This page contains a selection of films, shorts and TV spots relating to the McGuffin Film Society and our campaign to save Walthamstow’s EMD Cinema (former Granada) – with lots more to follow soon. Most of these films are best viewed on a widescreen television. Due to the archive nature of some items, picture quality does vary and there will be fluctuations in sound levels between the extracts.
LIVE AT THE GRANADA WALTHAMSTOW (2024)
A new short film celebrating the often overlooked musical heritage of the former EMD Cinema. The film highlights the venue’s role as a significant live music destination during its glory years as a true ‘cine-variety’ theatre. Playing host to legendary rock and pop groups, world famous solo artists plus jazz ensembles and the big bands, many of the most successful and influential musicians of the 20th Century regarded it as a key British concert hall. The film features rare archive images and memorabilia plus recreations of some of the most iconic performances which took place during the venue’s long history.
EMD CINEMA: A NIGHT AT THE PICTURES (2023)
A new short film celebrating “a night at the pictures” with the McGuffin Film Society at Walthamstow’s EMD Cinema.
ITV LONDON TONIGHT: EMD Cinema
News report examining the McGuffin Film Society’s campaign to save the EMD Cinema in Walthamstow amidst fears that the then coalition-led local council would permit its conversion into a church.
THE LOST EMPIRE
A documentary short by Barcelona-based filmmaker Esperanza Jiménez Sáez.
GRANADA WALTHAMSTOW: 1961 Carnival Queen Contestants
Walthamstow’s Carnival Queen contestants take to the stage at the Granada Theatre in 1961. Hosted by Harry Fowler, a popular British film and TV actor of the period.
EMD CINEMA: Under New Management
This short presentation was often shown during McGuffin film events at venues around Waltham Forest following the enforced closure of Walthamstow’s EMD Cinema.
ALAN DAVIES ON THE EMD CINEMA
City News reports on Alan Davies’s support for the McGuffin Film Society campaign to save Walthamstow’s EMD Cinema.
LONDON TONIGHT For Sale: EMD Cinema Walthamstow
ITV LONDON TONIGHT reports on the potential sale of Walthamstow’s EMD Cinema after owner UCKG claims to be genuinely looking for a buyer.
EMD CINEMA: The Final Demonstration
As the campaign entered its concluding chapter, McGuffin organized one final public demonstration at the EMD to show support for the cinema’s revival as a cultural venue…
EMD CINEMA: 80th Anniversary Celebration
Despite its ongoing closure, the McGuffin Film Society held a one-day community festival to commemorate the 80th birthday of the EMD Cinema/Granada Theatre. Attended by some 800 people, the festival took place in the immediate area around the cinema with outdoor activities staged in Hatherley Mews and indoor events at the Victoria bar and neighbouring venues.
BBC NEWS: Mick Jagger and the EMD Cinema
This instalment of BBC News reports on Rolling Stones legend Mick Jagger joining the McGuffin campaign to save the EMD Cinema. Part of this report was filmed in the Victoria bar, adjacent to the EMD on Walthamstow’s Hoe Street.
EMD CINEMA: Behind The Screens
A glimpse backstage at Walthamstow’s EMD Cinema…
MEETING UCKG
Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy and McGuffin co-ordinator Bill Hodgson meet UCKG in an attempt to discuss the EMD Cinema situation directly. Meanwhile, filmmaker James Wright interviews UCKG following another huge turnout for a McGuffin public meeting…
ITV LONDON TONIGHT: Alfred Hitchcock and the EMD Cinema
This edition of ‘London Tonight’ examines the newly released film ‘Alfred Hitchcock in East London’ and Hitchcock’s relationship with the EMD Cinema in Walthamstow.
McGuffin Presents: SPLINTERS (1930)
On Monday 15 September 1930, the wartime comedy musical Splinters was the first film to be screened at the historic Granada Theatre in Walthamstow. The film was the centrepiece of the venue’s opening night alongside live music from a 20-piece orchestra and a recital on the Christie theatre organ.
The McGuffin Film Society had hoped to rescreen Splinters as part of the closing night programme in 2003 but it proved impossible to locate a copy – until now. Despite suffering from some picture and soundtrack issues (particularly in its early sequences), Splinters provides a fascinating insight into the popular entertainment which was served up to local audiences in the venue’s earliest days. Read more about Splinters here.
