Purpose-built cinemas
Under the Cinematograph Act of 1909, new regulations came into effect in January 1910 to improve safety. As the nitrate film stock being projected was highly inflammable, the Act required the provision of a fire-resistant projection booth (occasionally this was established behind the screen to provide 'rear projection'). This legislation greatly encouraged the spread of purpose-built picture houses.
These usually had flamboyant exteriors to catch the eye, with payboxes open to the street, and the frequent use of the word 'Electric' in their names as a reminder that electricity was something of a novelty. As shows were made up of short films, including travelogues and news items, and lasted only for an hour to 90 minutes (feature films began to arrive around 1914), these cinemas were generally provided with tiny foyers and minimal toilet facilities.
The auditoria had sloping floors and, usually, parallel side walls with decorated panels separated by pilasters. Barrel vault ceilings incorporated richly decorated plasterwork bands. Seating was rarely for more than a few hundred patrons and balconies were not often provided.
All picture houses had a range of prices, commonly starting at 3d. (threepence) and rising to 1s. (one shilling - 5p in decimal currency), with reduced prices for children.
The best seats in the house cost four times as much as the cheapest and this was a pattern that prevailed until recent times. The cheap seats (at the front) often consisted of benches and frequently were only accessible via a separate side entrance. There were padded, 'tip-up' seats further back, with or without arm rests.
Unpleasant body odours, dense cigarette smoke and a lack of fresh air were problems that could be alleviated by opening windows, and sometimes a ceiling dome or sliding roof, during intervals (ceiling fans were also used) and by spraying the air above the audience with strongly perfumed disinfectant at regular intervals.
Films were usually projected onto a whitewashed plaster screen on the back wall of the stage. They were accompanied by a pianist or small orchestra. Sometimes, sound effects (such as coconut shells to imitate horses' hoofs) were added from the side. Members of the audience would commonly read out the intertitles for the benefit of illiterate companions.
After local authorities began banning and censoring films, the film industry in 1912 hurriedly set up the independent British Board of Film Censors to classify films according to audience suitability, and its decisions have usually been accepted.
Permanent picture houses had appeared in virtually every town by the outbreak of World War One in 1914, which put an end to new building schemes for the next few years.
