Seventy years ago tomorrow, on the night of 25 October 1940, an incendiary bomb fell into the orchestra pit at the Carlton Cinema in Taunton Road, Balsall Heath. It was in the middle of a screening of the Dorothy Lamour thriller Typhoon, and 19 people were killed. Just one horrible event amongst many during Birmingham’s Blitz – over 40 were killed elsewhere in the city that night alone, according to this online database – but I pass this particular spot every day on the way to work and thought it was worth noting.

The cinema survived and reopened in 1943, considered a cut above some of the other local picture-houses; it was one of the first in Birmingham to have a lift. The photo above (from Victor J. Price’s ‘Birmingham Cinemas’) was taken in the early 80s after it had shifted from films to clubnights and gigs – including one by local post-punkers The Au Pairs, by the look of the poster. (Also note the IRA/NF graffiti)

The building was demolished in 1985, and now on the site there’s a memorial garden with 19 stones to commemorate those who died.

A group have also formed around the notion Project Brutal, aiming to celebrate the library ‘before it’s too late’, and this week Lucy McLauchlan has been painting a bird mural on the side of the building.

[via BiNS]

This might also be a good time to revisit the documentary about the man who designed the thing, John Madin, back when he had the world in the palm of his hand. This film helped inspire the writing of Catherine O’Flynn’s new book The News Where You Are, featuring an architect whose legacy gets demolished. And finally, when/if they do start knocking it down perhaps someone would like to film a sequel to this:

Birmingham timelapse from 7inch cinema on Vimeo.

PS: In anticipation of the big clear-out, there are some good film-books going cheap on the fourth floor at the moment.

Stan Morgan worked at BBC Birmingham for over 20 years, a scene hand on the likes of Boys From the Blackstuff and All Creatures Great and Small. After he left he retrained in photography at Wolverhampton University, and then returned to Pebble Mill shortly before the building closed down to capture these behind-the-scenes shots. My abiding memory of the place is that it felt a bit like a polytechnic, so it’s nice to see shots of the Archers studio looking like a shabby 70s seminar room. A selection of the images will be on show next to the cinema at mac, alongside the aforementioned weekend of drama delights.

Stan died last year. His son Stephen took the portrait above and is keeping the photography flame flying. He has a show opening next week at the Wapping Project Bankside in London.

Images by Stan Morgan courtesy of Birmingham Library and Archive Services.

There was a programme on radio 4 this morning about memories of Fort Dunlop, that impressive slab of a building you see from the M6 coming into Birmingham. More info here, and it’ll be on iPlayer for a week.

We’ve also been enjoying a series of postcards posted by Joyfeed, sent by his grandparents after they left the Fort to go and work for Dunlop in Japan.

I first encountered it as an arthouse fleapit, and cherished memories of being on the dole in Birmingham are all wrapped up with drizzly Tuesday afternoons watching double-bills along with three or four other punters. Its survival seemed to defy the laws of capitalism. But then as the centenary event made clear, 47 Station Street has led a remarkably enduring, chameleon-like existence as it shapeshifted from Electric to Select to Tatler to Jacey to Classic to Tivoli and back to the Electric, while all around it bigger, sexier cinemas have bitten the dust.

This shot is from the 30s Tatler period (not Prohibition-era Chicago, believe it or not), when the cinema shot its own newsreels. We got a tantalising glimpse of original footage from their launch event, and an insight into the building’s creepier side thanks to a letter from an employee who worked there in the 50s. At that time there was a mortuary next door, and he was told that during the war the basement had been used as a store for dead bodies. He also recalls attempting to wake a punter at the end of the night and finding that he had shot himself. “My happiest years, and I hope the cinema always is there.”

Birmingham timelapse from 7inch cinema on Vimeo.

This is a selection of images taken by amateur photographer Derek Fairbrother from the same spot in Birmingham’s Chamberlain square between 1963 and 1986. We’ve just compiled them for a new exhibition called Birmingham Seen which opens at BM&AG this weekend; other sequences include the Post Office tower and the Rotunda. With thanks to Pete James and Gaynor Fairbrother.

