News Theatre Victoria Station

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Uploaded on: October 6, 2024

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The Victoria Station News Theatre opened on Monday 11th September 1933 being the first News theatre to open in England also being constructed in a British Railway Station. Built for British News Theatres Ltd., Managing Director Norman Hulbert, photograph above, who approached the Director of Southern Railway with his idea for train passengers who had an hour or so to await before their departure, decided the film programme would last for 50 minutes. Film Programmes were shown Mon, Tues, and Wed, then changed for Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun. Prices from 11 a.m. up to 4 p.m., were 6d. or 1/- from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. (Sundays 1/- from 6 to 11 p.m.). Another innovation that was introduced into the new auditorium, left side of proscenium was a clock that was synchronised with railway time in the station appropriately called “Southern Time”. Whilst on the right side a small “Southern Train” screen displayed a 10 minute notice of arrival and departures this was operated from the projection box that was given the information via a direct line from the Victoria Station signal box. Both can be viewed on the Cinema Treasures photos section under auditorium photograph.

Ron Knee