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Movies On The Move

Reels on Rails in CinemaRecord 49
told the story of a restored cinema
coach and its new home at a platform at
Rewley Road station (U.K.). The story
did not specify whether this carriage, or
indeed other cinema coaches, ever
showed films on long-haul journeys.
Now an article in The Railway
Magazine has answered the question.
A cinema car operated by a French
company was part of a train on the
Trans-Siberian Railway as early as
1913, but does not appear to have
survived the First World War.
Following the Russian revolution,
Lenin realised the potential of a cinema
train, and ordered one to tour the
country showing ‘Agitprop’ films. That
train entertained - or more correctly,
indoctrinated - audiences at each
stopping place, so it was not strictly a
‘cinema on the move’.
The London, Northern and Eastern
Railroad (LNER) installed a Ross An LNER cinema coach. Note the authentic seats. Image: The Railway Magazine.
projector in an ex-Great Northern coal distillation utility at Glenboig. The first van seated 44 people in
Railway saloon and ran it on the Anglo- Although it is not clear why cinema front of a screen of 20 sq. ft. (1.8 sq.m.)
Scottish Express between King’s Cross facilities were provided, an issue of The and showed films by back-projection,
and York. On the first outing, 12 March Railway Magazine at the time reported that is, from behind the screen.
1924, the Norma Talmadge film Ashes that ‘cinema programmes were held in The second van, introduced six
of Vengeance (ten reels) was shown. the two theatre cars at 2.45, 4.30 and months after the first, had a capacity of
The beam played over the heads of 6pm, two different performances being 52, and lighter bogies to lessen noise.
an audience of 44 people on to a screen shown in each theatre’. There was no sound insulation,
54 x 39 inch screen (1.4m x 1m.), no Those early experiments had been however, and one wonders if the
doubt interrupted by the shadows of improvisations. The first purpose-built soundtrack had-to be turned up almost
audience members coming and going. (or strictly-speaking, purpose- to present-day Dolby levels in order to
There was a separate compartment for converted) vehicle was to come after be heard!
rewinding the film. two interesting experiments. Admission to the one-hour program
On the return journey that day In 1929 LNER placed a radio cost one shilling and the first show on
passengers were shown Black Oxen receiver on a train to pick up the result 27 May 1935 featured a documentary
(eight reels). How long this cinema of the Derby Day race. The next year about the Silver Jubilee celebrations,
carriage provided entertainment is not they installed 'Fultograph' equipment followed by Pathe News and Sport.
known. and wired both sound and pictures to Initially patronage was encouraging, but
The rival LMS then introduced the train. gradually declined, until the carriages
cinema vans. On 19 July 1929 a ‘Royal From those innovations, it was a were withdrawn in September 1938.
Scot’ engine made a one-off, non-stop short step to embrace talking pictures. These gold and red cars carried no
run into Euston from Glenboig, six In 1935 the railway signed a contract to permanently-applied outward
miles from Glasgow, hauling a train allow the Pathe company to show description of their role, only roof-
with two cinema vans. This was in 16mm films in two converted passenger mounted boards with white block
connection with the opening of a new brake vans. lettering on red announcing

CINEMARECORD 2006 13