A brief word for Living by Henry Green, a 1929 novel set in a Birmingham foundry. Not sure how it took me so long to hear of this but it’s one of the most lovely things I’ve read in ages. Strange, elliptical style with very few definite/indefinite articles and amazing eye for detail, although maybe not such an ear for dialect (played more west country than brummie in my head). Anyway, worth picking up.

Please find below our most recent listings splurge…

Hello,

After last month’s onslaught, a far more succinct
set of listings this time as we stagger wheezing
and spluttering into autumn. Firstly some 7inch gigs…

7 INCH CINEMA & ELECTRIC SHEEP present
BELA EMERSON (live) & BIBIO (DJ set)
Monday 19th October, 7-11pm
At the Roxy Bar and Screen in sarf London

As a sort-of warmup for Flatpack and a sort-of
fringe event to the LFF, we are teaming up with
Electric Sheep for a night of film and music with
two very special guests. Bela Emerson will play
the cello along with experimental gems old and
new and Bibio is providing a genre-hopping DJ
set with cine visuals, with all manner of shorts
and animation filling the gaps.

£4 on the door.
The Roxy, 128-132 Borough High St, SE1 1LB
Nearby tube stops; Borough and London Bridge
http://www.7inch.org.uk/event/bibio-bela-emerson
http://electricsheepmagazine.com/

TRAVELLING PICTURE SHOW:
GALA FINALE
Sunday 25 October, 6-7.30pm
At the Electric in Birmingham

The family film tour climaxes with a special event
including some of the most popular cartoons shown
during the summer, the premiere of ‘chain-film’ The
Magic Box and pianist Paul Shallcross accompanying
two comedy classics: Buster Keaton wrestles with a
flatpack house in One Week (1920) and Laurel and
Hardy are persistent salesmen in Big Business (1929).
This show brought the house down at Green Man a
few weeks ago, and to be sure of a place we
recommend booking in advance via the Electric…

Tickets: £6 or £3 for under-16s
The Electric, 47 Station St, Birmingham B5 4DY
http://www.7inch.org.uk/event/travelling-picture-show-grand-finale/

THE WOODEN LIGHTBOX
Saturday 14 November, 7pm
At Vivid in Digbeth

Vancouver-based artist Alex MacKenzie presents
a unique expanded cinema performance using his
home-made, hand-cranked projector. Earlier in the
day Alex will also be running a rayogram workshop
where you can print directly onto strips of 16mm film.
£2 on the door. Presented in partnership with Vivid.
http://www.7inch.org.uk/event/the-wooden-lightbox/

And we’re doing a Sunday afternoon gig as part of
Capsule’s humungous 10th birthday celebrations in
December; more details soon.
http://www.capsule.org.uk/blog/?p=707

SOME OTHER THINGS GOING ON

12-26 October at BIAD School of Art in Birmingham
CLICKITY CLACKITY ANARCHY
Crafty art show.

Until 13 October at Bham Museum and Art Gallery
THE STAFFORDSHIRE HOARD
Take a packed lunch and a folding stool.

Tuesday 13 October, 1.30 pm at Birmingham Borders
EOIN COLFER
Signing copies of his unnecessary Hitchhikers sequel.

Tues 13 October, 6pm at the Drum in Newtown
DEEN TIGHT
New film on Muslim hip hop, followed by Q&A.

Tues 13 October, 6.10pm at Bham Library Theatre
BURMA VJ
The 2007 Burmese uprising, as seen by the monks.

Tues 13 October, 9pm at the Electric in Birmingham
VANISHING OF THE BEES
Nationwide screening as part of the co-op’s Plan Bee.

Weds 14 October at the Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath
EVERYTHING SWAP
This time including music and books as well as clothes.

14 October, 7.15pm at Birmingham Conservatoire
PAINT A VULGAR PICTURE
Launch of an anthology of short stories inspired by
The Smiths, with writers including Catherine O’Flynn.
Part of Birmingham Book Festival (6-29 October).

Thurs 15 October, 8pm at the Sunflower Lounge in Birmingham
ALL YOU CAN EAT ZINE!
Night of zines, music and performance.

15 October at the Victoria in Birmingham
COLOUR feat: WORLD OF FOX
LP launch with support from Friends of the Stars.

From 15 October at Ikon Eastside in Digbeth
RYOJI IKEDA: DATA.TRON
Ultrasonic bombardment.
Ikeda is playing at the CBSO centre next month.

