The Everyman Cinema Hampstead in the 1930s

This blog has made copious use of a set of Everyman programmes which are on this website in the programmes section. Many thanks to Nick Davey who kindly scanned his precious collection to make these available. The Everyman Cinema Theatre first opened its doors to the public on Boxing Day 1933 with René Clair’s Le […]

Heath, home and cinema – Interview with Hassanah Alice Burton

Posted May 2022 Hassanah Alice (hereafter Alice), was born in 1946, the youngest of the four children of James andTess Fairfax-Jones who had run the Everyman since 1933. Her memories of the cinema in the 1950sand 60s are accompanied by fond recollections of her parents and of growing up in Hampstead. Afteran adventurous life of […]

Kevin Brownlow remembers the influence of the Everyman

Posted by Kevin Brownlow January 2022 Eminent film maker and historian Kevin Brownlow has worked in film from the mid 1950s. His memories, from inside the world of film making, evoke the power of the cinematic image and the importance of the Everyman as ‘a course in cinema history’.     The Everyman is probably […]

A cinema for all seasons, the Everyman in Hampstead: Michael Darvell’s early memories of going to the pictures.

Posted by Michael Darvell January 2022 I have always been an avid filmgoer, even from a young age. I suppose as a child I was taken to the pictures by my parents, as the cinema was the only form of public entertainment available to most families. In the 1940s and ’50s cinema tickets were cheap, […]

Adrian Turner remembers Hampstead village in the 1970s

Posted by Adrian Turner, January 2022 Adrian Turner worked at the Everyman from 1969 to 1977, initially as Assistant Manager and, after the death of James Fairfax Jones in 1973, as Programmer. A full account of his time at the Everyman can be found in Guest Blogs. Working at the Everyman meant being a respected […]

‘Something worthwhile’: Peter Howden at the Everyman in the 1980s and 1990s

Margaret O’Brien posted December 2021 This blog is based on a most enjoyable conversation with Peter Howden in the bar of the National Film Theatre (now called BFI South Bank), in November 2021. We talked about his time as manager and programmer of the Everyman, a position which lasted from 1981 to 1998.  I first […]

Julia Holland’s Memories

Everyman memories, posted by Julia Holland, September 2021 Growing up in Belsize Park and Highgate in the late 60’s and 70’s the Everymanwas a part of our life. My parents were divorced and the Everyman was where Iwent with my Dad. I have the dubious distinction to have seen every Orson Wellesfilm – his particular […]

Mark Long’s Memories of The Everyman Cinema Hampstead

Everyman memories, posted by Mark Long, September 2021 Film of all the art forms has most probably been the greatest influence on me as an ‘artist’. This can be largely attributed to the Everyman. The whole concept of impressionistic narrative and visual poetry became available to me at a very young age. A young teenager […]

‘Good films and good fun’: Children at the Everyman in the 1930s

Margaret O’Brien posted August 2021 Going to the pictures In the 1930s, when cinema was central to everyday life, meant first run Hollywood or British films at one of the big circuit cinemas like Odeon, ABC, or Gaumont, or maybe a visit to a local independent which showed second run or older films. The Everyman […]

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