Bedford
Cinema History
Places > Bedford > Cinemas
What the Council Thought:
The County Council and Bedford's Picture Palaces 1909-1970
The Sunday, Christmas and Good Friday Issue
Home | Sunday Issue | Sources
From 1909
local authorities
became responsible in law for the licensing of picture playhouses, and in May of
that year Bedfordshire County Council delegated this responsibility to its 'Stage
Plays Licensing Committee'. The expanded remit necessitated a change of
title to 'The Stage Plays and Cinematograph Licensing Committee'.
Apart from where otherwise noted all the information here is drawn from the
Minutes of this Committee from 1909 to 1970 when it was dissolved*. See also
Children in Cinemas
and Venues.
The Sunday, Christmas Day and Good Friday Issue
The 1909 Cinematograph Act permitted Sunday exhibitions of films under specific criteria, but the Bedfordshire County Council Stage and Cinematograph Licensing Committee did not begin to consider the issue of seven-day opening until December 1913 after the Bedfordshire Committee sanctioned the opening of the Empire Cinema Theatre, Biggleswade on Christmas Day. Letters from the Church of England Men’s Society and three other Reverend gentlemen objecting to seven day licences for picture palaces were considered in the debate in May 1914, and the Committee subsequently resolved to ban film performances on Sundays, Good Fridays and Christmas Day. This regulation remained in place until December 1917 when the Empire, Bedford was permitted to open on Christmas Day on the condition that only soldiers were admitted and that entry was free.
The Committee members were not happy with this situation, however, and in April 1920 decided that no further permission would be given for exhibitions on Christmas Day or Good Friday. This only held until 1921 however, when a deputation from the South Midlands Branch of the Cinematograph Exhibitors’ Association successfully argued for Good Friday opening from 7.00 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. although cinemas remained closed on Christmas Day until 1942.This same deputation argued in 1922 for an extension of the Good Friday opening hours, and from that date the doors opened from 6.00 p.m. Permission was granted annually for Good Friday performances until 1965 when the Cinematograph Exhibitors’ Association made the case for Good Friday hours to be the same as normal weekday opening hours. This was granted. In this long period only three requests stand out in the minutes of the Committee: 1) in 1926 the Committee urged that only ‘suitable’ films were shown; 2) in 1942 the hours were extended to 2.30 p.m. – 10 p.m. and 3) that the Committee would prefer that only “U” films were shown but that whether “U” or “A” the film must be submitted for approval at least 30 days in advance. In 1969, while retaining the power to withdraw permission at their own discretion, the Committee agreed that cinemas no longer needed to apply for Good Friday opening.
The issue of permission for Sunday exhibitions of films continued within the gift of the Licensing Authority until the demise of the Committee in 1970. Special cases were made through the years until 1942. The Empire, Bedford was allowed to open its doors on the evening of Sunday 28th July 1918 under the direction of the Ministry of National Service and three years later on Warriors’ Day, Sunday 3rd April 1921, the Officers’ Association successfully sought permission for screenings between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. In 1923 the Committee reasserted its determination that Bedfordshire cinemas should remain closed on Sundays except under special circumstances. Such circumstances came about in March 1940, when Sunday performances were sanctioned for the duration of the war. Doors could open at 5.00 p.m. and music could play until 5.30 p.m. Two complete performances of the programme were to take place and the cinema was to close at 10.30 p.m. No employee who had worked on each of the previous six days was allowed to work on Sundays.
Although there was spirited and on-going opposition in the public arena to Sunday exhibitions, the main cause of continuing argument within the context of the Committee was the sum that cinemas were to contribute to the charitable fund set up in accordance with the Sunday Entertainments Act 1932. This annual debate was held until 1969 and regularly involved input from a delegation from the South Midlands Branch of the Cinematograph Exhibitors Association who argued vehemently against the levy.
In the first year of Sunday opening (1940 – 1941) the individual Bedford cinemas were called upon to pay the following amounts: Granada (£133), Plaza (£54), Empire (£37) and Picturedrome (£26).
In 1942 these sums were raised to 50% of net estimated Sunday opening profits, but following the vociferous outcry of the cinema proprietors were reduced in March but re-assessed upwards again in June. The figures were:
| January 1942 | March 1942 | June 1942 | |
| Granada | £1,460; | £403 | £532 |
| Empire | £364 | £112 | £148 |
| Picturedrom | £120 | £79 | £104 |
| Plaza | £620 | £164 | £216 |
The Licensing Authority rescinded permission for Sunday performances from June 1942 but by the following November the military authorities had made a successful case for the opening of cinemas in Bedford on Sundays for the benefit of the troops. Sunday performances – and the levy - continued until 1969. In the last year of the Committee, 1969, the subscription to charity made by the three remaining Bedford cinemas (the Picturedrome had closed in 1964) amounted to just £29 1s 4d.
*Powers passed to the Local Government Committee (re: censorship of films) and to the Fire and Emergency Services Committee (re. the buildings) until local government reorganisation in 1974.
© Fran Kemp 2013
Sources
- Minutes of the Bedfordshire County Council Stage Plays and Cinematograph Licensing Committee 1909 – 1970 held at the Bedfordshire Archives andRecords Service (BARS), Ref. SPM 1-7.
- See also Children in Cinemas and Venues.
Page last updated: 25th February 2014