For many, the heyday of cinema was the 1920s and 1930s when ‘super cinemas’, ‘talkies’ and A list Hollywood celebrities seized the popular imagination. Consequently, the early years of cinema have received relatively little historical attention. And yet it was during this formative period that the majority of cinemas were established and film exhibition was transformed from a showground sideshow to a mainstream entertainment. This article examines the early history of cinema in Llanelli, from the late 1800s to the end of World War One. Of the nine permanent venues (theatres and public halls as well as purpose built cinemas) that over the years have shown films in Llanelli, all but two started their lives during this period. Whilst covering less than 20 years, it was one of the most energetic times in cinematic history. Entrepreneurs (mainly showmen) crowded into an increasingly competitive market with all kinds of crowd-pleasing initiatives and the inevitable conflict with church/chapel leaders was played out via a new regulatory framework overseen by local government.
Copyright Angela Evans 2020
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Early Cinemas of Llanelli |
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