Opened
1986.
Collection
“The museum is all about the experience of going to the pictures as it used to be in the 1930s, 40s and 50s,” says Martin Humphries, the museum’s co-founder. The film memorabilia that is displayed throughout the 10,000sq foot building includes posters, art deco cinema chairs, projections, popcorn cartons and ashtrays.
There is also an archive of books, more than one million photos, reels of film and old cinema uniforms.
A guided tour takes 90 minutes. The collection was originally not intended to be accessible to the public as it was the private collection of cinema lover Ronald Grant.
However, in order to safeguard the future of the memorabilia, Grant co-founded the museum with Humphries.
Help at hand
About 25 volunteers who have different skills and expertise to run tours, organise film screenings, manage the events and do the projection.
Highlights
“The most impressive thing is the uniform collection, including the icecream trays used to serve audiences in the cinemas,” Humphries says. “Most of the outfi ts are from the 1930s to the 50s when going to the cinema was a formal affair. We also have a lot of very beautiful lights and fixtures from the old cinemas.”
Budget
Income comes from admission fees (£10 adults), fundraising and special events, including film screenings, Q&As with people from the film industry, talks and film quizzes.
The museum is also hired out for wedding receptions and civil partnerships. The BBC and other organisations regularly film there so the museum receives a location fee.
Visitors
Last year there were about 10,000 visitors, including those attending the events. Visits are by appointment only.
Sticky moment
“Promoting the museum has been a big issue,” Humphries says. “We are regarded as an undiscovered delight and people often say they didn’t know the museum existed. We have improved a lot and now we have a website, a Twitter account and an events listings as well as regular contact with local papers.
“I go on radio and television, most recently Antiques Road Trip, which is great fun but also helps with publicity. We need to keep coming up with new ways to promote our collection.”
Survival tip
“Make yourself as accessible as possible to attract the widest range of audience,” Humphries says. “We tailor some of our events to the local community, or the gay and lesbian community for example. We’ve become better at being diverse and that is important.”
Future plans
Humphries hopes to buy the workhouse building. “That would be our ideal, to have a home of our own,” he says.
www.cinemamuseum.org.uk
1986.
Collection
“The museum is all about the experience of going to the pictures as it used to be in the 1930s, 40s and 50s,” says Martin Humphries, the museum’s co-founder. The film memorabilia that is displayed throughout the 10,000sq foot building includes posters, art deco cinema chairs, projections, popcorn cartons and ashtrays.
There is also an archive of books, more than one million photos, reels of film and old cinema uniforms.
A guided tour takes 90 minutes. The collection was originally not intended to be accessible to the public as it was the private collection of cinema lover Ronald Grant.
However, in order to safeguard the future of the memorabilia, Grant co-founded the museum with Humphries.
Help at hand
About 25 volunteers who have different skills and expertise to run tours, organise film screenings, manage the events and do the projection.
Highlights
“The most impressive thing is the uniform collection, including the icecream trays used to serve audiences in the cinemas,” Humphries says. “Most of the outfi ts are from the 1930s to the 50s when going to the cinema was a formal affair. We also have a lot of very beautiful lights and fixtures from the old cinemas.”
Budget
Income comes from admission fees (£10 adults), fundraising and special events, including film screenings, Q&As with people from the film industry, talks and film quizzes.
The museum is also hired out for wedding receptions and civil partnerships. The BBC and other organisations regularly film there so the museum receives a location fee.
Visitors
Last year there were about 10,000 visitors, including those attending the events. Visits are by appointment only.
Sticky moment
“Promoting the museum has been a big issue,” Humphries says. “We are regarded as an undiscovered delight and people often say they didn’t know the museum existed. We have improved a lot and now we have a website, a Twitter account and an events listings as well as regular contact with local papers.
“I go on radio and television, most recently Antiques Road Trip, which is great fun but also helps with publicity. We need to keep coming up with new ways to promote our collection.”
Survival tip
“Make yourself as accessible as possible to attract the widest range of audience,” Humphries says. “We tailor some of our events to the local community, or the gay and lesbian community for example. We’ve become better at being diverse and that is important.”
Future plans
Humphries hopes to buy the workhouse building. “That would be our ideal, to have a home of our own,” he says.
www.cinemamuseum.org.uk
