In 1915 the main hall of the Institute was leased to Howard Bishop’s Netherton Pictureland Company for use as a cinema at a rental of £25.00 per month. It continued to operate as a cinema for eighteen years.
Although it was called “Pictureland”, as was Howard Bishop’s other cinema in Netherton, local people knew it as the “Stute”. Films were taken by tram from one cinema to the other.
"Pictureland" at the "Stute" was open six days a week, Monday to Saturday. For some time it was the only cinema in the Cradley Heath area, and so there were always queues outside. The main hall was filled with long wooden benches. If there was a cowboy film on, the children used to pretend to horse ride on the benches, and occasionally a bench would break in two.
It was three-pence if you sat upstairs in the balcony, two-pence if you sat downstairs, and a penny if you sat on one of the window ledges. Those sitting on the window ledges used to burn their legs as they dangled them against the four narrow, hot pipes that circled the room. People downstairs would be pelted by peanut shells that were thrown down from the balcony seats.
Saturdays were particularly popular because, you used to get a choice of free tea, or an orange or an apple, when you bought your ticket. A news film or a two-reel comedy would be shown first, then the main film, which was followed by a serial. The hall would then be cleared ready for the next house. Usually there were two houses, one between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., and the other between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m..
A new "Majestic" cinema opened in Cradley Heath in 1933. The "Stute" tried to compete by introducing live entertainment during the intervals, but was still only able to show silent films. The "Majestic", however, presented "talkies" and soon became the more popular venue. "Pictureland" at the "Stute" closed in the spring of 1933.
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| Reference: | 701 |
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| Updated: | Thu 6 Sep 2007 - 12 |
| Interpretation written by | Louis Howe |
| Author's organisation | Curatorial |
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