By Judith Schrut email
The joys of open air cinema date back to 1932 New Jersey, when salesman and film fan Richard Hollingshead nailed a bedsheet between two trees in his yard and a Kodak projector to the hood of his car. He opened the world’s first commercial movie Drive-In the following year, proudly advertising “the whole family is welcome regardless of how noisy the children are.” By the 1950s there were over 4000 Drive-Ins across the USA. Famed for iconic roller-skating waitresses bringing cheeseburgers, shakes and fries right to your car window and boasting a reputation as teenage ‘passion pits’, Drive-Ins enjoyed many boom years. Then, with the coming of home videos and more profitable options like turning Drive-In lots into high rise property blocks, they faded almost to extinction.
Low and behold, outdoor movies are today enjoying a global comeback and nowhere more than in the UK, where screenings have become increasingly inventive. Who needs walls when you can bring cushions, blankets, picnics and homemade popcorn to an alfresco screen near you? This season’s quirkier venues include cathedrals, cemeteries, botanic gardens and a sunken amphitheatre.
Since 2010, The Nomad has been popping screens up in Brompton Cemetery, Hyde Park Lido, St Paul’s Cathedral Gardens and other intriguing locations, along with enticing add-ons like hot food, goody bags, blankets and magic carpets. It has a unique tag as “the pop-up cinema that gives back”, as it’s run primarily by volunteers and donates 100% of profits to charity.
Luna Cinema has a habit of hitting locations other screens can’t reach, like Windsor Racecourse, Bath’s Royal Crescent and Bolton Abbey. Luna Beach Cinema is hanging out on Brighton Beach. Opt for its VIP Beach Hut package for your very own beachside hut, luxury seating, complimentary mini-bar and butler service for the day. New this year is Luna Kids Cinema, the first outdoor cinema designed for children, with tempting sips and nibbles available from the Luna Kids Bar.
This summer, BP Big Screens will beam opera and ballet live and free to screens at Brighton Marina, Portsmouth’s Guildhall Square, Bristol’s Millennium Square, London’s Trafalgar Square and other spaces across the UK. Rooftop Cinema operates from three lofty London locations, promising comfy deckchairs, a wide range of daily shows and incomparable rooftop views.
Last but not least, Film4 brings two weeks of giant projections to the historic courtyard at Somerset House. Choose from surround-screen immersive showings of Labyrinth, Blue Velvet, Call Me By Your Name plus Behind The Screen, a series of talks, panel discussions and special events.
Further information:
roh.org.uk/about/bp-big-screens
Image: Movies with a view, photo courtesy of Rooftop Cinemas.