From Silent Screen to Multi-screen: a history of cinema exhibition in Britain since 1896

Abstract

First paragraph: Stuart Hanson's book is a much-needed introduction to the history of cinemas and cinema-going in the UK, and is well-placed to become a companion piece for the study of social history as well as British films. The book’s straightforward, clean prose and its accessible chronological structure will grant it a broader audience beyond academia. In addition, it is a scholarly contribution to a field that, so far, has mostly benefited from the work of authors such as Allen Eyles (Gaumont British Cinemas, 1996; The Granada Theatres, 1998; Odeon Cinemas 1 and 2, 2002/2005) and Richard Gray (Cinemas in Britain: 100 years of cinema architecture, 1996), who specialise in the architectural qualities of purpose-built cinemas. Hanson’s book renounces its potential nostalgic appeal by having no photographs; it has, however, greater ambitions for context. It uses modes of analysis drawn from the social sciences to situate film exhibition as part of the various processes that transformed urban spaces and everyday life throughout the 20th century. This contextual approach is a hallmark of Manchester University Press's 'Studies in Popular Culture' series, and Hanson’s book is an appropriate addition to this collection that already covers a range of topics from music hall to horseracing.