Print

20171202 BourneEnd TheRoyaltyCinemaOn the 30th of May 1959 Bourne End’s cinema closed for the last time. The Royalty screened films for 25 years since it opened in 1934. Its typical 1930s Art Deco style building still stands on the corner of The Parade and Wakeman Road. After its closure Bourne Enders have had to travel to cinemas in Marlow (until its cinema also closed), Wycombe or Maidenhead.

 

Times have changed with cinemas moving from single screen to the large multiplexes that we see today. However alongside these larger commercial cinemas there has been a recent steady growth in Community Cinemas. People in villages and towns up and down the country are working together to provide a local cinema for local people. Some have regular permanent homes like Community Centres, Village Halls and, for those fortunate enough, old cinema buildings. Others are “pop-up” cinemas moving around the country, many outdoors, harking back to the days of the drive-in movies often seen in Hollywood films.

 

20171202 BourneEnd TheRoyaltyCinema

The old Royalty Cinema (1934 - 1959) in Bourne End on the corner of The Parade and Wakeman Road

Now almost 60 years since The Royalty closed its doors for the last time we are looking to start a Community Cinema for Bourne End. The intention is to run a monthly screening of films which might be just off-release, cinema classics or simply the very best of drama, action or comedy films. Plans are under way to start a Community Cinema in the Community Centre, at the heart of the village, and literally a stone’s throw away from The Royalty. The program initially will be for 3 films starting next March. Details of the first program will be in the next issue of Target Magazine. If this is successful, a full program will follow from next September. To get this off the ground we do need a few extra people to help run the cinema. So if you have an interest in films and would be willing to help maybe as a door attendant, selling food, as an usherette or an usher, designing posters or helping select the films to be shown please contact us either by popping in to the Community Centre office or click below

Contact Us

 

 

With your support very soon we could be sitting down in front of the big screen as the shout of “Lights, Camera and Action” starts a film’s journey from the movie set to a cinema in Bourne End once again.