this "junk" may have been on display, but the mention of some 500 items does seem to be stretching the truth.

The roof has been a problem for years, with buckets up in the disused balcony and no doubt it has got worse. Any remedial work will be very involved hence the cost.

The Curzon opened in April 1912 and since that time has been in continuous use as a cinema.

https://www.curzon.org.uk/

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on August 04, 2019, 09:43 AM:

Well good luck to them anyway, it's certainly an historic cinema worth preserving.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on September 18, 2019, 01:47 PM:

It's been announced on BBCTV-West this evening that the Curzon has been awarded £240,000 by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
This will allow them to start work on the new roof. In addition, they ultimately hope to remove the false ceiling of the present auditorium so that the original artistic ceiling above can be revealed again after being hidden for many years.

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on September 18, 2019, 02:47 PM:

I never understood the reason for the false ceiling. When I was there a few years ago you could see the top side of that false ceiling and I thought it all looked very flimsy. I imagined someone walking on it and crashing through it! [Eek!]

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on September 18, 2019, 02:59 PM:

The false ceiling was installed after the balcony was closed. The new ceiling made the stalls below seem more cosy.

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