CTA presents The Thomas "Tommy" Thompson Story

Описание: The CTA's next online event celebrates Thomas Thompson, a true pioneer of cinema exhibition in the North-East of England. In 1908, at the age of 40, he gave up his job as a shipping clerk in Hartlepool, rented a hall in Middlesbrough and hired a second-hand projector. Two years later he had bought that hall and also the 3,000-seat Hippodrome in Middlesbrough with its 18-piece orchestra. From then there was no stopping him and during his lifetime he owned 50 cinemas and became a key figure in English cinema exhibition.

Generously illustrated, this talk will look at how he started, the audience he looked for, his choice of venues and how he made them work as businesses. It will also look at his wider achievements including being a founding member of the Cinema Exhibitors Association, being a frequently outspoken contributor to their deliberations on cinema issues of the day, being a film renter, dabbling in colour films, making films (where his ambition exceeded accomplishment), owning an ice cream factory and being offered a baronetcy (for a price), which he didn’t take.

Our presenter, Peter Hallinan, is Thomas Thompson’s great-grandson, who will share with us many rare images and interesting facts you won't hear elsewhere about this early pioneer and his colourful story from the silents to the fifties. Not to be missed!

Tickets are just £3 for CTA members and £5 for others.

Saturday May 21st at 5.30pm BST

Buy tickets at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-...