Saving Cinemas - The Electric

& a quick catch-up

he Electric Cinema - Credit Creative Commons on Wikimedia Commons

We have changed the conversation in this city. And our work isn't done yet. We need to hold Glenbrook and our politicians to account. There are three listed buildings on Station Street AND The Electric.

Birmingham deserves better than bulldozers. Station Street deserves better than bulldozers. You deserve better than bulldozers.

Darren John - Save the Electric Cinema Birmingham Facebook Group

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Opened in 1909, the Birmingham Electric was Britain’s oldest working cinema until it closed its doors last year. A week ago, it failed to get its listed status which means that there is nothing stopping it being demolished in the future.

Though you would think that it would be a PR disaster for anyone to tear the building down, I’ve seen a few “accidental” fires in my time, or even just a brazen lack of understanding or care of community history from the rich who decide that regeneration is best.

It was stated that the building didn’t meet the guidelines on becoming a listed building. On the UK Government website, one guideline states,

National interest: … to ensure that not only are all buildings of strong intrinsic national architectural or historic interest included on the statutory list, but also the most significant or distinctive regional buildings that together make a major contribution to the national historic stock.

Reading through the Facebook group, there has been an outpouring of support from locals, people sharing stories of their family trips and their grandmother’s recollections. The group feels like a collective gasp, attempting to hold on to working class symbols that are easily cast aside, while the red brick buildings of the elite remain standing to serve afternoon teas for generations to come.

It raises some interesting questions that are at the heart of this newsletter,

• Where does film and cinema sit in our collective history?

• How much weight do we put behind a modern history that, on the face of it, is only for entertainment?

• If the oldest working cinema doesn’t cut it, when would cinemas make a “major contribution to the national historic stock”?

These are common themes among universities, film enthusiasts and archives like the BFI. But I don’t think that it knocks on the national door until we lose a site like the Electric.

The Tatler Theatre Turned Electric Cinema

Not just a cinema

The campaign for The Electric isn’t just about the cinema itself, it’s about the whole street. Station Street is home to The Crown, the venue where Black Sabbath played their first gig. Sabbath have recently been given freedom of the city, and there is a call to ensure that the momentum of this occasion is used to keep Station Street on the agenda, with The Crown being left vacant for years.

It’s inspirational to see Darren John and the Save Station Street group make a stand on a local level to save our recent cultural heritage. Without these people we will easily see the sites around the UK regenerated into monochrome streets of Slug & Lettuce bars and Lounges.

From what I can see, it looks like Station Street is still high on the cultural agenda, but no guarantees are in place.

But it’s made me think, what sites are important to me? What street would make me stand up and fight for history?

What about you? Let me know what streets, places, cinemas are important to you and why. It’s good to write these things down. You may have to fight for them one day.

If you are interested in knowing more, here is the Facebook group to get involved with the Save the Electric Cinema campaign.

A Quick Catch Up

I’ve been a little quiet lately.

I still keep getting followers and subscribers which has been very heart warming and makes me think “Yeah I should definitely get back to this”. To those of you who are new here, hello and thank you for helping me to keep the faith :).

There may have been some digital burn-out going on. I’d ran out of things to say and the confidence to say it. After deleting all socials for a few weeks and sitting at home playing video games, it’s probably time I put this head of mine to use.

The newsletter may not be as regular as before, but my main commitment is to approach it with creativity, in subjects I’m totally interested in. Hopefully you will be interested in them too.

Cheers

Gareth

My Last 4 Watched

What have you enjoyed watching lately? Always love to hear a recommendation.