MAGAZINE ONLINE

International Popcorn Challenge 2012

"Manager of the Year"

Cinecenta Cinemas

“A very workmanlike and accurate accomplishment”
Alan Kean, former Cinecenta MD

Launched in November 1968 following turnaround of the financially-troubled Compton Group of Film Companies, Cinecenta had begun as the new, vertically-integrated brainchild of industry investor, Leslie Elliot - the latter, setting out to reform British exhibition which, already in the clutches of a serious post-war decline, had all but lost its movie-going habit. Concurrent with an ongoing European cinematic research initiative, central to the company's approach had been the introduction of 'multi-house' cinema - arguably the forerunner to today's British multiplex - which now saw the construction from scratch of a network of cinemas designed to be both practical and flexible. Launching against a Compton-derived ‘club cinema’ backdrop, soon, it was hoped, would arrive a serious alternative to the ABC/Rank-dominated system of distribution, which had for too long denied the public a fair showing of quality, minority, and frequently foreign-sourced pictures. Beginning with Cinecenta’s noted Panton Street fourplex, along with a clutch of distinctive, purpose-built multiscreens at Bradford, Sheffield and Leicester, would begin too, the novel trend toward honest and individual film-marketing. However, barely six months into the launch, and following what had become the last in a long line of internal, family-oriented, confrontations, founder Leslie Elliot suddenly resigned his chairmanship; and, with the Cinecenta philosophy subsequently in tatters, the company quickly reverted to its seamier Cineclub traditions amid efforts to maximise profit. Alas, Cinecenta, unsuccessful in initiating the ‘British cinema revolution’, would, for more than a decade until its eventual sale in 1979, now labour under the long-distance supervision of Elliot’s Austrian-born father, Curtis. And, in what had followed a quiet - albeit less-than-straightforward - takeover of the company, the exhibitor’s 24 remaining screens became annexed by the Leeds-based Star circuit, and primarily for their London West End contingent.

Cinecenta Cinemas - An Outline History reviews this unusual, highly innovative. and much-misunderstood exhibitor, examining its aims and aspirations, whilst drawing attention to its [cinemas’] unique corporate styling. Included here is detailed coverage of the circuit's Panton Street flagship, in addition to surface consideration of some of the provincial Cinecentas, the Compton Cinema Club, and subsequent Jacey Group takeovers. Included, too. is an outline of the company’s Compton Group predecessor established in 1960 by executive producers, Michael Klinger and Tony Tenser.

Cinecenta Cinemas - An Outline History, strictly limited to just 1,500 copies worldwide, has been written by Cinema Technology contributor and BFI/NFT and CTA member. Philip Turner, with assistance from erstwhile Cinecenta chairman and founder, Leslie Elliot; former MD and industry veteran, Alan Kean and ex-Cinecenta director, Bill Derrick; also original circuit architect, Nigel Farrington, Compton Group co-founder, Tony Tenser, Gala Film Distrlbutors’ Kenneth Rive, and ex-Star Cinemas’ Publicity Controller, Don Ratcliffe.