Cinema

The first cinema in the town was a wooden single storey building erected in 1922 by Frederick William Malpass, a blacksmith. Seating was on benches with backs, and heating from a coke stove. Never connected to the electricity mains, power for lighting and projectors came from a petrol engine driving a dynamo. Films were shown on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and on other nights in neighbouring villages, hence the name Cranbrook Circular cinema or Circuit. The projection room was portable. After Malpass sold the business to Joseph Cox, sound films were introduced. One of the new Kamm projectors survives in the town museum.

The Cinema closed soon after the Regal Cinema was opened in 1938, but was used by Graham Parrish for packing “snap closures” a device to re-use old glass jars. A dentists marks the site.

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