Book Reviews
BASINGSTOKE ENTERTAINED Mervyn Gould, Mercia Cinema Society, 2007
Jeremy Buck – CTA Bulletin Jan/Feb 2008
This new publication from the Mercia Cinema Society is a comprehensive review of the theatres and cinemas in this Hampshire town. Basingstoke has never had a purpose-built theatre, live entertainment taking place in an assortment of converted premises, including the former Corn Exchange which has evolved through a period as the Union Cinemas’ Grand to become today’s Haymarket Theatre. A new concert hall, the Anvil, was opened in 1994. There have been several cinema buildings including, in the 1930s, the Waldorf, the Savoy and the Plaza, which from the pictures here appeared to be fine, modern buildings with art-deco interiors. Alas, they have all now gone and today’s cinema-goers have two multiplexes to visit, the Vue and the Odeon (a rebranded Warner). Mervyn takes us through the fascinating history of these buildings in his usual enjoyable style and there are many good pictures and also reproductions of press advertising and posters. Thoroughly recommended. Read the rest of this entry »
