77 years ago the Kinema at Woodhall Spa - unique among the cinemas of Britain - showed its first film, silent of course. It had started life as a concert pavilion looking out over Tennis Courts, Croquet lawn, Gardens and bandstand in the Spa grounds between Victoria Hotel, then in its Edwardian heyday, and the newly built, Petwood House. World War I changed many things, but little changed in Woodhall and its Spa until the palatial Victoria Hotel was burnt down on Easter Sunday 1920.

Two years later when Captain Archbold Weigall returned to Petwood from being governor of South Australia, he and lady Weigall saved the Spa Baths from being closed down. The same year (1922) Captain (later Major) C. C. Allport converted the concert pavilion into the pavilion cinema. The moving picture was the new entertainment of the age, and Woodhall - where people came for rest and recreation - was not to be left behind.

The conversion was achieved very simply - by building onto the north end of the pavilion a corrugated iron shed and projecting onto the transparent screen from the back. The rock-steady picture was described by a film producer in the 1920s as the finest projection he had yet seen in Britain, Canada or America. Moreover, Woodhalls cinema was then only the 68th cinema to be opened in the whole country. And the rear projection system - which is what makes the Kinema unique - is still used today.

Most of the hall was fitted with tip-up seats, but a special and much appreciated feature was that the front six rows were deck chairs. They were much sought after by patrons at 1s 6d (other seats ranged from 1s 3d to 6d). As a throwback to the heyday of the Spa, the deck chairs survived to 1953. Music to accompany the silent films was provided by the Phantom Orchestra. The cinema, or Pavilion Kinema as it became known (and then a little later, Kinema in the Woods because of its setting among the pined) was one of the few provincial picture houses patronised by Royalty on several occasions every year.

When the Kinema opened, David Whyles was the projectionist, and he saw the installation of the first sound projector in 1928. That machine was not replaced until the present two electronically controlled projectors were installed in 1978 under the charge of David Hill. They still rely on the traditional carbon-arc lamps. And the Kinema has its own generator in case of mains power failure.

In those far-off days BT (Before Television) going to the 'flicks' was a major part of the entertainment industry, and for Kinema patrons Major Allport produced the 12-page Woodhall Spa Kinema Monthly Gazette from the late 1920s. It gave details of forthcoming films with the story lines, like 'Sporting Life' starring Bert Lytell and Marian Nixon shone in March 1927: 'The story gives glimpses behind the stage of London's smartest shows; a battling prize fight with a fortune at stake; and exciting auto chase, exquisite fashion creations, a tender love story with a dramatic kidnapping scene, and the glorious horse race-the great Derby-with its exciting finish.'

For half a century it could be said that Major Allport was the Kinema. When he applied for his 50th license in 1972 it was granted free of charge. Today the Kinema in the Woods is part of a small group including the cinemas at Spilsby and Mablethorpe owned and run by James Green. The Kinema always 'has a comfortable seat for you.' It is open Seven nights a week-and long may it continue.

Kinestra For The Kinema

Open seven days a week, Woodhall Spa's Kinema in the Woods undoubtedly would have continued as a picture house without being blessed with organ music if it had not been for the new owner, James Green. He owns cinemas at Spilsby and Mablethorpe. In his Bijou at Mablethorpe he had David Hill build and install a four ranker which has been in regular use since 1984. According to British organist David Lowe, cinema owner Green is an accomplished organist himself.

Electronic organs had been used periodically at the Kinema after Green assumed control of the house in 1973. And subsequently his own Wurlitzer electronic was installed on a small platform to the right of the screen. It was used on special occasions and prior to evening performances.

The Compton Kinestra, which ultimately came to Woodhall Spa, was first installed in the Super Cinema. Visual feature of this organ was the ornate lacquered red and gold console decorated in eighteenth century oriental by Japanese artist who was hired by the Compton Organ firm.

In 1931 the cinema was renamed the Tatler and installed talking pictures; the organ fell into disuse. It was eventually purchased by London organ builders Monk & Gunther and sold in 1978 to Nigel Turner. Adding a third manual to the console, he installed the organ in a building on his horticultural nurseries grounds at Harpole. Turner also augmented the instrument with a piano and replaced the pneumatic relay with a Christie solid-state relay and capture system. It was the first electronic relay installed on a British theatre organ and also incorporated a tape reproducing unit.

Green bought the organ from Turner in 1986 and moved it to Woodhall. About the same time, a lift was obtained from the Odeon (Regent) Hanley which elevated a Wurlitzer console. Considerable work was needed at the Kinema to accommodate the lift and organ.

THE HISTORY