The Phoenix Picturehouse in Jericho is running a series of special film screenings to celebrate its 110th birthday.
Titles include Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing, a preview of Cannes prize-winner The Eight Mountains, plus quizzes, special offers, and more.
Staff have announced that the Phoenix in Walton Street, one of only a handful of cinemas in the UK to have remained continuously active since opening on March 15, 1913, will be celebrating its 110th anniversary with a collection of special film screenings, events, and surprises for visitors and members.
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Spokeswoman Helen Davies said: "In line with the anniversary celebrations, guests will have the chance to see plenty of classics back on the big screen, kicking off on March 31 with Spike Lee’s vibrant landmark Do The Right Thing, released in 1989 – the same year Picturehouse Cinemas was founded.
"Celebrations then continue with a host of classic films that are also celebrating milestone birthdays: Her (Friday, April 28); Back To The Future Part II and Summer With Monika (Friday, July 28)."
Picturehouse members enjoyed a members-only free preview of Cannes Film Festival 2022 Jury Prize winner The Eight Mountains on Sunday as a special thank you for their support.
The cinema will also explore the social history of Jericho with Maggie Black and Nicola Josse’s The Jericho Films: Twin Portraits Of A Unique Area of Oxford 1974 and 2019, on Friday, March 17.
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Throughout the celebrations, photos of the Phoenix through time will be available on display, along with opportunities to enjoy birthday-themed treats at the cinema’s upstairs bar.
Visitors will also have the chance to contribute to the celebrations themselves:
The Phoenix team will be reaching out to their customers for ideas as they look to reinstate murals around the building that were lost during refurbishment.
Ten years ago when The Phoenix celebrated its centenary, visitor Rita Reale described The Phoenix as 'a place of necessary sanctuary'.
Originally called The North Oxford Kinema, the Phoenix opened in Walton Street on March 15, 1913, to a packed house which was treated to three black and white ‘shorts’ – The Wood Violet, The Red Cross Nurse and The Trail of Cards.
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Known to some as The Scala, others as the Phoenix, the cinema has also experienced a whirlwind history of its own, with a multitude of owners each putting their stamp on the distinctive building and its programme.
As well as offering audiences a diverse mix of big-name movies, foreign films and later arthouse productions, the cinema gave early audiences a window on the world with news reels.
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This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.
Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk
Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF
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