10:40am Wednesday 28th July 2010
By Kevin Bradford
A PROJECT to document decades worth of memories from a historic East Finchley cinema has begun as part of its centenary celebrations.
Dozens of people have signed up to the Phoenix Cinema Story Book to share their anecdotes of visiting or using the building, in High Road.
A picture house has been in place on the site since 1910, and is one of the longest, continuously functioning venues of its type in the country.
And bosses at the cinema are still seeking a range of reminiscences from the last 100 years to from a collection of video clips that will be played out between screenings, online, and will form part of a centenary exhibition.
Memories recorded so far include a woman who viewed the first sound film at the cinema, in 1929, through to a 12-year-old girl who remembers children's TV presenters Dick and Dom using the auditorium to film a comedy sketch for their BBC show.
Eleanor Sier, heritage officer at the cinema, said: “We are getting some really lovely stories.
“We were hoping we would get some really charming stories out of it, but thought that would be wishful. But we have got personal and emotional links to the cinema which just proves how important the building is, not just as a cinema, but as a central part of this community and people's lives.
“Some of the people have been really passionate which is what part of the surprise has been. I find all these stories about how much it means to people has been amazing.”
The cinema is undergoing a £1.1 million restoration project, which will include a new cafe and refurbished auditorium, and Ms Sier is hoping even more people will come forward with memories for the Story Book before it reopens in about six weeks time.
She said: “This is a chance be part of the cinema's history and will make sure people in the future and now get an insight into how important the cinema has been architecturally and socailly.”
Anyone with memories they wish to share on camera can contact heritage officer Eleanor Sier on 020 8442 0442 or heritage@phoenixcinema co.uk.
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