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. 

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