It is just over a hundred years since the 1909 Cinematograph Act was introduced, one of the most significant acts for the cinema. The act was introduced to “To make better provision for cinematograph and other exhibitions”. According to the UK media laws website: “This was the first English Act of Parliament specifically concerned with the cinema and grew out of concern over fires in theatres caused by the highly combustible nitrate base film stocks of the period. The Act banned cinematograph exhibitions except in licensed premises. It assigned the power to license cinemas for up to a year to county and county borough councils, which had the power to set their own conditions and to delegate.” There was an update to the act in 1922 which included provisions specifically aimed at the prevention of fire in premises because of the dangers which nitrate film represented. The Act was repealed by the Cinemas Act 1985. The 1909 Cinematograph Act did a lot for not only increasing the safety of going to the cinema, but also the creation of cinemas as purpose built venues which they have become today.
Biblography:
- UK media laws: Cinema and films – THE CINEMATOGRAPH ACT 1909 – 9 Edw.7 c.30
- Google Search for “1909 cinematograph act”
- Hansard search
- 1922 Celluloid and Cinematograph Act
- Celluloid and Cinematograph Film Act 1922 (c.35): Revised Statute from The UK Statute Law Database
- Celluloid and Cinematograph Film Act 1922 (c. 35)
- The complete act in original form from 1922