I have just had a look on the web and found that there are only about half a dozen cinemas left in Leeds. When I was a kid in the fifties and sixties there were more than that within walking distance of our slum in Cross Green. Every Wednesday my mum would take me to The Princess, Easy Road or Star, depending on what was showing, for a weekly treat. Sadly none of those is still open, having fallen victim to the giant multiplexes although a couple of locals have survived, and it was my great pleasure to be allowed a sneaky peek at the newly refurbished Hyde Park Picture House before its re-opening on Friday, 30th June.
The reason that this cinema was able to ride the storm was, what the marketing people would call, its unique selling point. Along with the mainstream films it was one of the few to play the more obscure offerings from, mainly European, directors. Perhaps not the best recipe for commercial success you may think but, when you see that it is situated, deep in the heart of student bedsit land, it was perfect.
Sadly, time took its toll of the structure and so it was vital to replace all that needed replacing and upgrade everything else. This was not as easy a task as it sounds because the building is Grade II Listed so everything had to comply with strict planning regulations. I was immensely relieved to find out that, not only had they met their obligations, but had far surpassed them turning the local fleapit into a thing of beauty and also making it a community hub.
I will put you out of your misery now and tell you the great news that, not only have the gas lights on the walls been saved, but after a great deal of modifications to the pipework and the fittings themselves, they are still using gas. This makes the Hyde Park Picture House probably the last gaslit cinema in the world. Not only were there extensive works needed to preserve the feature but present-day safety measures were needed such as detectors and an automatic shut-off system should there be a problem. Oh, and the art deco clock at the side of the screen has been restored.
Whatever could be saved, has been saved, and what couldn’t has been replaced sympathetically by enlisting the experts in their field to recreate as closely as possible the original features. The most challenging of these were the pieces of stonework and terracotta required for the sign, as they had to be treated in order for the new bits not to shine like a beacon next to the old, weathered ones.
There are also features which have been kept just for their own sake, and to add to the ambience, such as the emergency fire hose, but don’t worry, there are modern extinguishers for use if required, and the original ticket booth outside where we used to have to queue in the open air, i.e. rain, to get in. Thankfully a new box office has been installed in the fabulous restored foyer making the wait a lot more pleasant.
The auditorium is, as you would expect, brand spanking new, but very much in keeping with the period feel. The rich, red upholstered seats are extremely comfortable with lumbar support and ample legroom in the stalls, and an adequate amount in the circle. It was the classy touches which appealed to me with the seat numbers being embroidered into the chair backs rather than being on plastic discs. On the rear of each seat are brass plaques, bearing a different sentiment, some personal and others quotes from films. The one in front of mine brought a smile to this miserable old visage.
Because of circumstances outside the control of those concerned, such as a certain pandemic, the work is not yet totally complete, but everything is in place for the first show on Friday. There are finishing touches to be made to the new extension, which will house the cafe and lounge area, and the smaller screening room in the basement of the building is still work in progress, but it won’t be long before everything is up and running.
That is the building covered but what are we going to be able to watch. Once again the ethos of preserving the old ideas, which have ensured the cinema’s survival, and combining them with new ones, is much in evidence. The first screening will be of Wes Anderson’s latest film, Asteroid City, starring Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson and Tom Hanks. It runs until Thursday, 6th July but Wednesday 5th July at 11.00am sees the launch of BYOB, Bring Your Own Baby where parents can enjoy the new films with their offspring.
Other strands to watch out for are: Hyde and Seek – geddit? specialising in family-friendly films; Creatures of the Night – Horror and Sci-fi shown late at night; Tuesday Wonders – Documentaries; reRUN – classic films with restorations and rare 35mm presentations; Memory Matinees – supporting those living with dementia to reconnect with memories through film; Cinema Africa! – the best new films from African cinema supported by Leeds African Communities Trust; Philosophy & Film – speaks for itself; Hyde Park Film School – opportunities to learn about film and cinema and Pavillion Presents – International artists’ experimental, political, provocational and personal visions.
Everything you need to know can be found by visiting https://hpph.co.uk/ but watch out for the kid on the trike, he drives like a nutter!
I would like to thank Leeds Heritage Theatres for their kind invitation for this event, and the presenters; Wendy Cook, who gave us an overview of the process from inception to completion, Mark Johnson of Page\Park Architects who coped with the challenges of executing the project despite the unique barriers which needed to be overcome. Finally Robb Barham, Operations and Programme Manager in whose court the ball is firmly placed as he has to give the public of Leeds a programme of films and events to attract them to the cinema.
Good luck to you all.
All photographs by Stan Graham
Tyke It To The Limit 