Picture this: a book about the history of Alton’s much-loved former cinema will be launched at a film screening this weekend. 

Its silver screen may have faded but Memories of The Palace Cinema in Alton is a must for anyone who watched a movie in the fabled Normandy Street picture house.

The book is the result of an oral history project and offers a glimpse on the impact the cinema had on generations from its 1912 opening to 2022 closure.

It also details the cinema’s evolution from the coming of sound in the 1930s to its Art Deco remodelling and addition of a second screen in 2002.

The biggest credit should go the book’s Altonian author, Abbe Fletcher, a senior lecturer in the Department of Film & Photography at Kingston University, with Alton Society and Curtis Museum volunteers both co-starring.

The book also includes memories from owner and manager, Raj Jeyasingam, and Alison White, film projectionist from 1990 to 2003. 

The former said: “I enjoyed running the cinema in Alton, as I enjoyed seeing children grow up and then bring their own families in to see the films.” 

Alison added: “I would arrive about half an hour before the showing and lace up the film in the projector - I likened it to threading my sewing machine.”

There will be two launch events with films evoking the spirit of cinema being shown on both occasions.

Comedy classic Some Like It Hot, which was screened at the Palace in February 1960, will be shown at the Allen Gallery from 7pm this Saturday, July 20.

The opening credits to Cinema Paradiso will roll at the same time next Sunday (July 28) at the same venue, while details about the book and getting copies will be available at the launch events and Goldfinch Books.