On Air Now Non-Stop Music 1:00am - 6:00am
Now Playing Eurythmics Who's That Girl?

Nostalgia: Campaign battle over Glossopdale cinema openings

More than a third of Glossop voters turned up at the polls for what was billed as a 'churches versus big business' battle. 

The issue at stake was whether Glossopdale's cinemas - the Empire in Glossop and Hadfield Picturedrome - should be allowed to open on Sundays. 

Saying no was the Anglican and Free Churches of Glossop who wanted to keep the Sabbath sacred. 

In favour was Glossop Sunday Cinemas Association, backed by the all-powerful Gaumont-British cinema chain. 

From letters in the Chronicle, most readers wanted Sunday openings after all pubs opened seven days a week. 

Around 35 per cent of the borough's electorate turned up at polling stations that were usually reserved for local and national elections. 

Late in the evening of 11 March 1947, the result was in. 

There were 2,644 votes in favour of Sunday opening and 1,845 against - a majority of 819. 

Both sides said it had been a clean fight with Gaumont-British saying it paved the way for cinemas to open on Sundays UK-wide. 

Their spokesman told the Chronicle: "If we can win a campaign in Glossop, we can win one anywhere in the country." 

The churches, although disappointed, were happy to have put up such a good fight. 

Their spokesman said: "What could we do against such a barrage of propaganda put out by the other side? We only had one or two cars working part-time (taking people to the polls) and most of our supporters walked to vote. 

"The others had a fleet of cars and flooded the town with their leaflets." 

So until television eventually sounded the death knell for cinemas, the Empire and the Picturedrome began opening on Sundays - until they eventually closed more than 50 years ago. 

Read more from the Glossop Chronicle

Click here for more of the latest news

Click here to read the latest edition of the paper online

Click here to find out where you can pick up a copy of the paper

More from Glossop Chronicle

  • Extra trains running for racegoers to the Grand National

    Train operator Northern will be helping racegoers gallop to the Grand National festival at Aintree this week, with extra trains running to get customers safely to the races and back home again.

  • Bag a Vivienne Westwood

    The Willow Wood Hospice has announced a raffle at a charity shop in Glossop – with an original Vivienne Westwood handbag as the top prize.

  • Glossop mum gears up for Boston

    A Glossop mum of two will soon have the accolade of running in all six of the world’s major marathons. 

  • Cup delight for Glossop

    On Friday night in front of a record local crowd of nearly 700, Glossop North End Community Club’s 1st team claimed its first “Open Age” silverware in dramatic fashion.

Weather

  • Fri

    17°C

  • Sat

    14°C

  • Sun

    14°C

  • Mon

    16°C