George Barber: Cinema Pioneer

Synopsis: Made to celebrate the centenary of the opening of the very first cinema in the Potteries - Barber’s Picture Palace in Tunstall.
There’s a history of film shows in the Potteries since 1896 up to the need for special cinema buildings to comply with the Cinema Act of 1909. George Barber, who went on to become Lord Mayor in 1929-30 (we see him on film), was first, and he went on to have a string of cinemas within and outside this area.
There is a special feature on his Picture Palace which is being restored in Wolverton. Films made by Barber himself are featured throughout. There are special interviews with his grandson Len Barber (also a Lord Mayor) and great grandson Brian Barber, and people who worked at his cinemas.
Special features on the Picture Palace and The Regent, Tunstall, which went on to become The Golden Torch nightclub.
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Subjects: Film studies; History
Keywords: cinema buildings; cinemas; film archives; local history; rural areas; Berber, George (1860-1946)

Name: Staffordshire Film Archive
Contact: Ray Johnson MBE
Email: ray.johnson@filmarchive.org.uk
Web: http://www.filmarchive.org.uk/index.html External site opens in new window
Phone: 07774 482414
Address: Ray Johnson Productions
P.O. Box 777
Stoke-on-Trent
ST4 8QA
United Kingdom

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