Friday 16 October at the Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath
SUGARFOOT STOMP
Cowgirl theme, with guests from Attagrrl.

16-18 October at the Drum in Newtown
THE WIDOW COLONY
Portrait of a group of women in New Delhi who lost
their husbands during the anti-Sikh massacre in 1984.
Followed by Q&A with director Harpreet Kaur.

From 16 October at selected cinemas
PONTYPOOL (dir: Bruce McDonald)
Brilliant zombie wordplay from Canada. Probably
showing nowhere near Birmingham, but worth
hunting down.

From 17 October at the Waterhall in Birmingham
CRAFT AND THE SLOW REVOLUTION
Exploring the links between craft and the Slow movement.

Weds 21 October at the Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath
ASAKUSA JINTA
Tokyo street music.

Sat 24 October in Birmingham
OXJAM
A day of gigs in six venues around town. £6.

Sunday 25 October at the Glee Club in Birmingham
POLAR BEAR
Jazz outfit led by drummer Seb Rochford.

Weds 28 October at the Bristol Pear in Selly Oak
FILM RATS
Zombie-themed filmnight.

Weds 28 October at the Rainbow in Digbeth
SAM WOOSTER QUARTET
Kicking off a new season of Jazz Club. £4.

Thurs 29 October at the Asylum in Hockley
EFTERKLANG
Joyous Danish troupe with support by Nancy Elizabeth.

Sat 31 October at Birmingham Town Hall
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
Lon Chaney classic with organ accompaniment by Nigel
Ogden, the man who does that strange show on radio 2.

Sat 31 October, 8-3 at the Wagon and Horses in Digbeth
REEL NEWS BENEFIT
Samhain-themed fundraiser for the video activists. Films,
food and bands including Resolution 242 and Bo Pilar
and the Mountain Valley Boys. £5.

Sat 7 Nov, 11am at Warwick Arts Centre near Coventry
FRENCH NEW WAVE
Film talk by my old tutor Ginette Vincendeau, including
a screening of The 400 Blows.

Sunday 8 November at the Yardbird in Birmingham
BRIAN AUGER’S OBLIVION EXPRESS
Jazz organ legend brings his B-3 to B3.

Here’s a couple of shots from the Coffin Fittings Works in the Jewellery Quarter, out of action since the 1990s but accessible this weekend thanks to the Heritage Open Days. The workers at Newmans carried on in cosy, slightly lethal, semi-Victorian conditions right up until the place shut down thanks to the decline in folk getting buried. When Birmingham Conservation Trust had a look around they found a treasure-trove of old ledgers, ironwork, embalming fluid and hefty stamping presses, all of which has been catalogued and stored until the day when the place reopens as a museum. Unfortunately that day now looks a lot further off since Advantage West Midlands pulled out of the project. There’s more info here if you wish to voice your support, and some great images in this flickr group.

Being fans of pre-cinema gadgetry and well-stocked with civic pride, we were delighted to discover yesterday that Birmingham is the birthplace of the flipbook. Well, that’s stretching the truth slightly; people had been flicking sheets of paper in quick succession to make moving pictures since at least the 18th century, but it wasn’t until 1868 that someone thought to patent the idea. That someone was John Barnes Linnett, a lithograph printer based in Smithfield St near the Bull Ring (or BullRing, as they like to call it nowadays). He called this ‘device’ the Kineograph, and the picture above is from his patent which can be found in Birmingham Central Library. Linnett apparently died young from pneumonia, contracted while taking photographs in Wales, and his wife sold the patent to an American. A classic Birmingham tale…

Big thanks to Mike Simkin for the tipoff. Flipbook fans should check out flipbook.info, and note that there will be some kineographic action at our Flummoxed event on 3rd July.

With the Rotunda reopening last week it seemed a good time to show Rosalind Fowler’s film about the building’s past. Calling her work “salvage anthropology”, Fowler combines interviews with some of the inhabitants of the old Rotunda – including original architect Jim Roberts – with footage of the building shortly before it was closed down for refurbishment. It’ll be showing at 7inch this Sunday, after Travelling for a Living.

This industry writeup gives some background on the new version, introducing us to some nice building terms like “spandrel panels”.