CRICH PARISH

which consists of the villages of Crich, Fritchley and Whatstandwell

Crich Picture House

 

photo of picture house

Crich once had its own Picture House on the Common until the 1950s. It is now a private house.

Derbyshire Times 1 November 1924
The amusement caterers who visited Crich some time ago were so well patronised that they came to conclusion that a permanent house of entertainment would prove acceptable to the inhabitants, and the result is that Crich is to have a cinema. The Cinema Company have secured a convenient site on Crich Common, and it is expected that the erection will shortly be commenced. The building is to accommodate over 300
.

Derbyshire Times 11 January 1930
The Picture House, Crich are pleased to announce that, having made arrangements to put on Talking Pictures with the aid of Sound Apparatus we think it necessary to notify our patrons that, owing to the extra cost, we shall reluctantly have to put up our prices back to 6d, 9d, and1/-. Also, owing to it being essential that we have a perfect quiet, we shall discontinue booking seats, but to overcome this there will be Early Doors to all parts at an extra charge of 3d. Two Houses will be run each evening, commencing 6.40, and 8.50. Early Doors 6.20 and 8.30, Ordinary Doors 6.30 and 8.40. there will be no half price and children in arm cannot be admitted. This action is only prompted on account of it being absolutely essential that we have perfect quiet during the performance. Saturday Matinee, 2.30. Prices will be much cheaper, and it is hoped Patrons with children will take advantage, as that is why the reduction is made to 3d, 6d and 9d. We commence Monday, January 13 with “ Noah’s Ark” for one week.

Derbyshire Times 27 September 1930
[snippets from a long article explaining the failure of Crich and Belper cinemas]
Cinema ventures at Belper and Crich were investigated when John HEATH and John Marsden HEATH , father and son, were examined in bankruptcy by Derby on Tuesday.
They gave as causes of failure depression in the cinema industry, non-success with “talkies,” and abnormal chargers on contracts with film renters.
John HEATH stated in 1924 he built a cinema at Crich at a cost of £1100. Two years later he rented at £250 a year the Public Hall, Belper, also for use as cinema.
The businesses were successful up to May, 1928, when the takings decreased owing to general depression.
Last January apparatus for “talkies” was installed at an expenditure of £600. For the first two or three weeks they did wonderfully well, trade became very bad and the takings declined.

Derbyshire Daily Telegraph 31 December 1930
Half of Crich was in darkness last night owing to the failure of the electric current on the bottom end of the Crich line, and the stoppage resulted in a fatal accident to Mr G.A. BROAD, proprietor of the Picture House, Crich. Mr BROAD and representatives of the electric light company were trying to locate a fault on the overhead line when Mr BROAD fell from a ladder against the electric light standard. He was taken home after being attended by Dr MACDONALD, and he died later in the evening.
The top half of Crich, which is fed from the Whatstandwell line, was not affected by the stoppage. Mr BROAD, who was 29, became proprietor of the cinema about six months ago. Before that he worked for five years for Mr HEATH, the former proprietor. Mr BROAD leaves a widow and one child.

Managers
1928 Mr J. H. Heath
1932 Mrs M. O. Broad
1941 Mr F. R. Gill

Memories from Smithy about this cinema:
Many years ago when I lived in Fritchley, a small group of us used to go to the pictures at Crich, 'The Cinema' as it was called. It was owned by Mr Gill. There was just a single auditorium – no balcony – and there were three prices, 9d  1/3d and 1/9d. My favourite films were Old Mother Riley, and Laurel and Hardy, with George Formby coming a close third. On Saturday afternoons there was a special program for us kids With films such as Our Gang and Kit Carson and Hop a long Cassidy. The usherettes had a full time job keeping us lot quiet. Sometimes it got so bad that the film stopped and the lights went on and Mr Gill came in and warned us that any more of this and we were out and no more films. This sometimes worked but then again sometimes it didn't.

Programme courtesy of Maurice Hudson
Crich cinema programme

 

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