Fascinating photographs show inside Britain's oldest working cinema which has reopened today (Fri) after it was saved from closing for good after 112 years.<br /><br />The Electric Cinema in Birmingham has been entertaining film fans for over a century after it was built out of a converted taxi rank back in 1909.<br /> <br />But its future was thrown into doubt after the pandemic forced its closure almost two years ago prompting fears it would never reopen again. <br /><br />Businessman Kevin Markwick, 59, stepped in to save the historic art-deco picture house which has reopened for the first time since March 2020. <br /><br />Is it estimated around £100,000 has been spent restoring the two-screen cinema - which show 35mm films as well as digital - back to its former glory.<br /><br />Dad-of-four Kevin, who also runs the The Uckfield Picture House in Sussex, said: "I’m a bit nervous but excited to see people’s reaction to it. <br /><br />"I really can't wait to see wonderous look on everyone's faces when they get back and there's nothing like listening to an audience enjoying a film.<br /><br />"We have a successful cinema in Sussex that we’ve had since the 1960’s and we felt now was the time to spread our wings. <br /><br />"The previous owner approached me and told me it was for sale so I thought I’d have a look because this place is a piece of British cinema history.<br /><br />"It has survived pretty much the entirety of the film industry, which in itself is an incredible achievement. <br /><br />"It is certainly a project and will be an adventure but given our experience with heritage cinema it is one we should be able to complete.<br /><br />"Most of the refurbishments are on the technical side. It’s a long-term project, because it had been closed for so long we had to do the basics. <br /><br />"It wasn’t happy being shut for a year because of the pandemic. We had to replace the projection equipment and that took a while to sort. <br /><br />"The projection equipment doesn’t like being turned off. We will be working on improving everything properly, but it will take a few years and many hundreds of thousands of pounds.<br /><br />"The seats for example are £300 for a single seat, so when you see us getting angry that you’re putting you feet up on them, please understand why.<br /><br />"The response has been overwhelming already. My village in Sussex has 15,000 people, Birmingham has 1.2 million so the amount of interest has been a bit of a shock.<br /><br />"It’s a historic building and people are excited about it opening again."<br /><br />The Electric opened on December 27, 1909 showing silent films with a piano backing.<br /><br />Over the years the cinema has been through several incarnations including showing adult movies during the 1970s before it moved to mainstream and art house films. <br /><br />It has also been named Select Cinema, Tatler News Theatre, The Jacey and The Classic and The Tivoli before becoming The Electric again in 1993.<br /><br />The building was saved in 2004 by entrepreneur Tom Lawes who turned it into a thriving business for more than a decade.<br /><br />The cinema still retains many original features, including an old ticket machine, film projectors and its art-deco frontage.<br /><br />New owner Kevin believes film-lovers will keep flocking to The Electric following the pandemic as people return to a more normal way of life. <br /><br />His daughter, Katie Markwick, 32, will become manager and the cinema will employ 13 people.<br /><br />Kevin added: "We hope that we can let it grow and expand. We're just breathing new life into it. We want to make this the go-to place for film lovers in Birmingham<br /><br />"We really want to promote the cinema experience for younger audiences so they understand what they're missing as streaming and watching films on TV isn't the same.<br /><br />"You can sit at home watching Netflix, but you can't beat sitting with an audience and enjoying stories collectively.<br /><br />"It’s a funny old building. It’s had an odd life, it was a news theatre, a cartoon theatre and even an adult entertainment theatre at one point.<br /><br />"We can do a films for everyone. We want to be showing a variety really, new releases, art house, everything. We’re also showing films in 35mm.<br /><br />"We’ll be even showcasing a Russian Ballet at some point. We’ve sold out a few different shows now so hopefully that continues."<br /><br />The cinema reopens to the general public today screening Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast at 2pm, 6pm and 8.15pm.<br /><br />ENDS
