HEXHAM'S independent cinema is celebrating its 85th birthday this August with a series of events.
The Forum Cinema will be screening films released in their opening year of 1937 for 85p, and will also host a 'History of The Forum' presentation by local historian Mark Benjamin as well as an art exhibition from local children in their café/bar.
The cinema opened its doors on Monday August 23 1937, on the same site as Hexham's previous cinema, The Gem Cinema, under the management of Tom Scott from the Hexham Entertainment Company.
The first film shown was Keep Your Seats Please starring George Formby, and tickets cost just one shilling - equivalent to five pence today.
Hexham Community Partnership, the current owners of the single-screen cinema, took over in 2007, with a portion of the cinema’s profits going towards supporting Hexham, its residents and other businesses that operate in the town.
The cinema will screen the original version of the iconic A Star is Born, starring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March, on August 23 at 7.30pm, while another released in 1937, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, will be screened on August 27.
Tickets are available now from The Forum’s café/bar, via telephone on 01434 601144 or online at www.forumhexham.com.
The 'History of the Forum' presentation will take place on August 13 at 1.30pm. Tickets are free, but seating is limited.
A selection of paintings and illustrations of iconic cinema characters created by local school children will be on display throughout the whole of August.
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