Hyde Park Picture House
Hyde Park
picture house on Brudenell Road in Leeds is not far from where we live, but as
yet my fiancé and I have never seen a film at this famous local landmark. We
set to put this right one chilly March evening to see “Still Alice,” at one of
the oldest purpose built cinemas in Leeds and the country.
It opened on 7th November 1914 with its first screening, “Their
only son,” a patriotic drama, in keeping with the recent outbreak of war. One
of the first functions of Hyde Park Picture House was to show news bulletins from
the front, helping to keep morale high among the families of the 6000 Leeds
men who had been enlisted to battle. The venue was a popular
place for locals during the golden era of cinema from the 1930s to the 60s and
used regularly for dates by couples.
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| Samantha looking forward to her night at the pictures! |
The picture house was saved from closure in 1989 when it was bought and preserved by the council. As other similar one-screen
cinemas succumbed to the rise in multiplexes and declining audiences during the
latter half of the 20th Century, Hyde Park Picture House; along with
the nearby Cottage Road Cinema survived and are both still going strong today.
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| The cinema screen |
Samantha and
I regularly go to Cottage Road, which pre-dates Hyde Park Picture house by two
years. This is the oldest cinema in Leeds, but it was not purpose built, as the
building had other uses beforehand, most notably a garage for very early cars.
Cottage Road is still a brilliant place to watch a film, plus the fact
it is cheaper and a more enjoyable experience than the busy, over- bloated multiplexes
not so far away. However, it was refurbished in 1972 and has the look and feel of a forty,
rather than a hundred year old picture house.
There are
parts of Hyde Park Picture house which still look and feel original. This is
what sets it apart from its neighbour. The manned box office is on the outside
of the building for a start!
An original
fire hose is on display in the reception area, and the auditorium boasts an
original patterned Edwardian balcony, which is still there in all its splendour.
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| Edwardian balcony |
Famously the
cinema is the only one in the UK to be still gas lit, which makes it one of the
cosiest and romantic places to watch a film with your partner. A piano is also
still used for live musical films. A clock in the actual theatre is a novel
addition, even though it cannot be seen once the lights go down.
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| Original fire hose |
The staff
are very proud and knowledgeable about the old building. They kindly let me
take photos of the interior before the film started. We sat up on the balcony, which is the best place to look and admire the overall view of this
beautiful old picture house.
...and the
film we went to see
A quick word
on “Still Alice,” the film we went to see. It is illuminated by an outstanding
performance from Julianne-Moore as the professor who is cursed with Alzheimer’s
disease. As somebody thankfully who has never witnessed somebody first hand
with this condition I learnt a lot about Alzheimer’s, its effects on the
sufferer and impact it has on their loved ones. Well worth seeing and a very good night all round.
