Welcome to London Life. Today we find out about the oldest cinema in the UK.

More people are going to the movies in the UK than they have at any other time in the last 30 years and almost every big town now has a multiplex cinema, showing the latest blockbusters.

But this cinema is a bit special. It's called the Electric and has been around since 1910.


Here are some questions for you to answer as you listen:


What makes the cinema so unique?

Why was the auditorium designed as if it were for music hall?

What is Adam's favourite British film?

Why does Andrea decide not to spend the evening at the Electric Cinema?

Listen to London Life
	The Oldest Cinema

Words and expressions from the programme

multiplex cinema
a big cinema with lots of screens showing different movies
Example sentence
The multiplex cinema near me is showing four really good films at the moment.

blockbuster
a movie which is very popular and successful
Example sentence
That latest blockbuster to be released is the new Harry Potter movie.

auditorium
the place where people watching a film/performance sit
Example sentence
We've got a seat right in the middle of the auditorium.

music hall
A type of entertainment in the theatre with live music that was popular in the early 1900s
Example sentence
Music hall is my favourite kind of entertainment

the building was renovated
work was done on the building to improve it
Example sentence
My local church was destroyed in the war, but now that it's been renovated, it looks almost new.

into
a word that can be used to say you like something
Example sentence
I'm really into jazz music.

above my budget
too expensive
Example sentence
I'm sorry, I won't be able to join you - that restaurant is a bit above my budget.

cheap and cheerful
fun and not expensive
Example sentence
I love going to that bar, it's cheap and cheerful.

Programme script (pdf - 23k)

Audio - Download 'The Oldest Cinema' (mp3 - 1.8mb)