Petition appeals to save UK’s oldest cinema

On March 6, 2024, 4:14 AM

A petition to save the UK’s oldest working cinema is set to be presented to councillors.

The Electric Cinema, in Birmingham, dates back to 1909 but last week suddenly closed its doors for the foreseeable future.

Campaigners are calling for its local leaders to find an alternative vision for the site and have even applied to get the cinema registered as an Asset of Community Value.

The petition, to be presented to Birmingham City Council later, has more than 15,000 signatures with a goal of 25,000.

The Flatpack Film Festival, an annual event that had used the cinema as a venue for years, shared on X the petition, which will be presented at a full council meeting.

‘Not a done deal’

“It has been extremely moving to see the response to the news of The Electric’s closure on Thursday,” a festival spokesperson said.

“The main thing to say is: this is not a done deal. Working together, we can save this place.”

Posting on Monday, they added: “Any plans for the site are hearsay at this stage, but clearly it is important that we begin to articulate an alternative vision for the renewal of Station St.”

The Electric, with an art-deco frontage, has two screens which have shown 35mm films as well as digital.

Built in a converted taxi rank in Station Street, it showed its first film on 27 December 1909 and showed silent films with piano backing.

In the 1970s, the cinema showed adult movies before moving to mainstream showings alongside art house films.

The full council meeting is due to get underway at 14:00 GMT.