CAMPAIGNER Janet Dunn recalls how determined they were to keep the famous old cinema alive.
“We wrote to all the picture houses trying to find a new owner,” she recalled before their efforts received a boost when Sefton Council threw out plans for the site to be developed.
The decision was challenged on appeal before the planning inspectorate in London opted for a public inquiry.
In the face of fierce opposition the developers opted out and the supporters leased and re-opened the cinema. Janet said: “We knew we needed to have Jurassic Park – the big summer blockbuster – to make it work. We were told in no uncertain terms we weren’t going to get the film; who were we? We were nobodies. So we wrote to Sir Sydney Samuelson, the British Film Commissioner, and we got the film.
“That gave us six weeks to buy equipment and open – which we did to absolutely packed houses. It was entirely run by volunteers, except for the projectionist.”
Article
