West Yorkshire Cinemas and Theatres

I n the heavy industrial areas of West Yorkshire, particularly Bradford and Leeds, in the first half of the twentieth century there was a great need for entertainment; it was only natural that the film industry should give rise to purpose-built cinemas across the entire region. Although theaere-going declined with the growth of cinema-going, it is pleasing to note that theater is still very much alive today in a number of the areas covered here. Nobody could have predicted that 'going to the flicks' would be so rapidly superseded by television. Buildings of all sizes and descriptions - some having only existed for a relatively short time - quickly became redundant and have struggled to survive or find an alternative use since. Calling on the photographic archives of the Yorkshire Post, West Yorkshire Cinemas and Theatres presents a lavishly illustrated history of screen and stage in the region.