Historical information

The two films screened were produced by the British company Gaumont-British Dominions. Frank Talbot, who leased the Athenaeum Theatre, made an agreement in 1932 with the British company to show British movies exclusively at the Athenaeum Theatre, the first agreement of this kind to be made in the world. The film "The Mikado" is presented with the D'Oyley Carte Opera Company chorus.

Significance

The souvenir program has a generic cover, featuring an advertisement for "Cholerton's School of Motoring" instead of the name of the film, as found on previous programs. This may have been the result of wartime economies. The evening of entertainment, typical for the time, commenced with an overture from Cecil Parkes Strad Trio followed by Fox Movietone News and the first film, "Sword of Honour". After interval the Cecil Parkes Trio again played, a Gaumont-British newsreel was screened and then the main feature "The Mikado" was screened. In 1939, when the Athenaeum Library was open until 10 pm, Library members could change their library books during the interval, between films, Monday to Saturday.

Physical description

Paper program for a film screened at the Athenaeum Theatre September 1939; coloured cover; 16 p. includes articles about the film, the actors and advertisements