Staggered Hours

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23507, 18 November 1939, Page 12 (Supplement)

Staggered Hours

CINEMAS IN LONDON IN WARTIME A memorandum outlining a scheme for staggered hours for Central West End cinemas and for opening until 10 p.m. for other West End cinemas was prepared for submission to the Home Office, says an exchange. A film industry deputation is to visit the Home Office with an application to put the scheme into force. Because of the black-out and limitation of hours of opening eight cinemas and theatres of the Stoll group have been closed. They are the Stoll picture theatres at Kingsway, London, \\ .0., and Newcastlc-on-Tyne, the Palace Theatre, Leicester, and the Empire Theatres at Chatham, Chiswick, Wood Green, Hackney, and Shepherd s Bush. It was stated that the decision for the West End was due to the 6 p.m. closing time. In other places it was found that the black-out kept people indoors, and while a first house performance might fill the house, the attendance later was very sparse. Negotiations for the reopening of the theatres at Chatham, Chiswick, Wood Green, Hackney, and Shepherd's .Bush were proceeding. Three cinemas of the group are open j now at Bristol, Chatham, and Leicester. The Bristol Hippodrome is to open on Monday.