CINEMA SURVEY IN BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXIIi, Issue 25302, 30 September 1947, Page 7

CINEMA SURVEY IN BRITAIN

HABITS OF PUBLIC ANALYSED

LONDON. September 28. The British Government has carried out a cinema survey to find out who goes to the pictures and how much they spend. Among the facts disclosed are:—

Civilians in the United Kingdom spend over £100,000,000 a year at the pictures and most of them pay between Is 6d and 2s 2d every time. Two out of every three children of school age (over five) go to the pictures at least once a week. One in every five babies under- four goes to the cinema, most of them once a week.

Older people go less, and the wealthier spend less than the poor classes.

Between the ages of 16 and 19 almost three-quarters of the people go at least once a week. Between the ages of 30 and 39 the proportion drops to 35 per cent., or about once in every three weeks. Of those 10 years older only one person in four goes once a week, and of those over 60 only one in 10 goes regularly. Women go slightly more often than men.

The most frequent attenders at the cinema are the higher paid sections of the working class. High proportions of factory workers and “white collar” workers go to the pictures frequently and regularly. Professional and managerial workers go a lot less often and they tend to go only when there is something on which they want to see.

Children from the wealthier families go to the cinema tnuch less than others.

One in every three cinema-goers goes to the cinema whatever is being shown. The rest generally choose from the cinemas in their district. On an. average, one in three of all adults goes to the cinema once a week. Only 13 per cent, go more often. Only three people in every 100 pay more than 2s lOd for a seat.

The survey was carried out by a branch of the Government’s Central Office of Information. „ —...