Jacey Cinemas: A Company History

The Electric is a well-loved fixture in Birmingham's film scene, but did you know that it was once part of a small empire? Energetic entrepreneur Joseph Cohen started out in the film trade with the News Theatre on Birmingham High Street, and by the end of the 1930s he had a stable of newsreel cinemas across the country including London, Manchester and Bristol. Many of them gathered their own news, as you can see from the image above, taken outside the Electric (then Tatler).

Recently a Jacey company scrapbook came to light which tells this remarkable story through cuttings, photographs and original programmes.

With thanks to the Electric and Joseph's grandson John Cohen, we are delighted to be able to reproduce a selection of pages from the book.

Gas Hall opening times: Wednesday - Friday 12:00 - 19:00, Saturday 10:30 - 21:00, Sunday 10:30 - 17:00