BBC BIG SCREEN: The EMD Cinema
The BBC Big Screens were 25-square-metre LED screens with sound systems situated at prominent locations in city centres around the United Kingdom. They were a joint project between the BBC and the London 2012 Olympic Games organisers to provide a platform for news and independent content. McGuffin created this short film to highlight the ongoing closure of the EMD Cinema. It was shown up to 10 times each day on the BBC Big Screen in Walthamstow during the build-up to the Olympic Games.
EMD CINEMA HORROR DOCUMENTARY: It’s Only A Movie
“It’s Only A Movie” was a 25-minute celebration of horror movies filmed at the EMD Cinema during October 2002 by Sky TV in collaboration with the McGuffin Film Society. It was first broadcast by Sky Television on Halloween night 2002. Presented by Karen Hayley. Two sections have been removed from this documentary due to legal advice. THIS FILM CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE.
VOTE CINEMA! The McGuffin EMD Election Meeting
With the EMD Cinema continuing to be mired in political controversy, the McGuffin Film Society invited all Walthamstow’s parliamentary and council election candidates to debate the issue at a public meeting…
GRANADA WALTHAMSTOW Fusion TV Trailer (EMD Cinema)
Fusion TV trailer by Zak Osman.
THE CHRISTIE CINEMA ORGAN AT THE EMD CINEMA
A McGuffin featurette examining the iconic Christie Cinema Organ at the Walthamstow Granada / EMD Cinema. With John Leeming and Simon Gledhill of the Cinema Organ Society. Live music recorded by McGuffin at the EMD Cinema in 2003.
PREVIEW: ALFRED HITCHCOCK IN EAST LONDON
Preview sequences from the acclaimed documentary “Alfred Hitchcock in East London”, written and directed by Bill Hodgson. “A rarely seen side of the master which is often conveniently ignored in favour of his later Hollywood success” – NEW YORK TIMES.
EMD CINEMA: Stella Creasy MP discusses Walthamstow’s historic cinema (Alan Selby news report)
Extract from news report by journalist Alan Selby.
THE LAST DAYS OF THE EMD CINEMA
Upgraded online version of the vintage McGuffin documentary, originally released on DVD in 2006. ‘The Last Days of the EMD Cinema’ traces the history of the venue from its early days as a ‘cine-variety’ theatre up to the highly controversial closure in 2003 and the (already) lengthy McGuffin campaign to preserve it as a place of entertainment.
A CINEMA NEAR YOU
A 2004 short film by Claudia Firth examining the McGuffin campaign to save Walthamstow’s EMD Cinema with contributions from local residents and politicians. Contains footage of the EMD Cinema, Granada Tooting and former Rainbow Theatre Finsbury Park. This film was screened at numerous McGuffin events in the early days of their cinema campaign by kind permission of Claudia Firth.
ITV LONDON TONIGHT: The EMD Cinema
This episode of LONDON TONIGHT (ITV) examines the EMD Cinema campaign and the forthcoming government Public Inquiry.
KENNETH GRIFFITH AT THE EMD CINEMA 2002
World renowned British character actor Kenneth Griffith (1921-2006) appeared at the EMD Cinema in Walthamstow on Friday 17 May 2002 as part of the McGuffin Film Society’s 35th anniversary screenings of the TV classic ‘The Prisoner’. He gives an off-the-cuff and light-hearted introduction to proceedings in one of his final stage appearances.
McGUFFIN PHOTO GALLERY 18 May 2011 (Planning Meeting) EMD Cinema.
A McGuffin slideshow of images from the 18 May 2011 EMD Cinema planning meeting at Walthamstow Town Hall, London E17.
McGUFFIN AT THE EMD CINEMA (2003 Stills Featurette)
An archive slideshow of images created shortly after the closure of the EMD Cinema in 2003. This short presentation would often begin McGuffin screenings at other venues as a reminder of the ongoing loss of the EMD.
BBC NEWS: EMD Cinema Public Inquiry
This instalment of BBC London News was first broadcast on 18 May 2003 and reports on the first Public Inquiry by the government to determine the fate of the EMD Cinema. This clip suffers from some sound and picture issues.
MORE TO FOLLOW… !
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