Magic Lantern to Multiplex: a history of cinema and its architecture

Wed Apr 01 2026 at 07:00 pm to 08:30 pm UTC+01:00

Bear Steps Art Gallery and Medieval Hall | Shrewsbury

Shrewsbury Civic Society
Publisher/HostShrewsbury Civic Society
Magic Lantern to Multiplex: a history of cinema and its architecture
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Dive into the cool evolution of cinema and its iconic buildings, from old-school magic lanterns to today's multiplex.
About this Event

Title Magic Lantern to Multiplex: a history of cinema and its architecture


Richard Gray from the Cinema Theatre Association is an expert on and a passionate advocate of the architecture and design of early cinemas.


His talk on the history of cinema will take you from the first Victorian magic lanterns, the Lumiere brothers to the 1930s heyday of glamorous auditoria, when ambitious entrepreneurs competed to offer the best venues, which includes Shrewsbury’s own grade II listed former Granada cinema on Castle Street.


Richard will also cover cinema since the war, its ups and downs, and the most recent developments for this most loved of entertainments and the palaces that first made it possible, in Shropshire and beyond.


His new book The Cinema Palace: Lost and Found includes cinemas here, in the US, Canada, Europe, Australasia and India.


He has talked about cinema architecture in the UK, India, US and Italy.

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Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Bear Steps Art Gallery and Medieval Hall, 2 Saint Alkmonds Place, Shrewsbury, United Kingdom

Tickets

GBP 9.38

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