Having a reel good time at the cinema

in the Cavendish Cinema for a screening of Lords of

WE’VE all been to the cinema at some point in our lives. No one person invented the big screen.

In 1891 the Edison Company successfully demonstrated a prototype of the Kinetoscope, which enabled one person at a time to view moving pictures.

By 1907, purpose-built cinemas for motion pictures were being opened across the United States, Britain and France.

The world of moving pictures seems to have first come to Derby in 1910, when three cinemas opened in the area.

The first of these was the Midland Electric Theatre (which also went by the names of the Picture House and Ritz in later years) in Babington Lane, which opened on July 27, 1910.

Spot Cinema in St Peter’s Street first opened on September 15, 1910, while the Victoria Electric

Forest

Theatre (also known as the Empire and Black Prince) in Becketwell Lane began welcoming customers from October 10, 1910.

The reasons we go to the cinema has also changed over the years, as in the early years, people used to go to get the latest news and during both the First and Second World War, they used to get the latest developments from the frontlines.

Now, most probably go to get some escape from the frustrations and worries of our everyday lives.

We have been through our archives and found some pictures submitted of people heading to cinemas over the years.

Do you remember going to any of these or can you spot family members either in our pictures or do you know anyone who used to work at any of these cinemas?

We’d love to hear from you. Our contact details are at the top of this page.

aRegal in East Street in 1978 flocked to see Travolta and Olivia star

Force was

Quad in 2015 when these Star Wars fans their tickets for The Force Awakens

Lane, 1959

This photo offers a rare glimpse behind the doors of what was once the Coliseum cinema and the staff who worked there. Stuart Black, back, left, was the cinema manager at the time

The Majestic was busy on New Year’s Day in 1957 as it hosted a children’s party. Among those present was Val Hammersley, sitting fourth from the left on the front row, who sent in this picture

in Chaddesden in 1939. During the Second World War many went to cinema for from the frontline

The got strong at The

Customers queue for tickets at the Gloria Cinema the news updates

There was quite The as film-goers John Newton-John queue outside in Grease

These youngsters were pictured 1960 patiently waiting outside the

The Hippodrome in Green