This film by members of the York Film Unit was made to document the closing of the Tower Cinema on New Street in York.  The cinema, owned and operated by George Trafford Drayton, closed on 2nd July, 1966.  The film was shot in CinemaScope, a widescreen format which became popular in the late 1950s and 1960s.   Opening Titles: YFU Presents The Last Reel   Produced by Magnavision and Audio 19 Sound Recordist Ian Symonds Film Editor John Skelton Continuity Pat Harrison Produced and Directed by...

This film by members of the York Film Unit was made to document the closing of the Tower Cinema on New Street in York.  The cinema, owned and operated by George Trafford Drayton, closed on 2nd July, 1966.  The film was shot in CinemaScope, a widescreen format which became popular in the late 1950s and 1960s.   Opening Titles: YFU Presents The Last Reel   Produced by Magnavision and Audio 19 Sound Recordist Ian Symonds Film Editor John Skelton Continuity Pat Harrison Produced and Directed by Bill Thomson and Anthony Booth The film opens with a sign, “St George’s To-day” followed by a shot of the exterior of St. George’s Cinema behind Fairfax House.  Next there is a shot of the façade of Odeon Cinema on Blossom Street.  This is followed by a close up of the Tower Cinema sign.  The Leeds Permanent Building Society sign can be seen next door as well as passers-by.  On the outside wall of the cinema hangs an advertisement made up of movie stills and ticket prices.   Inside customers queue to buy tickets and confectionary.  The woman at the cash desk is Marjorie Drayton, wife of cinema owner G. Trafford Drayton.  Hanging on an interior wall is an advert for York Piano Service, 8 Tower Street who supplies all the records played in the theatre.  Noel Greenwood (director of Associated Tower Cinemas) stands at the doorway, and one of the cinema workers who sells confectionary in the theatre can be seen.  Next, the film moves onto the project booth.  There are close-ups of various projection and sound equipment.  The projectionist loads 35mm film into the projector.  After the film, the customers exit the cinema, and some get into a car parked on the street.  Most of the audience is made up of teenagers and young adults.  Finally, the door is locked behind them.  Back in the projection booth, a man rewinds the film using a hand winder.  The film comes to an end with an exterior shot of the cinema now closed off with a fence.  There are some passers-by walking on the sidewalk in front on the cinema.   Title – The End