By the time this is published, Manchester Cine Society will have switched off the projector for the last time and will have brought their activities to a close.

Founded in 1933 as the Salford Cine Society, the club was one of several in the North West in the pre-war years and made several films that were highly accomplished. Programmes of films were exchanged with other cine societies in the Manchester area and in those days were usually accompanied with a list of 78 rpm record titles that could be used with the films. The records were played live via twin turntables, much as a modem D-J would do, but to the cues provided on the play list. The exchanges were clearly popular with the clubs but at the outbreak of the war there is a note in the minute book that the Society would be suspending exchange of film programmes ‘to ease the load on the postal services’!

After the war, the Society moved to meet in premises in Manchester and changed its name to reflect its new home. Its fortunes followed those of many such societies with a small but
enthusiastic membership. The boom in interest in film making in the 1960’s was something of a mixed blessing for Manchester however. Several ‘neighbourhood’ cine clubs formed and quite naturally their members were reluctant to travel into the city to enjoy their hobby. On the other hand it meant that visits to and from the new clubs could be undertaken without the need for long journeys and in this spirit we welcomed their formation, for Manchester could itself have been considered a ‘neighbourhood’ club when it was first founded.

In 1985 we lost the use of our meeting room in St Ann’s Square when the owners decided to sell the premises for redevelopment. Unable to find suitable accommodation in the city
centre and with a continuing decline in membership, we met in members homes to maintain contact and keep the Society’s name alive. Sadly, time continued to take its toll and with the deaths of lan Bradbury and Harry Nadler in 2002, we effectively ceased to be a viable Society.

However, the end of one era is the start of another and over the last few years it has been the wish of our members that, on closure, we should place our films in the North West Film
Archive and donate the trophy given to the winner of our annual competition to the IAC North West Region to be awarded to the best documentary entry in their annual competition.

So, although we bid you all adieu as a Society, our individual members can look forward to seeing entries at forthcoming festivals competing for the ‘Manchester Cine Society Cup’. (which will take place, starting with this year’s NW Film Festival. Ed)

Colin Robinson
Hon Secretary,
Manchester Cine Society

- Source: Tripod Mar-April 2005

Page updated on 14 February 2008

Authors' views are not necessarily those of The Institute of Amateur Cinematographers

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