By Val Seaman
A group of 13 members enjoyed a very interesting talk and tour of the Abbeygate Cinema in Hatter Street, Bury St Edmunds, which has recently celebrated its centenary.
Manager Pat Church told us that the cinema first opened in 1920 as a variety theatre (“The Central”) where short films were shown by rear projection between live acts.
Pat began work at the cinema in 1966 at the age of 19 as a junior projectionist, since then he has seen the Cinema go through many different ownerships and extensive alterations. It has been known as: the Central (1924), the Abbeygate (1959), Star Cinema (1971), Cannon (1985), MGM then ABC (1993), Odeon (2001) , the Hollywood (2005), Abbeygate Picturehouse (2010), and finally the Abbeygate (2014).
Hatter Street was at one time thought to be a Jewish quarter, and the building itself has medieval origins, in fact beneath the ground below the building is a network of tunnels which led to the town’s Abbey grounds. These are not accessible now. During renovations many interesting features were revealed such as a Georgian fireplace, decorative coved ceilings and a plaster and horsehair wall mural, which was restored by Pat and is now displayed on the wall in the new Premier screen.
After telling us about the many alterations to the building, we were then taken around inside and outside the building to see for ourselves. A highlight was the digital projection room which is fully automatic and programmed by computer. We then saw the digital projector itself, alongside a 35 mm projector which is the only one in East Anglia still in operation, allowing the cinema to show 35 mm films.
Further additions to the cinema are planned when funding permits, including a possible 4th screen.
Some of us enjoyed coffee and cake in the cinema lounge afterwards, a thoroughly enjoyable morning!
