For some of my career I have been fortunate to work making films, both in England and in Hollywood. I’ve been in love with the movies since I was 6-years-old. It was “Doctor Dolittle” with Rex Harrison where the love affair began, and of course in the many beautiful old cinemas of Hertfordshire. The Priory in Royston, the Broadway and the Palace in Letchworth, the Regal in Hitchin, the ABC in Stevenage, the Embassy in Welwyn Garden City. It is sad that, of these, only the Broadway still exists; and sad also that many more cinemas are likely not to survive the current closures, and the simultaneous rise of the stay-at-home streamers – Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc.
Part of the magic of these old cinemas was their giant screens (particularly for a 6-year-old) and their often wonderful buildings. You rarely get that combination today. However… this month, for one month only, the combination returns! From 8th May, Knebworth House is once again hosting the Luna Cinema Drive In. The schedule – full of fun family favourites – is on our website.
Big screen. Beautiful building. And, in the comfort of your car, the seats will I’m sure be more comfortable than the seats used to be at the Regal in Hitchin – a detail I remember from a memorable three hours in there watching “Gone With The Wind”. A re-release. I’m not that old!
Henry Lytton Cobbold
@HenryCobboldKH
